Apologies for my absence last week, I was pretty rattled after I was visited by the ghost of Casey Jones. Then, I woke up, and realized that it wasn’t a ghost, the ULW was seriously trying to get Jones over as a solo act in the year 2025.
Anyways…
ULW:
AJ Continues to Deliver: In what has to only re-open the wounds that were just starting to heal between the BWM Inc. and CME’s upper management regarding the so-called JadeTrade Scandal, former AEW World Heavyweight Champion and longtime BWM Inc. loyalist AJ Styles continues to find success in ULW, while lifting up everything he touches. Sure, nobody was clamoring for a high profile Kama Mustafa program, but Styles’ involvement was enough to make sure the program didn’t crash and burn before it even got underway. I will say, I predict all of this has never been about Kama, or even AJ for that matter. I think all of this is a long road to FINALLY get Seth Freakin’ Rollins to the height that the boys down south have always tried and failed to present him previously. That’s right, as it was hinted at Friday night, I think Styles will slide into his next program with The Vision’s leader, and Rollins will be the first to deliver AJ a singles loss in ULW. AJ can take it, and with this faction and a mouthpiece, I’m finally starting to give a shit about Rollins. I can hear the sigh of relief from Memphis as my words hit the screen…
From Enemies to Friends: We saw Menotaur attack Metal Head last Monday night, before cooler heads prevailed and the two decided they’d work together to get answers regarding Abigail’s mind erasing powers, and the bombshell that Splidder dropped regarding Mickey Mouse, and how he’s still very much alive. Friends of the column will note I’ve been beating that drum all along, as I’ll remind you every time this comes up. But we also got a Lenny segment, in which he made the mistake of admonishing his bodyguard, Jacob Fatu. I think that will be the catalyst of Lenny’s downfall, personally, as it’s probably about time we move Fatu from the bodyguard role into the ring, where he could no doubt shine. Lenny was quick to point out that Splidder never actually said it was Mickey he was talking about, while reminding the audience that we witnessed Mickey’s plummet to his death. Listen, that’d normally be enough to convince me he was dead, having seen it with my own eyes and all, but the surrealist editing styles of PWI’s final event suggested all along that there could be more to it… I mean, who else laughs over the visual of them falling off the top of the arena?! Either way, it’s made for captivating stuff, and I’m always a sucker for the enemies to friends trope.
He’s Still Got It: Look, I never meant to upset Mr. Dragonfly… er, Mr. Fly? Or, is it just Dragonfly? Like how Cher only has one name? Either way, a recent column of mine rustled his jimmies a bit, resulting him to launch his retirement tour (FOR REAL THIS TIME!) by taking on all challengers en route back to his 10th and final world title. He kicked that off 10 days ago with Brock Anderson, and though there was never any doubt about how that match would end, it was enough to steal the show. So much so, in fact, that everything that came after the opening segment failed to reach the heights we saw in our opening contest. Better still, FTR was seen approaching Brock Anderson in the aftermath, and after a series of high profiled matches and stops and starts, this whole Brock Anderson character may finally have a real shot to get off the ground!
Whose House? Drew’s House!: One thing that ULW has done well is welcoming Drew McIntyre back into the fold. McIntyre returned to the spirtual successor of the PWI with his in depth interview in the first edition of the ULW magazine, and he promised he was coming for the Undisputed Championship. After Jericho survived a hard fight battle with Kevin Owens, thanks to the Ladies Man, Drew laid Jericho out with the Claymore! My only gripe in all of this is not letting the Ladies Man moment breath. I didn’t even get to react to his first on screen appearance since last season’s injury angle before the subject had moved on, and Drew became the focus. McIntyre was being primed for a major push before he left PWI, and we’ve witnessed him in some main event level classics over the years. I think he could be the man to end Jericho’s title reign, but I’d love to see some more character growth from him before that happens. The magazine was a great start. Let’s build on that.
No Days Off: Circling back to Lenny’s address, I want to touch on Lenny’s announcement that previously scheduled breaks have been canceled, and that ULW will produce programming each and every week throughout the season. This announcement comes as AEW is set to take off next Monday in the fallout of Aftershock 2. Listen, I still disagree with Johnny B. Quest’s analysis that this is “anyone’s era.” Sure, Season 2 of the 7th era is off to a more competitive start than ever, but it comes after AEW’s two-year total dominance, in which every contested show but like four or five finished first. When you zoom in small picture on the first six weeks of the season, Quest’s argument could hold water, but I maintain we still do not have enough data to proclaim it true. Look, Johnny, I’m just as hungry for “no one’s era” as you, but simply saying it over and over isn’t going to make it true. That brings me back to Lenny, and what I think could be a mistake for the company that’s finally gaining ground towards first place. I worry about over saturation, which has ALWAYS been a problem in wrestling. My sources in ULW have told me that the decision to cancel the previously scheduled breaks came after seeing how much success WWE’s had with building their undercard through the uncontested shows like Evolve and NXT. Can Lenny replicate that success, or will this create another opening for AEW to solidify itself on top? Only time will tell.
WWE:
Remembering Owen Hart: Like Mr. Quest, I agree that the unlikely programming duo of Bret Hart and Bill Goldberg continues to be one of the most compelling stories in all of pro-wrestling. After weeks of slapstick humor, Bret Hart got serious, laying out the challenge to Bill Goldberg. Bill Goldberg responded, insisting that the match be for the prestigious “Owen Hart Memorial Championship.” If you’re like me, you didn’t immediately remember that Owen Hart was actually still alive, since we all witnessed his career die with that never ending THEY program last season. As Quest pointed out, the best part wasn’t that Bill Goldberg brought out the championship, but that Bret accepted Bill Goldberg’s challenge for the belt! I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds, though part of me hopes Bret never lets go of his grudge against Bill Goldberg. Bill Goldberg. Bill Goldberg!!!
NXT Championship Scene: Remember back when NXT was in its infancy, and Lexis King stood tall as the lone standout? And then, Karrion Kross came along to carry the brand? Well, for the first time since the brand started, the title scene in NXT is looking more stacked than ever, with numerous believable contenders in Ethan Page, Carmelo Hayes, and the long-awaited arrival of Trick Williams! What a blessed time for WWE’s developmental program, in which they’ve got AT LEAST four top guys who can carry the brand, and that’s not even counting the potential they have in guys such as Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, and others. It’s a good time for the Tuesday brand, and I’m lovin’ it!
HBP’s Redemption: When HBP was drafted by WWE, it was clear to me that he was being sent to the company to be used as comedic fodder, and for the company to shit on whatever his legacy may be in the wrestling industry. But, an unlikely shift is happening, and with each week of abuse, the fans find themselves clamoring for an HBP redemption arch. With Stephanie’s announcement regarding the NXT North American Championship tournament, HBP could be on a path towards redemption after over six weeks of torture. I will say, regardless of how it plays out, WWE’s shift to longer term storylines has been a big win for the company. It started off slow, but now they’ve defeated ULW head to head in back to back episodes of Smackdown. The fruits of their labor are finally paying off… will the same be true for the Heart Break Punk?!
Zen Hogan: Okay, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… if WWE wants to get a character over, they’re going to do so. And often times, they’re capable of doing it almost instantaneously. The arrival of the new Evolve World Champion, Zen Hogan, proves just that. A more-acrobatic and capable in ring wrestler than Hulk, and a taller man than Midget, Zen’s proving to be the top Hogan in wrestling at the moment. That’s really no small feat, and the company should be proud of their ability to get a character to resonate with an audience. Though he’s never explicitly spelled out his motives, he doesn’t need to, because we can all see just from his aura what he’s all about. It’s truly been good shit!
The Love Triangle: As I noted in my last edition, this continues to be the sleeper program in wrestling at the moment, as Ripley, Dom, and Buddy Murphy are doing the best work of their careers. I do again have to agree with Quest, as much as that pains me. Because if I’m Buddy Murphy, the moment my wife agrees to put our marriage on the line, you just have to know it’s already over! I’m looking forward to seeing the inevitable clash, and what comes next for all three. Something tells me only two will be moving on to bigger and better things, and those two are NOT named Buddy Murphy…
Until next time, I hope everyone enjoys another great week of action!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 