aew 2021: don callis’s sunglass game is on point

bummer that anna jay is injured

I'm hoping that since Mizunami beat Kong, that Mizunami takes the Japan side of the bracket! She's been my pick from the start! Let's go!

Also devastated that Anna Jay, who was really starting to come more into her own as a standout of Dark Order, rather than just a member of Dark Order, has this setback. Though I guess my silver lining was not having to watch her lose to Britt Baker? Here's to hoping that she has a speedy recovery!
Between AEW and NJPW, some pretty heartbreaking injuries.

After a quiet two weeks, Taz was back on form on this week's AEW Dark pic.twitter.com/WcQ8Ulbt4A

— forever tired (@Maffewgregg) February 24, 2021

they've built up this darby and sting/team taz rivalry really well

the zip line is a great example of taking advantage of owning a building

I think Darby definitely benefits from having Sting on his side. The aura of Sting always made him seem larger than life, and for someone like Darby, who is still so young, I am glad that he can get that guidance to (hopefully) take him to the next level.

Taz's stuff on commentary is great. When the table was him, -1, and Excalibur, it really was just hilarious. But I am partial to Tony Schiavone, and all of his hilarious calls that I remember as a kid (and ALSO his calls from MLW before he got scooped up by AEW). Plus he remembered me from drunken Starrcast karaoke, which was kind of him.

Khan's owning of their venue really, REALLY helps. Plus since it's open air, they have the added benefit of being able to accommodate more fans (I have a few friends that go to their shows somewhat regularly). The modifications they've added, the entrances, and the special (cinematic) matches they've had because of it have been fun. I think they've really started to come into their own and realize what works for them and their talent and what does not. A lot of the guys at the top are really keen with storytelling and their characters, and over the past year, it's really shown, even when they've had some less than popular skits/segments.

Overall, for better or worse, regardless of what a lot of people say, Kenny, Cody, and The Bucks (along with Tony Khan) all run things from a place of genuine passion for the business. I know that sometimes a lot of people lose sight of that (myself included), but I've gotta say, overall, I'm impressed. They know wrestling, and they know how to make dollars off of money marks. I appreciate that they seem to be using their power for good, with the amount of indie talent they've had circulate through their locker rooms (Maxx Stardom, WARHORSE, Heather Monroe, Sean Maluta, to name a few of my favorites), as well as the outreach they've done to other promotions (their aforementioned ties to IMPACT and now possibly NJPW).

Also, Hangman is a star. Future World Champ 100%. ACE of AEW. I really appreciate how the rest of The Elite has distanced themselves from him.

imagine some dude at your work knocked over the forsaken door and now you got two jobs

— HANGMAN PAGE (@theAdamPage) February 26, 2021

https://bleacherreport.com/post/trending/a8e77c4f-7c14-4f9c-af44-d2d087bdf677

let's fucking go!!!!

Fuck yeah MIZUNAMI FOR CHAMP LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO !

this episode has been pretty much nonstop fanservice

in a good way

The only way it could have gotten better is if Big Show threw Shaq through that table. Finally get that revenge for having gotten into INCREDIBLE shape, only to have Shaq back out of their mania match.

This is the most hyped I've been for an AEW PPV in about a year. Very interested to see what surprises they have in store. Already stoked that Mizunami is challenging for the Women's belt, and that freakin' Atsushi Onita is reffing the death match!

onita can’t make it to the states because of japan’s quarantine rules and his schedule

onita can’t make it to the states because of japan’s quarantine rules and his schedule

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Somebody get Nick Gage to take his place.

Is necrobutcher available?

He's probably on too many watchlists to get a flight at this point

Nick Gage just returned from injury, so let's make this dream a reality! Anyone else planning on watching it live?

i'll be watching it!!!

I’m taking Thursday* off work but dw being a non-American fan who *checks notes* uses the internet I’ll know everything that happens by then. Still about as pumped at I’ve been for a ppv since wm30 though.

*man why did this week did I have to fucking move, I was originally considering staying up all night to see it

I have seen some of those 90s death matches and mostly they suck. But I’m so intrigued by the fact that Kenny and Mox are actually athletic workers who could have normal 5 star matches on their off days, not like Leatherface or whoever when they needed dumb gimmicks. 5 star guys + insane gimmick = how could you not be excited

Also I guess there are other matches on the card that look alright, and the internet is taking the secret name in the ladder match way too seriously that it’s got to be more hilarious than omgworthy, how can this not be a great ppv

personally i am most excited for shida vs. ryo mizunami

xp there have been exploding barbed wire death matches between proper wrestlers before. there are obvious differences in athleticism now but claiming that Jon Moxley is some kind of 5 star match machine as opposed to guys like Terry Funk and Cactus Jack is wide of the mark. it is clearly Mox's dearest wish to be able to wrestle like those guys and while I do enjoy him, he's never had a singles match in any environment that touches the best Funk and Foley stuff (except for the Ishii G1 match but counting that's almost cheating).

anyway yeah I'm excited for the spectacle and to see how they carry this off a major PPV without necessarily thinking this is gonna be a 5 star all time classic (it could be! they've definitely got it in them. but it's a tough match to get right i think).

agree with Brad, hyped for the Shida vs Mizunami match which should steal the show from an ring perspective.the tag title match should be good, the ladder match should be a crash crash and apparently the street fight is a cinematic deal. no idea who this HUGE new signing could be but yeah I think the some of the wilder online speculation has gotten silly.

AEW really is good at putting together these smorgasbord cards. should be a great show!

the buy-in match was so good. show hasn’t even started yet!!!

I'm calling Warhorse for the ladder match, but my friends are calling Chris Bey or Chris Hero, so we will see.

what a wild night lol

the ending was... well

was completely marking out for it until the........fizzle

onita/funk is one of my favorite matches ever and i've been craving this match basically ever since mox started openly cosplaying onita everywhere he went

but it's probably not worth it if you can't get the pyrotechnics right, i understand it's probably gonna be more tightly regulated than in the 90s but yeesh

otoh i thought the cinematic match was killer and maki itoh is a star

fixed it. pic.twitter.com/XNvO7uaJya

— el deprimido 🦣 (@shvmbu) March 8, 2021

still watching but can i just say the last few minutes of the tag team battle royale were unbelievable.

tack on mox's post show promo for future edits imho

only took nine or so hours but i now think the whimper instead of the bang was kind of funny. felt really bad for everyone last night though

tag team battle royale and shida vs. mizunami and the ladder match and the street fight: all pretty outrageously great

one thing the Ricky Starks did confirm is that Sting is nothing without his bat.

The ending is what it is but could honestly be a fantastic jumping off point for the likes of Kingston, heel Omega, etc.

xp I have a surprising amount of friends that HATED Shida/Mizunami, and I'm convinced it's because they just hate joshi. Blows my mind, honestly.

Onita's tweet on the match:

It was great that Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley fought in the exploding barbed wire ring. But I hope I want show American wrestling fans my original version someday. https://t.co/3xwTzHL9OA

— 大仁田厚 (@onitafire123) March 8, 2021

i am of course a noob but the women's eliminator tournament convinced me pretty immediately that joshi is wrestling at its best

Truly, my biggest pipe dream is that AEW shells out the cash money dollar to get Kagetsu to come out of retirement and join the roster. Absolutely my favorite.

Overall, I thought the PPV was pretty good. Sting had no business being in a match, even a cinematic one, but I guess there wasn't anyone else they could have really put with Darby. Orange & Chucky T vs. Miro & Kip was fun. The opening women's tag match was also fun, but when Maki Itoh is in a match, with how INSANELY OVER she is, it can't be anything but fun.

I'm fairly excited to see the builds for the next few months. Jungle Boy vs. PAC is a match I didn't know I wanted until last night.

hangman vs. hardy was a lot of fun too

I've really grown to appreciate Matt Hardy in the last 5 years or so. When I was a kid, I was all about Jeff, because he was the flashy daredevil, but as far as changing things up, I gotta give it to Big Money Matt.

Also, so glad to see Ethan Page as the surprise entrant. I love that dude so much, and I'm so glad to see him wrestle somewhere after his contract with IMPACT was up.

oh god poor eddie

fuego hit the tornado ddt

They are never explaining Shaq disappearing from the ambulance, Tony Khan is a Sopranos fan, this is his Valery disappearing in the Pine Barrens

— Voices of Wrestling (@voiceswrestling) March 9, 2021

man, that was a great episode of dynamite

really bounced back from the end of the ppv

Eddie & Mox and Don & Kenny really did heel it up perfectly to sort of own/explain away that Revolution finish. I did appreciate that.

The @AEW Dark: Elevation debut Monday on YouTube is a stacked card & should be a fantastic show. @riho_gtmv v. @maki_itoh is our 1st ever Elevation main event! After Elevation + a strong Dark card Tuesday, don’t miss the highly anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Slam on #AEWDynamite!

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 11, 2021

frankly, you love to see it

two women's main events in one week........ am i dreaming

I think this week’s BTE achieved peak Hangman greatness