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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Mar 7, 2023 8:27:59 GMT -5
Nothing to do with the guy himself - uh, with one exception - but I feel like AEW is giving me little reason to give a f*** about our boy Wardog
I never really thought he was that interesting anyway, except as MJF's goon boy. His single greatest moment to me was turning babyface during the Punk match, which was great, I will admit, but literally anybody could have done it.
He's had some fine matches, sure. But I just don't give a shit about him at all
He's cut his hair, which I didn't care about at all, but has managed to make him even less interesting
I still haven't got over his 'people on the internet say I'm cooling off, f*** you' promo, which was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen, Wardlow, those are YOUR FANS talking about you being misused
What has he had since then? Guy who squashes people, but is not as charismatic as Goldberg, physically?
I thought he looked like the least interesting wrestler on the entire roster showing up at the PPV at the weekend, and I can't deny that he is really over and should keep being used for something, but like.
Who is Wardlow? What does he want? Anything?
Also and this is a pet peeve of mine only why the f*** are they getting Wardlow to tap out Joe??? This entire show had submission experts losing to submissions. The other two I didn't mind, but this one???
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Post by polarbearpete on Mar 7, 2023 8:32:02 GMT -5
He’s definitely lost a ton of shine. Not sure if it’s just AEW not capitalizing on his momentum after he beat MJF or if it’s Alex Riley syndrome of him only being that over because of MJF, but it definitely doesn’t feel like he’s destined to be a world champion anymore.
It still might happen for him, but it’s not as sure as I would’ve thought. I’d be happy to see them strap up Hobbs tomorrow.
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Bo Rida
Fry's dog Seymour
Pulled one over on everyone. Got away with it, this time.
Posts: 23,542
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Post by Bo Rida on Mar 7, 2023 8:36:56 GMT -5
I remember praising that he actually turned face by addressing his past actions rather than just starting fighting heels.
Shame that didn't really continue, he could do with more of a redemption arc.
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Post by Lizuka #BLM on Mar 7, 2023 8:44:12 GMT -5
I feel like he got over on having a lot of character and pretty good in the ring and yet now he has no character and his matches are completely unremarkable.
And I really can't see any reason at all for him to have won the TNT title back unless it's to transition it to Hobbs because his first reign lasted awhile and sucked. Can't see any reason behind going back to that well pretty much immediately.
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clifford
King Koopa
Shingo Takagi stan
Posts: 10,682
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Post by clifford on Mar 7, 2023 8:54:11 GMT -5
I think if he beats Hobbs on Wednesday he'll get a lot of boos...I also think it could be the catalyst to a heel turn and a retooling, cause what has he to offer as a babyface TNT champion besides what we already got last year?
His breakout feud with MJF last year was awesome; we were all getting serious 2005 Batista vibes off him; i.e. a 'smart' powerful babyface. Like a lot of other talent in AEW in the last year and a half however, he did get lost in the shuffle; the period between his awesome first TNT defense vs. Orange Cassidy to Joe turning on him was largely very forgettable.
I actually feel bringing the TNT title back into the Joe feud was a mistake; Darby should've kept it and the blowoff to Joe/Wardlow didn't really need the title with all the personal beef involved. Now he's kind of been booked into a corner; Hobbs has all the momentum and is, for a lot of people, the more interesting person to be in the position Wardlow is in now. I feel like beating Joe and moving on to a feud with MJF over the world title would've been a cool move.
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Post by Mid-Carder on Mar 7, 2023 8:56:44 GMT -5
I wouldn't go so far as to say I don't give a shit about him but he's completely lost momentum. I have no idea why they took the TNT title off him in the first place. He could have held it all this time and then dropped to Hobbs this week. Neither Joe nor Darby needed it.
At the peak of the feud with MJF he seemed like a huge star in the making and now he's just another guy.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 9:31:28 GMT -5
It was all downhill when he cut his hair. Now the guy is dressing like King Kong bundy
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Kalmia
King Koopa
Happy to be here
Posts: 11,685
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Post by Kalmia on Mar 7, 2023 9:44:12 GMT -5
So much of Wardlow's character and appeal was seeing him turn on MJF and go alone. After that happened, it seems nobody had a plan other than "repeatedly powerbomb people."
I don't know if the fault lies purely with the booking or whether it's just that Wardlow isn't as interesting without the MJF hook. He's definitely been surpassed in the interest ranks by other physical hosses such as Hobbs, Keith Lee, and Samoa Joe.
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Post by Doo Doo is a Ratings Expert on Mar 7, 2023 9:47:40 GMT -5
I really like Wardlow, but there's a part of me that'd like to see how he'd do in WWE.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 9:56:07 GMT -5
It seems like ever since the MJF feud ended, he has no character or personality.
I still dig his matches though, I like for every wrestling roster to have that Goldberg/Ryback type monster face.
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markymark
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 18,281
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Post by markymark on Mar 7, 2023 10:08:56 GMT -5
I think if he beats Hobbs on Wednesday he'll get a lot of boos...I also think it could be the catalyst to a heel turn and a retooling, cause what has he to offer as a babyface TNT champion besides what we already got last year? His breakout feud with MJF last year was awesome; we were all getting serious 2005 Batista vibes off him; i.e. a 'smart' powerful babyface. Like a lot of other talent in AEW in the last year and a half however, he did get lost in the shuffle; the period between his awesome first TNT defense vs. Orange Cassidy to Joe turning on him was largely very forgettable. I actually feel bringing the TNT title back into the Joe feud was a mistake; Darby should've kept it and the blowoff to Joe/Wardlow didn't really need the title with all the personal beef involved. Now he's kind of been booked into a corner; Hobbs has all the momentum and is, for a lot of people, the more interesting person to be in the position Wardlow is in now. I feel like beating Joe and moving on to a feud with MJF over the world title would've been a cool move.
He will become 2022 Sammy Guevara/Scorpio Sky(shoved down the fans throats because TK wont pivot).
SRS said Joe will be more a ROH guy which is why they had him drop the title.
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deezy
Don Corleone
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Post by deezy on Mar 7, 2023 10:21:56 GMT -5
Guy was as red hot as anyone in wrestling after the MJF match. He won me over during the MJF feud and I thought he would become the next big thing in wrestling, Then TK's booking happened.
I still think he could be world champ some day, I still somewhat enjoy his matches but AEW dropped the ball with him hard and I'm not blaming MJF's shenanigans after their match for that. They still had every opportunity to ride his momentum and they didn't.
Like someone else said here, Now he is just another guy.
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Mozenrath
FANatic
Foppery and Whim
Speedy Speed Boy
Posts: 121,082
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Post by Mozenrath on Mar 7, 2023 10:26:44 GMT -5
I kind of miss the Wardlow that had the homoerotic friendship with John Silver and Alex Reynolds.
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lucas_lee
Hank Scorpio
Heel turn is finished, now stripping away my personality
Posts: 6,707
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Post by lucas_lee on Mar 7, 2023 10:28:23 GMT -5
The followup to the MJF feud I think cooled him a bit too much. I had fun watching the Smart Mark Sterling feud but it didn't do Wardlow any favors in the long run. Plus Max being Max and taking the shine off of their match to if he'll show up damaged him a lot too.
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Post by SneakMan on Mar 7, 2023 10:34:07 GMT -5
I think Wardlow's drop in popularity is due to a combo of factors. The controversy surrounding MJF both at Double or Nothing and the Dynamite afterward blunted the impact of what should've been a cathartic squash that propelled Wardlow to the top of the card; as it is, the moment didn't land the way it should've. After that match, Wardlow winning the TNT Title was a smart move but his defenses were few and far between, which is a shame the few he did have were very fun. And while he was still very much protected, he often felt like a supporting player (backing up FTR, teaming with Joe) rather than a central character. Combine all that and yeah, the dude's gonna cool off.
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Post by Fake Jesus on Mar 7, 2023 10:38:51 GMT -5
Nah I do think the MJF match hurt him. It was the exact opposite of star making. It was wrestled like a comedy squash
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Post by Jacy Derangement Syndrome on Mar 7, 2023 10:47:14 GMT -5
I feel like they went so hard on the Powerbomb Symphony that it got in to Ezekiel Jackson territory and made dude look like he couldn't do anything else.
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Post by Lizuka #BLM on Mar 7, 2023 10:50:04 GMT -5
Nah I do think the MJF match hurt him. It was the exact opposite of star making. It was wrestled like a comedy squash Speaking of I do definitely have trouble looking past that stupid 20-on-one match and how going by that Wardlow doesn't seem to 100% know how to pin people.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 10:53:42 GMT -5
He is AEW's Cage but post LU.
All while post LU Cage is also there.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 11:08:22 GMT -5
I really like Wardlow, but there's a part of me that'd like to see how he'd do in WWE. Yeah he certainly fits their mold. Wardlow can talk to which is frustrating that he doesn't get the chance and instead relies on the wrecking ball persona
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