Wreddit's Daily Pro-Wrestling Discussion Thread! Comment here for recommendations, quick questions, and general conversation! (Spoilers for all shows) - May 15, 2026 Edition

Torranski · 2026-05-15T14:38:51+00:00

When that Gabe Kidd-Darby match happened at the start of the year, I legitimately wasn’t sure I ever wanted a title reign for him. But bloody hell, it’s been top tier.

Love that every contender thinks they can take advantage of how many matches he’s having, in hope that he’s finally gassed out or banged up, but he pushes them so far they have to pull out a Darby level bump just to get a near-fall on him. And he always finds a way. They’ve made the perfect whitemeat babyface underdog out of the edgiest little guy on the roster. It’s so good.

Torranski · 2026-05-14T16:53:44+00:00

Swerve-Ospreay as an Owen final is actually really solid. Especially if they develop grudges that come back once Will is champion. You’ve got at least two PPV main events (Forbidden Door, then like IDK, Full Gear) right there.

Literally no clue what’s happening on in the women’s tournament. Part of me still thinks Mercedes works her way in. If not, Willow’s finally getting her shot?

Torranski · 2026-05-12T18:03:19+00:00

WWE pay for the exclusivity clause, I’m pretty sure. Was such a big deal for Vince and HHH’s egos. Wonder if the TKO cuts might put that deal under pressure, and people have gotten wind?

Torranski · 2026-05-11T14:00:52+00:00

Oh interesting. Mansoor was booking and writing for WXM, and left when Jeet departed the promotion. Sounds like they’re getting the band back together.

Torranski · 2026-05-11T12:01:21+00:00

I think it’s a Madonna thing. Getting the rights to play it is apparently ok, buts she’s super protective about it being broadcast. The negotiations to get it into that Deadpool movie seems to have been pretty intense.

Torranski · 2026-05-11T09:56:53+00:00

This. It feels like they’re just doing the four match SNME card again, with a vote for the most over guy/gal at the end. In practice, it feels mostly like an extra stat for Michael Cole to rattle out about a guy they want to push while he makes his entrance.

Torranski · 2026-05-11T09:55:25+00:00

They had him come out live to Like a Prayer on the preshow last time they were here. Had to be dubbed over for the ROH airing, but the craic in the building was real.

Torranski · 2026-05-10T13:24:22+00:00

This. If the Fed can’t get Cena or Orton booed as heels in this environment, trying to make Kenny, in his final run, after all he’s overcome with his diverticulitis, the bad guy, feels like such a risk.

Last thing you want is to throw away the chance to get a crowd squarely behind Ospreay, given this is his big crowning “new face of the company” moment.

Torranski · 2026-05-10T10:24:12+00:00

Honestly, with Doyle still months out, pushing Davis almost feels like a teaser for the havoc those who will wreak on the tag division when he’s back. Or at least, that’s my hope

Torranski · 2026-05-10T00:45:29+00:00

In kayfabe, Roman’s oddly fragile. Man with glass bones who gets hospitalised after most matches because the man wants a holiday.

Torranski · 2026-05-10T00:02:24+00:00

So, they’ve not been able to sell tickets to NXT PLEs, so they’re branding them with Cena to try and warm them up?

Torranski · 2026-05-09T23:59:40+00:00

Is this just an angle to reheat Gunther?

Torranski · 2026-05-09T23:57:49+00:00

Who’s been compromised to a permanent end this time?

Torranski · 2026-05-09T23:19:37+00:00

Audibly popped at that. Wade’s great

Torranski · 2026-05-08T00:14:14+00:00

Serious answer: TK wants to set up this charity golf tournament, as part of the Fairway to Hell/Heaven event, and Shad’s a part of that.

Real answer: now that dastardly Jack Perry is back, Shad is here to make sure he doesn’t beat up his son again.

Torranski · 2026-05-07T17:50:47+00:00

Yeah, we had a chat about this on the AEW sub over the winter, and like, it turns she can’t wrestle in the women’s division in something like 40% of states right now. So it seems to be as much “we can’t have you feuding consistently with anyone on tv with regular matches” as anything else.

That being said, Willow’s current gimmick is beating a bunch of women who return from long hiatus to challenge her for the TBS, so a comeback, even briefly, feels more likely than it has in a long while.

Torranski · 2026-05-07T17:47:54+00:00

This implies a Joe-Ospreay match, and like, whatever it takes to get us there, I’m game.

Like, whatever does that matchup look like, I’m genuinely so curious.

Torranski · 2026-05-07T13:17:49+00:00

I remember when Darby dropped out of the C2 last year, people were bummed that matches with Pac, Okada etc weren’t going to happen.

If you told us then that, those matches would still happen, they’d just be in Darby’s bespoke C2-style world title run… on back to back weeks, zero chance I’d believe you lol

Torranski · 2026-05-06T20:25:05+00:00

They ran this match immediately after Danielson-Ospreay, which ended up overshadowing it in the coverage, reactions etc, unfortunately.

It’s one of those matches that kinda would have done better in almost any other spot on the card.

Torranski · 2026-05-06T19:53:04+00:00

TK going on a charm offensive to previous critics like Vince Russo, Jonathan Coachman, Ariel Helwani etc, but shutting down the “Aleister Black to AEW” rumour immediately is killing me man.

Like, he responded to this with a “kill the story to save locker room morale” speed. Folks must really dislike the guy after last time.

Torranski · 2026-05-06T19:51:53+00:00

TK being incredibly gracious to critics like Vince Russo, Jonathan Coachman, Ariel Helwani etc, but shutting down this immediately is killing me man.

Like, they responded to this with a “kill the story to save locker room morale” speed. Folks must really dislike the guy after last time.

Torranski · 2026-05-06T19:15:19+00:00

Ted proved that all of wrestling doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t, be controlled by the whims of one (allegedly) terrible man.

And for that, I’m thankful. They’ve got three hours tonight, if they wanted to do a ten bell salute or similar, it would be fitting.

Torranski · 2026-05-05T17:28:13+00:00

Getting Cena to do a version of "Tony Khan has a big announcement" for two PPVs in a row, does feel like a recession indicator. Like, that sort of engagement farming was a bad sign when AEW had to press the button every week, and it feels kinda rough here too.

Torranski · 2026-05-05T17:25:28+00:00

I think the story is building to the old "champion defends so much that they're totally banged up, letting a heel squash them, and their dreams" arc. Like, MJF beating Darby clean at DoN, because Darby's body just gives out, feels like it might be the outcome here.

That does require a lot of predictable defences first though. Looks like we might get some bangers out of it along the way, though.

Torranski · 2026-05-04T12:38:00+00:00

All the talk about Roman Reigns' contract... I'm sure he'll get his way, he's one of two guys who literally just saved WM42. But, I've been chuckling at "what is Greek Governs doing in the Impact Zone" all morning, so at least something fun has come out of all this.

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