The Main Event Racial Diversity Is Getting Better In AEW

[yokohamacpfc]

Both men's and women's winners were African-American. A fitting tribute to one of the best NOD members.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Jul 15, 2023 21:31:22 GMT -5 yokohamacpfc said:

Both men's and women's winners were African-American. A fitting tribute to one of the best NOD members.

Just remember, he is NOT a Nugget!

[ghost]

Starks lost momentum as a face due to booking, not the fans losing interest in him. I think he should stay a face but if being a heel pushes him up to main event level then I guess that’s a step forward. He has all the makings of a main event babyface.

Also good on Punk for putting him over. I always laughed at his “I’m here for the young guys” quote during his debut as he proceeded to beat all of them over the next year. Hopefully he’s a bit more generous in this run (or Khan books him to be more generous).

[markymark]

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Jul 15, 2023 21:31:22 GMT -5 yokohamacpfc said:

Both men's and women's winners were African-American. A fitting tribute to one of the best NOD members.

Y’all sick on here 😂😂😂

[Texas Tornado]

Wasn't the result I expected, but was actually the one I wanted. Ricky wasn't gonna get too far being Punk and FTR's little buddy on Collision & Punk winning the Owen while doing all those Bret tributes would've been cringe af. I see this as an absolute win. I'm excited to see where it goes.

This reset for Ricky might just be the thing that keeps him in the main event scene. Really looking forward to how his character evolves.

[Mozenrath]

Jul 15, 2023 21:28:10 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

Jul 15, 2023 21:23:25 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

First dude to pin CM Punk on his return

No matter how you slice it, that's a big deal, and he won a tournament in the process that's also a big deal

Hoping if he's going heel he kills it.

It only remains a big deal if the follow up is good otherwise it is an empty accomplishment 

We shall see tho. Punk likes him which will stand for something 

I wouldn't call it empty, exactly, but yeah, it definitely remains to be seen just what all will come of it. If nothing else, I imagine a Punk vs Ricky II is a given, probably with Punk either full-on bitching or him trying to act like he's giving Ricky the benefit of the doubt but clearly being upset about and shaken, if they want to drag out if Ricky just saw an opportunity, or if he is going to go full-heel.

[kingoftheindies]

Jul 16, 2023 0:16:28 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Jul 15, 2023 21:28:10 GMT -5 Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) said:

It only remains a big deal if the follow up is good otherwise it is an empty accomplishment 

We shall see tho. Punk likes him which will stand for something 

I wouldn't call it empty, exactly, but yeah, it definitely remains to be seen just what all will come of it. If nothing else, I imagine a Punk vs Ricky II is a given, probably with Punk either full-on bitching or him trying to act like he's giving Ricky the benefit of the doubt but clearly being upset about and shaken, if they want to drag out if Ricky just saw an opportunity, or if he is going to go full-heel.

I think last year the Owen accomplishment got buried because of Cole getting hurt (I don't remember but maybe Britt was hurt too?) but I also think having a majority of the tournament take place on Collision has kind of helped the tourny keep focus. It did feel like Ricky and Willow winning got more attention (though being in Calgary helped)

[Tiger Millionaire]

Jul 15, 2023 21:48:54 GMT -5 ghost said:

Starks lost momentum as a face due to booking, not the fans losing interest in him. I think he should stay a face but if being a heel pushes him up to main event level then I guess that’s a step forward. He has all the makings of a main event babyface.

Also good on Punk for putting him over. I always laughed at his “I’m here for the young guys” quote during his debut as he proceeded to beat all of them over the next year. Hopefully he’s a bit more generous in this run (or Khan books him to be more generous).

Starks momentum got sucked away by the heat vampire, Chris Jericho.

[Mozenrath]

Jul 16, 2023 8:14:49 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Jul 16, 2023 0:16:28 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I wouldn't call it empty, exactly, but yeah, it definitely remains to be seen just what all will come of it. If nothing else, I imagine a Punk vs Ricky II is a given, probably with Punk either full-on bitching or him trying to act like he's giving Ricky the benefit of the doubt but clearly being upset about and shaken, if they want to drag out if Ricky just saw an opportunity, or if he is going to go full-heel.

I think last year the Owen accomplishment got buried because of Cole getting hurt (I don't remember but maybe Britt was hurt too?) but I also think having a majority of the tournament take place on Collision has kind of helped the tourny keep focus. It did feel like Ricky and Willow winning got more attention (though being in Calgary helped)

It is also less "gilding the lily", where the issue with Britt winning was she wasn't really in a position to benefit from it. She was already one of the top women, so nothing changed.

[markymark]

Ricky heel turn even got Ohbaris attention

[SneakMan]

Happy that Starks won but the get the f*** out of here turning him heel so soon after he turned face because Phil wants to have his Cena run. Pants-on-head dumbass shit.

[Tiger Millionaire]

Jul 16, 2023 14:35:11 GMT -5 SneakMan said:

Happy that Starks won but the get the f*** out of here turning him heel so soon after he turned face because Phil wants to have his Cena run. Pants-on-head dumbass shit.

I don't think it has as much to do with Phil as much as the year they putzed up his face turn.

[SneakMan]

Jul 16, 2023 14:36:13 GMT -5 Tiger Millionaire said:

I don't think it has as much to do with Phil as much as the year they putzed up his face turn.

Even if that is the motivation, Starks winning clean would’ve done a lot more for him, and Punk turning heel would be a bit more bearable than the “love him or hate him…” mid-2000s Cena shit they’re doing with him.

[markymark]

Jul 16, 2023 14:36:13 GMT -5 Tiger Millionaire said:

Jul 16, 2023 14:35:11 GMT -5 SneakMan said:

Happy that Starks won but the get the f*** out of here turning him heel so soon after he turned face because Phil wants to have his Cena run. Pants-on-head dumbass shit.

I don't think it has as much to do with Phil as much as the year they putzed up his face turn.

The followup will be more important, Ricky beating Jericho twice clean shouldve elevated him but it did nothing for him because the followup was bad thus the early part of Ricky vs BCG feud was cold

[Allie Kitsune]

Jul 17, 2023 14:49:13 GMT -5 markymark said:

Jul 16, 2023 14:36:13 GMT -5 Tiger Millionaire said:

I don't think it has as much to do with Phil as much as the year they putzed up his face turn.

The followup will be more important, Ricky beating Jericho twice clean shouldve elevated him but it did nothing for him because the followup was bad thus the early part of Ricky vs BCG feud was cold

Saddling Ricky with Action Andretti did a lot to suck the wind out of his sails.

[salz4life]

Jul 15, 2023 23:08:34 GMT -5 markymark said:

I love Willow. She is fun and pretty damn good (and will get better).

[salz4life]

Jul 16, 2023 8:14:49 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Jul 16, 2023 0:16:28 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I wouldn't call it empty, exactly, but yeah, it definitely remains to be seen just what all will come of it. If nothing else, I imagine a Punk vs Ricky II is a given, probably with Punk either full-on bitching or him trying to act like he's giving Ricky the benefit of the doubt but clearly being upset about and shaken, if they want to drag out if Ricky just saw an opportunity, or if he is going to go full-heel.

I think last year the Owen accomplishment got buried because of Cole getting hurt (I don't remember but maybe Britt was hurt too?) but I also think having a majority of the tournament take place on Collision has kind of helped the tourny keep focus. It did feel like Ricky and Willow winning got more attention (though being in Calgary helped)

I'm wondering if they should make it a yearly tradition that the finals for both Tournaments should be in Calgary. It will make it feel as special as it should.

[HIM]

I said early on in the thread that it would be around 2023-2024 until there's any change and so far, I'm feeling like my prediction my come true. Good for Ricky and Willow but nah, we're still not there yet. Feels like we're back on that "hey Hobbs is about to move up" thing like people were saying years ago, same with Keith Lee being slotted into the main event position which I remember people saying was gonna happen. We'll see.

Not sure why they'd turn Ricky heel but then again, it's Punk so yeah I guess I do see why.

[lockedontarget]

Jul 16, 2023 8:19:39 GMT -5 Tiger Millionaire said:

Jul 15, 2023 21:48:54 GMT -5 ghost said:

Starks lost momentum as a face due to booking, not the fans losing interest in him. I think he should stay a face but if being a heel pushes him up to main event level then I guess that’s a step forward. He has all the makings of a main event babyface.

Also good on Punk for putting him over. I always laughed at his “I’m here for the young guys” quote during his debut as he proceeded to beat all of them over the next year. Hopefully he’s a bit more generous in this run (or Khan books him to be more generous).

Starks momentum got sucked away by the heat vampire, Chris Jericho.

Huh? No it didn’t. That feud was over with the crowds, only lasted one ppv cycle, and Starks got put over big-time beating Jericho clean twice, winning the feud decisively.

The actual problem was the follow-up booking. The Starks/White feud was ice cold prior to Collision, as it barely got any focus at all and was treated like complete filler.