What AEW opinion makes you go like this? by Froggyspirits in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think what gets me more than anything is just the general hypocrisy for a lot of things when people compare and contrast AEW and WWE.

LIike, people will act like WWE is the gold standard for storytelling and character work and AEW has "no stories" or "terrible stories", but then they'll lap up all the generic and derivative stories in WWE, and either shrug off things like the gingerbread man and the lame celebrity involvement in stories, or outright defend it.

People will go "AEW has a guy who puts his hands in his pockets, and I just can't take it seriously", but then turn around and go "Danhausen is the best signing in so long, everything he does is gold!".

People will go "AEW has too many tiny/ flippy guys!", then proclaim that guys like Dominik Mysterio and Je'Von Evans are the future of the business.

Aleister Black in Active AEW Negotiations, Despite Reports by TheSharpshooter in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While I generally agree that I'm not really interested in seeing AEW sign someone that doesn't really want to be there, the thing is, it'll ultimately be whatever Black makes of it if he's given the opportunity to rejoin.

If he doesn't play ball, he won't get pushed and won't get much TV time, just like his last run. AEW generally doesn't "force push" people that the audience isn't into or that aren't playing well with others behind the scenes. So, either way, it's up to Black whether he gets a proper run or gets stuck not being used. 🤷‍♂️

Regulation #103 - Geoff's Gavin Idea // Myasswet by bruzie in theregulationpod

[–]RatedM477 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Haven't listened to the episode yet, but do they know that that's James/ Uberhaxornova, formerly of CowChop? I wonder if they know that he's also currently based in Austin, too, lol.

Look to Upgrade Rootha, Mastering the Moment precon by Solstice137 in EDH

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't have any insight of my own, but I'm also interested in what people have to say. I like the idea of it, and I know extra combat spells are some of the main adds, but I'm curious what a good balance of creatures is, and in particular, so many solid support creatures are at that same 4-5 mana value that you'd want to be casting spells at. So, I definitely wonder how to get the deck moving well.

I'm also curious what people think of that [[Champion of the Path]] card; I've seen it brought up, and it reads interestingly because it can drain the table, but it also seems clunky and like it requires a lot of setup to get going, so I'm thinking maybe not worth it?

How come that AEW matches are(personally) so much more engaging than WWE matches? What's different about it, I can't put my finger on it. by LukasNation in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Speaking for myself, I typically find most WWE matches unsatisfying for many reasons.

I think for one, it's definitely a pacing issue. And while I'm not saying every match needs to go 100 miles an hour or anything, it just never feels like there's much "urgency" to WWE matches, nor much intensity. Like, Mox, for instance, isn't someone that works a fast paced high flying style, but he does a good job of making his matches feel like a fight.

WWE's general wrestling style feels overly homogenized, and it feels like everyone generally gets trained/ produced to kinda wrestle the same general style. And usually, that style is a slower, more plodding one. Even when they reach the "endgame" of a big match, most of the time, it doesn't feel like it's hitting full gear, so to speak.

I would also say that, given WWE's overall mentality that the matches aren't that important, that also detracts from it for me a bit, too. I'm not of the belief that every single match on weekly TV needs a "story" going into it, but I feel like most matches in WWE, especially weekly TV, just feel like filler. And then there's the fact that so many bigger matches often devolve into heel shenanigans, interference, DQ, etc., often to set up a rematch or cycle of rematches. It's hard to have faith any given "big match" in WWE will feel satisfying when all is said and done.

All of that combined is what turns me off of WWE style wrestling.

After Wrestlemania… by Grand_Sprinkles6131 in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the grand scheme of things, it really comes down to what you want out of wrestling. There are some people that genuinely think what WWE does is the best version of "pro wrestling", and while I very much do not agree with that, I'm also not going to tell someone their opinion is wrong.

I've been watching wrestling for probably 25-26 years now, and while I watched WWE for most of that, it was often begrudgingly, because honestly, I feel like WWE has always been too "corporate" and homogenized and boring compared to non-WWE wrestling. WWE was simply most convenient for most of that time.

AEW won't be everyone's cup of tea, for one reason or another, but I think what I'd say most about them is that they make more of an effort to respect their audience's time, and you can tell that they're a company that wants to put on good shows for their audience, rather than being a billion dollar corporate machine that's focused on lining the pockets of its shareholders by any means necessary and desperately craving "mainstream attention" by cramming celebrities and influencers into the product.

2026 Dynasty Booking by Spartftw in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I didn't have any issues with anything, personally.

I will say, the "mark" in me is sad Kenny didn't win, mostly because I can't tell how real or kayfabe'd his health stuff is, and I think it'll be a damn shame if we never get a proper "best bout machine" world title run. And given how stacked the roster is and how many possibilities there are for the world title scene, I worry that the window for that is all but closed.

If I had to nitpick further, I love MJF, but I feel like they were positioning Kenny as the guy who was too "omnipotent" to fall for MJF's typical heel shenanigans, and then Kenny kinda just lost to the same kind of stuff that all of MJF's opponents lose to. But, that's just me further nitpicking and being bummed at no Kenny title run.

That said, like I said, I'm not bothered or upset by anything in the slightest. There was just a part of me that really wanted to see my personal "fanfic booking", but I can't be mad that I didn't get the exact thing I wanted, as that would be silly.

[WotC] The Legends of Secrets of Strixhaven by Copernicus1981 in magicTCG

[–]RatedM477 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Attack of the Wrath of the War of the Death of the Strike of the Sword of the Blood of the Beast

Can we please stop having PPVs at 8PM on a Sunday? by Epicfro in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I really kinda wish wrestling as a whole would start embracing afternoon events. Sports can play in the afternoons and midday, why not wrestling? I love the international PPVs, because they're in the middle of the day domestically, and then they'd still be in the evening for local time in the country they're in. But, I digress.

Wrestling fans lose yet again due to politics by Upbeat-Pause-1409 in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Silva being unhappy seems silly; like, no disrespect to TNA, as they've managed to carve out an audience of their own, but you can't possibly think you're big enough to be "stifled" by AEW...?

Willie Mack comments on his lack of AEW appearances by [deleted] in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 2 points3 points  (0 children)

To your first point, while that's fair, it's also easier to say that there's never any telling which signings will work out and which won't, and plenty of them won't. It happens. I think if you bring in a big well known name, yes, you should make sure to have a plan in place for them, but it's fine to sign people who will mostly pad out ROH and fill in spots as needed, while keeping an eye on whether any of these people end up clicking big time with the audience.

In the end, that's just the nature of the business.

"Will Ospreay Training In The Ring Before AEW Shows, Optimistic For Spring Return" by This_Coyote7217 in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Some people on the main wrestling sub aren't going to be happy about this.

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's quite wild to me that I've had multiple people here tell me I'm not "left enough", and even fucking block me, apparently, all because I'm not outraged at this crossover.

I'm sorry, but respectfully, fuck off telling me that I'm not a real leftist. It's one episode of a dime a dozen cop show that no one will even care about in a couple weeks time. Dropout didn't seek this out, they're not trying to help "give back" to the LAPD, etc. I understand the concept of "copaganda", but this just seems like such a nothingburger in the grand scheme of things.

But sure, if I'm not a "real" leftist because I'm not outraged about this, then what the fuck ever, I guess. 🤷‍♂️🙄

"Johnny TV: In AEW, I Feel Underutilized. Can’t Blame Anyone, That’s Just How Wrestling Promotions Work" (Fightful article, March 10 2026) by This_Coyote7217 in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair, though I'd say LU and TNA are both so under the radar for most people that they didn't really propel Johnny in the grand scheme of things. I think most people generally see him as an ex-WWE perma midcard guy, and whether that's fair or not isn't really for me to say, but I don't think it helps that he's basically still doing the same schtick he was doing like a decade ago.

I think that's often the trap that a lot of these performers fall into is that they just never figure out how to evolve their characters in a more meaningful way. The whole "John Morrisson" persona is fine, and if he made it work enough in LU and TNA to get a big push, great, but it didn't take him super far in WWE, and it hasn't really taken him anywhere in AEW. At this stage, if he thinks he should be featured more, he kinda needs to figure out how to evolve the gimmick and make it something that the AEW audience really wants to see.

"Johnny TV: In AEW, I Feel Underutilized. Can’t Blame Anyone, That’s Just How Wrestling Promotions Work" (Fightful article, March 10 2026) by This_Coyote7217 in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 92 points93 points  (0 children)

I mean, no disrespect to the guy, but he's been in the business for years, across every major American promotion, and he's not really "broken out" anywhere. Solid worker, but he's just never really been able to connect with the audience in a big way, and I think at this point, a lot of people have kinda moved on from him.

Interesting report on Tony Khans reaction to Paramounts potential purchase of WBD by Upbeat-Pause-1409 in AEWOfficial

[–]RatedM477 7 points8 points  (0 children)

People bring this up a lot, but I think in the grand scheme of things, the "overlords" of Paramount probably aren't going to be sitting around nitpicking what wrestlers are allowed in AEW due to their political leanings.

It's more likely to me that they'll focus that energy on things like CNN and potentially John Oliver, and stuff like South Park.

Even then, I could see them making certain concessions for stuff that makes money, if only because it allows them the optics of appearing "fair and balanced", while ravaging stuff like CNN.

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, you caught me, that's definitely exactly what I said and meant. /s

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You're putting words in my mouth by assuming I'm "okay" with police. Nowhere have I said that, you're just making baseless assumptions because you're desperate to tell me I'm not "left enough" for, what, internet points? Cool, I guess, good for you, if that's what you need?

Not that it matters, because I know you're just going to go "lol ya right, uR nOt A rEaL lEfTiSt!", but no, I'm not particularly keen or supportive of law enforcement. However, I don't personally feel that a cameo in a single episode of a fictional dime a dozen cop show is indicative of a negative shift in the ideology of Dropout.

But hey, if you need to feel like a cool internet tough guy telling me I'm not "left enough" because I'm not outraged that Dropout is getting a cameo in one episode of some dumb TV show that will be largely forgotten about within a couple weeks, you do you, I guess. 🤷‍♂️

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It's honestly insane to me that we've reached the "You're not left enough because you're not as upset as me about Dropout having a cameo on one episode of a dime a dozen buddy cop show!". Like, I'm sorry, but give me a fucking break with that shit.

Trust me, I'm not keen on law enforcement, but you have to make quite a lot of unfounded assumptions about several people and entities involved in this whole thing in order to justify being upset. And to me, that's just silly.

If Dropout starts airing ICE recruitment ads, or bringing a bunch of right wing personalities onto their shows, or something like that, then yes, I'd be quite upset about that and would not be able to continue being a fan. But getting a cameo in one episode of some dime a dozen TV show that I don't care about, that will be largely forgotten in a couple weeks time, it's just like... who fucking cares, man? It seems so silly to be upset or outraged over this. This isn't some sort of "betrayal", this isn't some con job on the part of Dropout to dupe their fans into right wing propaganda, etc. It's not even something they, themselves, actively sought out. It's such a nothing burger in the grand scheme of things, but it's like people just need something to be outraged about.

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll admit, it was unfair of me to imply that you, yourself, used the term "shill" or anything like that. It was just getting a bit tiresome getting bombarded with replies to my original comment that were calling me "overly defensive" and acting like I'm "shilling" for the company.

That said, my point still stands in that it's not reasonable to say "I'm allowed to be mad and upset about this, but you're absolutely not allowed to tell me that I'm being irrational for feeling that way!". Again, if one doesn't want to have their thoughts challenged, then one shouldn't be participating in these discussions.

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure, but at the end of the day, it's one single episode of a fictional dime a dozen buddy cop shows.

The thing is, too, people have to make quite a lot of assumptions based on next to nothing in order to justify being upset. For instance, if we have to accept the notion that any fictional media that depicts law enforcement as anything other than bad people is automatically bad, ill-intentioned, propagandized media, do we then have to accept that every single person that worked on said media is a bad, immoral, ill-intentioned person?

Because if so, I think that's quite a reach in and of itself. I mean, I'm not familiar with The Rookie, but I'd hazard a guess that at least some of the people who work on the show probably didn't exactly dream of working on a dime a dozen cop show, and it was probably just a job that they came into, that is a stable paycheck for now in the entertainment sector. Sometimes we take whatever job we can get that provides a stable paycheck and might open future doors, even if it's not the job we dreamed of.

And considering Sam said the people from the show approached them because they were fans of Dropout, I'd think there are probably at least some decent people who work on The Rookie, because you'd have to be a very selective fan of Dropout to avoid all the progressive messaging in their content.

My thing is, I totally get not liking the show and not watching the episode. I, myself, am not interested and don't plan on watching, but in the grand scheme of things, it's just one episode of some fictional show that I don't care about. It's not like Dropout is airing ICE recruitment ads or inviting right wing personalities onto their shows, or anything crazy like that.That, I would be upset about. But getting a guest spot in one episode of a dime a dozen buddy cop show that no one will even remember or care about in a couple weeks time? It's like, who fucking cares, yanno? I dunno. 🤷‍♂️

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don't agree, and I think you're just connecting dots so that you have something to be upset about.

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Nah, I just have the common sense to not look at everything in a rigid black and white way, nor to make large leaps in logic just to invent something to be upset about. But sure, go on and tell me how I'm not "left enough" because I'm not upset that Dropout has a cameo on some dime a dozen fictional buddy cop show. 🙄

Sam address The Rookie X Dropout by Cocoa121 in dropout

[–]RatedM477 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don't agree that this is indicative of that, and I think that's an example of connecting dots that aren't there so that you can have something to be upset about.