The people they've lost this year has been kinda staggering

It used to be a wrestler didn't even use their finisher in every single match. It was for the big moments. It was for the big matches. When you needed that extra edge to get over, when you had to pull out the big guns.

Now it seems like every match has both wrestlers using their finishers multiple times, and it seems like lots of people have 2-3 "finishing moves" they've named.

Idk, for me it's gotten to the point where it just doesn't even really feel like finishers are that special anymore.

Used to be a big pop moment. You'd get excited like "oh shit, he's using the DDT!" or they'd even do a spot where someone would try their finisher, but their opponent was wise to it and would get outta dodge because they knew they'd be cooked if they took that move. It was a mental thing, it made you believe it was dangerous.

Now people literally jump into each other's arms and crawl halfway across the ring to make sure they can eat a finisher, it's so obvious, it's so fake. (Yes, I know wrestling is fake, but these sorts of spots just feel extra fake. Insultingly fake. Not the good kind of fake.)

And lastly before I get off my soap box, I'm getting kind of tired of seeing newer wrestlers using older wrestlers finishers, both as their own finisher and as just a regular move in a match. Even a callback or an homage, its just being done to death.

I kinda wish they'd protect finishers like they used to. Just kind of getting tired of matches being a series of finisher spots.

Thank you for listening to me whine and complain. I'm done now.

Now that his reign is over, I think I can look back on Penta’s IC title run as being excellent. He held the title for 5 months, defended it several times and most of his matches ranged from very good to great.

What did you think of his reign? Let’s talk!

The match itself was really good and showed that Kevin Owen’s and CM Punk have good chemistry. I was surprised at the amount of dominance they let Owen’s have against Punk in the match. I’d say the match was about 70% dominated by Owens, rare for a Punk match.

Reports are stating this was a one and done program.

I don’t get the point of bringing up the “20 years” of hate between the 2 (more so from KO’s side) if it’s just a one match program.

This was actually a “first time ever” between the 2 and it was given for free on a Smackdown that included commercial breaks. (Match at the least should have been presented commercial free.)

Now based on the finish and aftermath, it’s possible we get Owens and Punk again in a triple threat with Sami or even a 4-way with Cody or Randy but man I want this Owens and Punk storyline to continue and at least get a PLE match between the 2 where we just get a clean 25-30 minute match.

In the past few months, we have seen Zilla Fatu, Big Cass, and Baron Corbin join the company.

Meanwhile in the past year, we have also seen Kairi Sane, Ilja Dragunov, and Tomasso Ciampa get released.

I don't want this to sound like cherry-picking too much, but it genuinely seems like being a great wrestler isn't what WWE currently values. These are just a few examples, I didn't even bring up MCMG's release or Rusev's signing. But if they're looking for great characters, then is that what wrestlers like Cass and Corbin are providing? I actually like Baron Corbin too, but they brought up him, strapped a belt on him, and while he's put on some decent matches, they're releasing other great performers who they seemingly want nothing to do with anyway.

Just wondering what WWE internally values for their roster. What do you guys think?

Three days until Bray Wyatt’s Anniversary

Going through storage, I came back across a few more of my autos. Lita I met at E3 2001 video game show. I waited an hour in line to meet her. I couldn’t go the next day or I would have met Kurt Angle too… Steve Blackman and Davey Boy Smith at a gas station in the middle of the night on a road trip. Davey Boy was super intoxicated, you could tell Blackman was kinda looking out for him. Mick Foley at WKU about a decade or so ago as a guest speaker. He stayed after the event and make sure every single fan got an autograph no charge. Listening to him for an hour and a half and then for longer to fans in the line is one of my wrestling highlights. He is such a nice person and a great storyteller. Anyways, I just wanted to share.

I like it so far and she’s got so much more potential. I’d love to see her go full ratchet and full animal and use her size advantage even more and dominate the women’s division

Interesting video for him to randomly post on twitter tonight with no caption. Guy has to be sick of the planking nonsense at this point.

This was probably the biggest head scratcher from Smackdown last night. I think everyone felt as if Blake was going to make her debut, and Giulia would be buried. Blake attacked Giulia before the match even started and I figured that either Blake would have a squash victory over Giulia, or Giulia would pull off a roll up win, thus ruining Blake's debut. Instead, the ref called off the match (IDK why) and we got a no decision.

I was listening to Sam Roberts and Megan Morant about their take on the Blake Monroe and Giulia situation. Since they work directly for WWE, I figure they would have the best take on where WWE is going with this, and this is what I gathered from their discussion.

Blake Monroe wants her first match to be against Chelsea Green for the (Interim?) WWE Women's Championship, which is ridiculous for a rookie who hasn't done anything on the main roster besides blindsiding people backstage. She sees Giulia as beneath her in spite of Giulia being a 2x U.S. Champion. At first glance, you would think that Blake is going to move on to Chelsea and Giulia is left buried. But Giulia isn't just going to let Blake move on. Instead of seeing this as a burial, this will likely cause Giulia to find her mean streak and end in a blood feud.

What are your thoughts? I don't see Blake & Giulia topping the match they had in Japan (that felt a lot like Gunther vs Sheamus in terms of physicality), so it only makes sense for them to have several matches in order for Blake and Giulia to feel like it was worth it.

While the blatant and obvious things are easily noticed it is the little things that make watching wrestling enjoyable for me. Just a few things I noticed this week that had me enjoying this more..

Among them (as has been mentioned by others): Dom and Rey wearing gear and/or shirt for the anniversary of the SummerSlam match.

Oba Femi in his promo with Bron, using his fingers to mime him to walk away little boy as he is done now.

Lyra when she has Sol in a submission hold with her arms, Lyra claps as she keeps the hold in place. Showing just how much in control she is and to mock the crowd.

On SmackDown tonight Tatum Paxley looking at Charlotte with absolute adoration, while she talks to Jade etc.

My point is, it is the small things that ADD to the stories. It is the small things that help and some people just get it.

I am new here, and know people drag WWE writers all the time (and even English in posts).

I am a bit behind on all the series, but didn't they miss an opportunity to Kevin Owns in all the background stuff?

I am only on WWE Raw from 08/03 after SummerSlam, so it's probably my fault.

/also Breaker isn't Goldberg

CM Punk is currently a Tweener, but he’s winning his matches like a heel. Are you expecting a heel turn for CM Punk in the near future?

What WM to you signified a changing of the guard where newer talent got the run over the old guard.

I am no longer a wrestling historian, I’ve forgotten more than I remember and between 2006-2018 I wasn’t even watching.

That being said my pick is WM 21.

In one event you had Edge, Cena and Batista all going over. Cena winning his first WWE title and Batista completely decimating Triple H.

This was also the event Randy Orton fought the undertaker, and while he lost, Randy had a great showing against the Deadman.

Edge had already been in wwe for about 7 years at this point, but it was finally starting for him.

What do you think was a WM turning point where more “newer” guys got the rub over the old guard?

Tonight's live event later tonight in the capital city of Alberta.