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[Discussion] Pro Wrestling 2023 - A year in review! What was your favourite...everything?
(media.kbin.social)
With only a few weeks left in the year (and we can all expect some of us may not be around as much during that time), now seems as good a time as any to reflect on the year and all that we've seen so far!
So with that said:
Matches, wrestlers, companies, what really stood out for you during 2023? What was your highest of highs, and lowest of lows. Did any wrestler go above and beyond your expectations? Did any big match you were waiting for end up being a huge let down? What company's booking did you like and hate the most during the year? Let us know what you think of how everything has gone down below!
Disclaimer: there's way more negative below than there should be. Especially with AEW. Ultimately, there's been a lot more good than bad over the year but I think recency bias is at play. The “bad” section is a quick rant I was going to post in the last discussion thread but I decided not to because I thought it was too negative lol.
AEW:
The Good: All-In was incredible. And nearly every PPV delivered as always. Full Gear was a bit funky with MJF-Switchblade but the street fight more than made up for it.
The Bad: The women's division is still rough–that's been a problem since the start of AEW. But lately, I've noticed the tag division is getting nearly zero attention as well. What happened to the amount of attention tag teams had at the beginning of AEW? They seem like an afterthought at this point. For the past few weeks, the same could be said about the trios belts.
Next, the devil storyline. It was great to start but now that story has had the same beat over and over: either the henchmen beat up some guys in the back or the devil shows up on screen and laughs. It was interesting when I thought they'd be revealed at Full Gear but now it's just the same thing week in and week out. At this point I almost don't care who the devil is. The payoff won't be good enough to justify the build.
And finally, I like variety in my wrestling and lately it's just been wrestling match after wrestling match. This past week we had ZERO in-ring promos. Everything is backstage now and it just doesn't hit the same for me.
TNA/IMPACT:
The Good:
-Alex Shelley’s title run.
-Speedball just doing Speedball things–he may be my favourite wrestler to watch these days.
-Re-naming Impact to TNA.
The Bad:
-Tommy Dreamer’s run as digital media champion. That should be a belt for younger wrestlers or at least people who are liked on social media.
-The IPWF only getting one show a year. I need more of that silliness in my life.
-The break between BfG to the new year. I understand why they did it (new production set-up and whatnot) but BfG was very well received and Impact didn't really capitalize on that.
Agreed on the tag situation. I typed up a paragraph responding to this but I had to literally go double check who the tag champs are cause it's not Adam Cole/MJF. I watch every episode of AEW, the fact that I just now forgot they're the ROH champs and forgot Bill/Starks are the AEW ones says a bit.
Re: The Devil - Ditto. I just don't think I care much anymore.
iirc the group is supposed to be (per the dirt sheets)
Wardlow/Strong/The Kingdom..but that was also reported idk 2 fucking months ago idc anymore lol.
I don't blame you. I've had to remember who the tag champs are too. And it's unfortunate the champs and #1 contenders are two teams of guys randomly thrown together (Bill/Starks and Omega/Jericho). I know many of the other teams are out with injuries, but still…
I haven't checked the spoiler for the devil. But ultimately, the story has had the same beat every week. I just want them to switch it up. Like, what if MJF actually “caught” one of the henchmen and unmasked him (someone who wouldn't giveaway the devil outright)? Then tied him to a chair and interrogated him to try and find out who the devil is with no success? It's not the best angle but at least it's different from the same old same old.
I think a lot of fans gave AEW grace during the first few years with the women's division. It looked like the joshi would be the workhorses as the other women developed, but then the pandemic happened. Women like Serena Deeb and Thunder Rosa (I hadn't really heard of her, but when she showed up as NWA women's champ, she felt like a big deal) coming in felt like things might change there.
Shelley's title run has been so unexpectedly nice. I had assumed that he'd have a short reign. One of the bonuses of Impact being the often forgotten third company in the US is that we don't hear as much about how long contracts are for. I was shocked when Nick Aldis didn't beat Shelley for the title. If I'd known beforehand that he was only coming in for a few months, I wouldn't have been.
I know some fans don't like the silliness that Impact serves us from time to time, but I love it. I still miss Wrestle House. And totally agree about Dreamer. Let it be for young talent breaking out, charismatic wrestlers like Hendry, and the occasional Jordynne Grace-like reign with a couple intergender matches.