Ciampa is doing the lords work in AEW
Let’s be honest: the wrestling world has been weird lately. But watching Ciampa trot out the 1,004 reasons he hates Chris Jericho on recent Collision was the exact hit of nostalgia and petty brilliance we needed. It’s a direct callback to one of the greatest bits in history, and somehow, it still works. If you aren't watching him tear into that roster, you are missing out on the best character work on Saturday nights.
While we are talking about AEW, I have to address the elephant in the room regarding the new TBS Title setup. They announced a Survival of the Fittest tournament to crown a new champion. My knee-jerk reaction? It’s a bloated way to get a belt on someone, but it does mean we get high-end matchups like Takeshita versus Garcia. If they keep the undercard at that pace, I might actually forgive them for the repetitive tournament structures.
TNA is throwing everything at the wall
TNA is acting like a caffeinated teenager right now, and it is glorious. We have AJ Francis performing live on Impact, which is certainly a choice. It reminds me of the wilder days of the mid-2000s when you truly had no idea if you were going to see a five-star classic or a total trainwreck. According to reports on the updated lineup, they are really banking on this spectacle to draw in viewers.
The booking over there is just as frantic. KC Navarro getting a pinfall on Mustafa Ali was a move, even if the match concept itself was pure nonsense. I’m into a Navarro-Ali feud, as it gives the mid-card something to actually do besides stand around and look tough. Slammiversary needs this kind of heat, especially with the Broken Hardys tied up in a weird program against The Righteous. It’s chaotic, it’s messy, and it’s arguably the most fun corner of the industry.
The WWE mid-card is trapped in circles
Then we have the big leagues, where WWE is still trying to figure out how to stretch out the Bloodline drama. Did anyone actually enjoy that Acknowledging Ceremony on Raw? Watching Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu stare into the middle distance while we wait for the next chapter is getting stale. The clash in Italy was a solid main event, but that acknowledgment segment felt like filler designed to kill time before the next round of merchandise drops.
At least the four-way for the title contendership—Oba versus Carmelo versus Penta versus Solo—was a frantic sprint. That match had a pace that made the rest of the show look like it was moving through wet cement. I don’t love how they are handling some of these call-ups, but when the bell rings, the sheer talent in that ring at 10:45 PM almost makes up for the bloated promo segments earlier in the night. Almost.
We also have the ongoing saga of the Seth Rollins-Bron Breakker rivalry, which is arguably the only thing keeping Raw afloat right now. Breakker is a literal wrecking ball, and having him clash with someone as polished as Rollins is a smart booking decision. If they give them 20 minutes on a premium stage without interference, it will be the match of the month. Until then, we are just waiting for the next inevitable plot twist.
