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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 11:09:33 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. Didn't help that MJF came in and did the job like a bitter loser leaving the territory as opposed to actually making going out on your back mean something. Gresham had more enthusiasm against Cesaro while dropping the ROH belt and that is saying something.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 11:19:47 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. Didn't help that MJF came in and did the job like a bitter loser leaving the territory as opposed to actually making going out on your back mean something. Gresham had more enthusiasm against Cesaro while dropping the ROH belt and that is saying something.
I am as tired of MJF as anyone else, but I have to defend the Wardlow match.
The story was Max doing everything in his power to keep Wardlow from getting his hands on him, because the moment he did, it was curtains, and Max was getting power bombed through the mat. A 20 minute back and forth match just wasn't going to be as cathartic as 10 minutes of Max getting pasted, you know?
That's exactly what happened, right down to Max acting like a scared child the whole time.
What completely destroyed all of that was the Dynamite after where Max came out and cut the "You can have my spot" cringefest promo
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 12:03:51 GMT -5
What completely destroyed all of that was the Dynamite after where Max came out and cut the "You can have my spot" cringefest promo
Ah, the same promo people on Reddit and Twitter were praising as generational even though here people were critical about it.
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markymark
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Post by markymark on Mar 7, 2023 12:05:44 GMT -5
Wardlow also said that he got hurt during his TNT title reign, so its like Thunder Rosa but without being a total douchebag to the lockerroom.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 12:10:17 GMT -5
Wardlow also said that he got hurt during his TNT title reign, so its like Thunder Rosa but without being a total douchebag to the lockerroom. Was there anything official made to Thunder Rosa's behavior by anyone? All reports of her having problems with others in the locker-room seem to be just rumors. I heard Ivelisse talked about it, but haven't heard others.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 12:11:03 GMT -5
What completely destroyed all of that was the Dynamite after where Max came out and cut the "You can have my spot" cringefest promo
Ah, the same promo people on Reddit and Twitter were praising as generational even though here people were critical about it.
Yeah, I never bought the hype of that promo, and nothing is more eye-rolling than when wrestlers go work-shooty and I'm supposed to act like it's salacious.
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Post by Gerard Gerard on Mar 7, 2023 12:12:34 GMT -5
Can’t say it helped that he was overshadowed in the fallout of DoN when it should’ve been his coronation. The fact he was establishing himself when the roster and show was at its most bloated, chaotic and aimless only served to compound matters.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 12:15:53 GMT -5
Didn't help that after beating MJF, his first feud was with Mark Sterling.
Like... that's the guy? A total loser who manages total losers?
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Mar 7, 2023 12:16:00 GMT -5
I really like Wardlow, but there's a part of me that'd like to see how he'd do in WWE. I don't watch them any more but Wardlow kinda feels like a WWE talent through and through
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Post by Gerard Gerard on Mar 7, 2023 12:21:38 GMT -5
I really like Wardlow, but there's a part of me that'd like to see how he'd do in WWE. I don't watch them any more but Wardlow kinda feels like a WWE talent through and through There’s a bunch of AEW originals where I can’t fathom how they weren’t hovered up during WWE’s ‘hire every motherf***er’ phase with Hobbs and Wardlow being 1 and 2 on that list.
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The Ichi
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Post by The Ichi on Mar 7, 2023 13:01:58 GMT -5
It kind of hurt him being put in the fast-paced TNT belt division where TK can't seem to make his mind up over who he wants as champ.
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Post by Jindrak Mark on Mar 7, 2023 13:30:53 GMT -5
Turning on and beating MJF should have been his Batista/HHH that catapulted him to the top but it was more Alex Riley/Miz and a year later he feels further away from ever winning a world title or being cemented as a top guy. This time a year ago it seemed like a sure thing but not so much now. He's not some rookie anymore either. He's 35 and a 10 year pro. I honestly thought he'd be a top 2-3 babyface at worst by now and one of the top stars in the company. The first half of last year he really reminded me of 2005 Batista but his momentum has cooled a lot.
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markymark
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Post by markymark on Mar 7, 2023 13:33:37 GMT -5
Wardlow also said that he got hurt during his TNT title reign, so its like Thunder Rosa but without being a total douchebag to the lockerroom. Was there anything official made to Thunder Rosa's behavior by anyone? All reports of her having problems with others in the locker-room seem to be just rumors. I heard Ivelisse talked about it, but haven't heard others.
They had a talent meeting for her to apologize to the locker room according to Fightful.
Didn't help that after beating MJF, his first feud was with Mark Sterling. Like... that's the guy? A total loser who manages total losers?
The Sterling feud lasted like 2 weeks and then he feuded with American Top Team but they rushed the feud because Scorpio was also injured.
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Post by Lizuka #BLM on Mar 7, 2023 13:33:59 GMT -5
Didn't help that after beating MJF, his first feud was with Mark Sterling. Like... that's the guy? A total loser who manages total losers? And also every Mark Sterling feud is exactly the f***ing same.
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Post by xxshoyuweeniexx on Mar 7, 2023 13:45:55 GMT -5
Didn't help that after beating MJF, his first feud was with Mark Sterling. Like... that's the guy? A total loser who manages total losers? Like man that was awful. I think Tony was like “oh he’ll look so cool powerbombing and pinning a bunch of security guards that run at him like putties from Power Rangers” Then the fued with America’s Top Team didn’t help much either besides him getting the belt, and his reign was awful.
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Dave the Dave
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Post by Dave the Dave on Mar 7, 2023 13:58:07 GMT -5
I just think his matches are boring. And in AEW, that’s enough for me to skip right past you.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2023 14:53:12 GMT -5
Didn't help that after beating MJF, his first feud was with Mark Sterling. Like... that's the guy? A total loser who manages total losers? And also every Mark Sterling feud is exactly the f***ing same. "I'm gonna sue you!" "Okay, so what are you looking at." "Well, either you help me out with the lawsuit, or you challenge my band of geeks in a match that they're definitely losing because their stats are padded by tomato cans." "I'll challenge your geeks." "Aw, crap!"
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lucas_lee
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Post by lucas_lee on Mar 7, 2023 14:59:02 GMT -5
Didn't help that MJF came in and did the job like a bitter loser leaving the territory as opposed to actually making going out on your back mean something. Gresham had more enthusiasm against Cesaro while dropping the ROH belt and that is saying something. I am as tired of MJF as anyone else, but I have to defend the Wardlow match.
The story was Max doing everything in his power to keep Wardlow from getting his hands on him, because the moment he did, it was curtains, and Max was getting power bombed through the mat. A 20 minute back and forth match just wasn't going to be as cathartic as 10 minutes of Max getting pasted, you know?
That's exactly what happened, right down to Max acting like a scared child the whole time. What completely destroyed all of that was the Dynamite after where Max came out and cut the "You can have my spot" cringefest promo
I would say the backstage hullabaloo if he was coming or not really took the wind out of Wardlows sails and I think even he admitted it too
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pinja
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Post by pinja on Mar 7, 2023 15:04:05 GMT -5
High risk, reward low.
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Post by chronocross on Mar 7, 2023 15:22:09 GMT -5
I saw the match with him and Joe from Sunday and the crowd seemed kinda tepid for his title win.
I would like to see Hobbs win but don't want to see Wardlow lose the belt so soon.
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