Four Pillars starting off the show appreciation

[King Devitt]

Mar 16, 2023 15:55:57 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Not to say anything definitive after all of one segment—but what is it about MJF that he instantly becomes more interesting when he’s feuding with his own age group? This was so refreshing.

AEW really have an opportunity here. If they let this go on until Double or Nothing, which they should, flesh out the three challenges. Have Max and Jack forced to team up and kinda like it. Lean in on Darby and Sammy’s history. Really use this to build up everyone.

Also—props to AEW for pulling the trigger on this and not sitting on things, as WWE does.

For real. This was the most tolerable Max has been in awhile.

And as for pulling the trigger on it, I don't have a lot of praise for TK usually, but this was the best thing he's done in a long time.
From even doing the idea, to how it was executed with them coming out one by one to MJF's annoyance, to each getting promo time.
Even Jungle Boy did a decent job.

From beginning to end it was a great segment. Stuff like this is what I've wanted from AEW.

Cautiously optimistic at TK's booking of this from here on. We'll see what happens.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Mar 17, 2023 22:36:57 GMT -5 King Devitt said:

Mar 16, 2023 15:55:57 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Not to say anything definitive after all of one segment—but what is it about MJF that he instantly becomes more interesting when he’s feuding with his own age group? This was so refreshing.

AEW really have an opportunity here. If they let this go on until Double or Nothing, which they should, flesh out the three challenges. Have Max and Jack forced to team up and kinda like it. Lean in on Darby and Sammy’s history. Really use this to build up everyone.

Also—props to AEW for pulling the trigger on this and not sitting on things, as WWE does.

For real. This was the most tolerable Max has been in awhile.

And as for pulling the trigger on it, I don't have a lot of praise for TK usually, but this was the best thing he's done in a long time.
From even doing the idea, to how it was executed with them coming out one by one to MJF's annoyance, to each getting promo time.
Even Jungle Boy did a decent job.

From beginning to end it was a great segment. Stuff like this is what I've wanted from AEW.

Cautiously optimistic at TK's booking of this from here on. We'll see what happens.

I have to say while I hate JB's recent booking his mic work is SO much better after the Christian feud

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Mar 18, 2023 5:30:42 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

Mar 17, 2023 22:36:57 GMT -5 King Devitt said:

For real. This was the most tolerable Max has been in awhile.

And as for pulling the trigger on it, I don't have a lot of praise for TK usually, but this was the best thing he's done in a long time.
From even doing the idea, to how it was executed with them coming out one by one to MJF's annoyance, to each getting promo time.
Even Jungle Boy did a decent job.

From beginning to end it was a great segment. Stuff like this is what I've wanted from AEW.

Cautiously optimistic at TK's booking of this from here on. We'll see what happens.

I have to say while I hate JB's recent booking his mic work is SO much better after the Christian feud

I have no doubt in my mind that Christian helped Jungle Boy with everything character wise, and there's almost no one out there better to learn under tbh

[Abdullah]

Mar 17, 2023 22:36:57 GMT -5 King Devitt said:

Mar 16, 2023 15:55:57 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Not to say anything definitive after all of one segment—but what is it about MJF that he instantly becomes more interesting when he’s feuding with his own age group? This was so refreshing.

AEW really have an opportunity here. If they let this go on until Double or Nothing, which they should, flesh out the three challenges. Have Max and Jack forced to team up and kinda like it. Lean in on Darby and Sammy’s history. Really use this to build up everyone.

Also—props to AEW for pulling the trigger on this and not sitting on things, as WWE does.

For real. This was the most tolerable Max has been in awhile.

And as for pulling the trigger on it, I don't have a lot of praise for TK usually, but this was the best thing he's done in a long time.
From even doing the idea, to how it was executed with them coming out one by one to MJF's annoyance, to each getting promo time.
Even Jungle Boy did a decent job.

From beginning to end it was a great segment. Stuff like this is what I've wanted from AEW.

Cautiously optimistic at TK's booking of this from here on. We'll see what happens.

I will say—the worst thing that can happen, next week or whatever, is for Max to deliver a venomous and hateful promo next week. Build to that. Earn that. If they start at a high, there’s nowhere else to go. Have fun with it. I thought the segment did a good job of selling the moment but keeping it light.

It also depends whether this will be the PPV match or just a special Dynamite. I hope it’s the former.

[pinja]

Really entertaining although I'm not a fan of either man and shooty comments. Sadly the camera work was off when MJF hit the table. Overall it felt like a fast food meal. Little substance, but delicious. I'll never care about Darby Allin, but his sentiment of why AEW and its main title is important to him wasn't as hacky as in many similar instances.

[kingoftheindies]

Mar 16, 2023 15:55:57 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Not to say anything definitive after all of one segment—but what is it about MJF that he instantly becomes more interesting when he’s feuding with his own age group? This was so refreshing.

AEW really have an opportunity here. If they let this go on until Double or Nothing, which they should, flesh out the three challenges. Have Max and Jack forced to team up and kinda like it. Lean in on Darby and Sammy’s history. Really use this to build up everyone.

Also—props to AEW for pulling the trigger on this and not sitting on things, as WWE does.

I'm gonna struggle to explain my perspective so I apologize in advance. But it feels like to me that with the younger guys they came up with Max so they see him for what he is and they don't let him control the room. THey don't let his promos dictate things, and they take him off his game. With the older guys it always feels like "yeah you're good but you cheat"

[Abdullah]

Mar 18, 2023 9:39:49 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Mar 16, 2023 15:55:57 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Not to say anything definitive after all of one segment—but what is it about MJF that he instantly becomes more interesting when he’s feuding with his own age group? This was so refreshing.

AEW really have an opportunity here. If they let this go on until Double or Nothing, which they should, flesh out the three challenges. Have Max and Jack forced to team up and kinda like it. Lean in on Darby and Sammy’s history. Really use this to build up everyone.

Also—props to AEW for pulling the trigger on this and not sitting on things, as WWE does.

I'm gonna struggle to explain my perspective so I apologize in advance. But it feels like to me that with the younger guys they came up with Max so they see him for what he is and they don't let him control the room. THey don't let his promos dictate things, and they take him off his game. With the older guys it always feels like "yeah you're good but you cheat"

The way I’ve put it is that, with the older guys, with the ex-WWE guys, Max is always talking at them rather than feuding with them. Did Ambrose even dislike Max in their most recent feud? That angle was very one-sided, and eventually Max had to feud with Regal for some semblance of story. The WWE guys seem above Max, though I’m sure they don’t mean to.

The younger guys, and Punk, they get down to Max’s level. They collaborate with him to actually create something. I think that’s the difference.

[kingoftheindies]

Mar 18, 2023 15:48:04 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Mar 18, 2023 9:39:49 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

I'm gonna struggle to explain my perspective so I apologize in advance. But it feels like to me that with the younger guys they came up with Max so they see him for what he is and they don't let him control the room. THey don't let his promos dictate things, and they take him off his game. With the older guys it always feels like "yeah you're good but you cheat"

The way I’ve put it is that, with the older guys, with the ex-WWE guys, Max is always talking at them rather than feuding with them. Did Ambrose even dislike Max in their most recent feud? That angle was very one-sided, and eventually Max had to feud with Regal for some semblance of story. The WWE guys seem above Max, though I’m sure they don’t mean to.

The younger guys, and Punk, they get down to Max’s level. They collaborate with him to actually create something. I think that’s the difference.

I think Danielson TRIED to get to Max's level but they wasted a lot of time with the Danielson has to win a bunch of matches part of the story. Which took the focus away from MJF.

[Allie Kitsune]

Mar 18, 2023 15:54:21 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Mar 18, 2023 15:48:04 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

The way I’ve put it is that, with the older guys, with the ex-WWE guys, Max is always talking at them rather than feuding with them. Did Ambrose even dislike Max in their most recent feud? That angle was very one-sided, and eventually Max had to feud with Regal for some semblance of story. The WWE guys seem above Max, though I’m sure they don’t mean to.

The younger guys, and Punk, they get down to Max’s level. They collaborate with him to actually create something. I think that’s the difference.

I think Danielson TRIED to get to Max's level but they wasted a lot of time with the Danielson has to win a bunch of matches part of the story. Which took the focus away from MJF.

Not only that, but MJF is almost always going to get cheers for being an "AEW Original" when up against a WWE guy. By default, he becomes the Young Vanguard of the Revolution. And that leads to him getting into the way-too-over-the-top attempts to say heinous shit to stop the cheering.

He doesn't have to do that with younger guys because there's no way to perceive them as being "given" more than he has (even though MJF still tried to invoke that with "I DON'T NEED DAYCARE!").

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

Mar 18, 2023 18:13:04 GMT -5 Allie Kitsune said:

Mar 18, 2023 15:54:21 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

I think Danielson TRIED to get to Max's level but they wasted a lot of time with the Danielson has to win a bunch of matches part of the story. Which took the focus away from MJF.

Not only that, but MJF is almost always going to get cheers for being an "AEW Original" when up against a WWE guy. By default, he becomes the Young Vanguard of the Revolution. And that leads to him getting into the way-too-over-the-top attempts to say heinous shit to stop the cheering.

He doesn't have to do that with younger guys because there's no way to perceive them as being "given" more than he has (even though MJF still tried to invoke that with "I DON'T NEED DAYCARE!").

It also helps that with folks like JB, Starks, Sammy, Darby, etc., he doesn't have the loaded gun of 'insert WWE reference/edgy bullshit here'. He can just have a regular old wrestling program, do regular promos, and not try to win a damn Oscar every time.

[Celgress]

I hope we finally get the Four Pillars feuding openly.

[Abdullah]

Mar 18, 2023 15:54:21 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Mar 18, 2023 15:48:04 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

The way I’ve put it is that, with the older guys, with the ex-WWE guys, Max is always talking at them rather than feuding with them. Did Ambrose even dislike Max in their most recent feud? That angle was very one-sided, and eventually Max had to feud with Regal for some semblance of story. The WWE guys seem above Max, though I’m sure they don’t mean to.

The younger guys, and Punk, they get down to Max’s level. They collaborate with him to actually create something. I think that’s the difference.

I think Danielson TRIED to get to Max’s level but they wasted a lot of time with the Danielson has to win a bunch of matches part of the story. Which took the focus away from MJF.

I think the match they eventually had will go down in the history books, the iffy mic work beforehand forgotten. Bryan did more in the ring for MJF than anyone, I think, including Punk by tapping out relatively clean.

[Gerard Gerard]

Mar 19, 2023 11:31:25 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Mar 18, 2023 15:54:21 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

I think Danielson TRIED to get to Max’s level but they wasted a lot of time with the Danielson has to win a bunch of matches part of the story. Which took the focus away from MJF.

I think the match they eventually had will go down in the history books, the iffy mic work beforehand forgotten. Bryan did more in the ring for MJF than anyone, I think, including Punk by tapping out relatively clean.

True, he also sacrificed his first 'Yes' motion in AEW to put over the finish. Not sure if he was kayfabing with saying he wouldn't do it or something changed, but it really put the ending of the match over the top (twice).

[clifford]

They have a real opportunity here to tell a complex and compelling wrestling feud, spanning multiple months and with the opportunity to involve a lot of interweaving characters and callbacks, with an unlimited amount of great matches and moments to create. All with 4 homegrown stars as the focus.

This could be an era-defining storyline for AEW; I'm praying they knock this out of the park.

[kingoftheindies]

Mar 19, 2023 11:31:25 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Mar 18, 2023 15:54:21 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

I think Danielson TRIED to get to Max’s level but they wasted a lot of time with the Danielson has to win a bunch of matches part of the story. Which took the focus away from MJF.

I think the match they eventually had will go down in the history books, the iffy mic work beforehand forgotten. Bryan did more in the ring for MJF than anyone, I think, including Punk by tapping out relatively clean.

Oh don't get me wrong, I think the match was amazing (and I hate Iron Man matches) and I think it does legitimize MJF after he went cold to a lot of people. I was more saying I think in an effort to tell more of a long term story (while admirable) ended up being uneven and is a reason MJF lost some momentum

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Speaking of that segment:

[Abdullah]

Didn’t Spears have a big emotional return and then disappear again? What happened with him?

[THE FVNKER]

Mar 16, 2023 15:55:57 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Not to say anything definitive after all of one segment—but what is it about MJF that he instantly becomes more interesting when he’s feuding with his own age group? This was so refreshing.

AEW really have an opportunity here. If they let this go on until Double or Nothing, which they should, flesh out the three challenges. Have Max and Jack forced to team up and kinda like it. Lean in on Darby and Sammy’s history. Really use this to build up everyone.

Also—props to AEW for pulling the trigger on this and not sitting on things, as WWE does.

I think the big difference is that this is probably one of the few instances in AEW where Max wasn't "punching up" at an established main even talent, and was directing it at his actual peers.

Also, when he said "yall got me all meshuginah (spelling?) up in this bitch" I about damn died. That was highlight reel material for me.

[Kalmia]

Mar 20, 2023 14:44:59 GMT -5 Abdullah said:

Didn’t Spears have a big emotional return and then disappear again? What happened with him?

He and Peyton Royce/Cassie Lee had their first kid. I have no idea if the baby is why he's taking time off, but he wouldn't be the first AEW wrestler to take a decent chunk of paternity leave.

[Legion]

As much as I liked the segment and think all 4 can have great matches, I do wonder if it's so wise for AEW to actively promote this guys as pillars.

Eventually at least one of them will leave for AEW and a 'you pillar's have fallen' promo writes itself, especially given the two most likely to leave are MJF and Sammy, both of which will happily take the cheap heat route with something like that.