Breezus

Oh, this is gonna be goooood.

That match was unbelievable. Ibushi has this crazy ability to kick out riiiiiiight before the 3 count, very few can do that. He even made me believe Maluta was going to win in the first round. Cedric was outstanding and I'm so glad they gave him a massive push by having HHH come out at the end to immediately sign him. Tajiri-Metalik was pretty good too. Can't wait to hopefully see Tajiri on SmackDown! or NXT soon. Next week's gonna be tough. Tozawa is badass but I love Gallagher to bits. I don't know who to root for.

Quality-wise, I thought SD! did a better job in the past two weeks, especially regarding the WWE Title picture. They've done a stellar job making Ziggler look like he can hang with Ambrose. The midcard and Tag Team Division are slowly being rebuilt and the Women's Division made an improvement this week. RAW has kinda gotten worse since that incredible premiere but I don't think it's as bad as it was before. The different presentation and adding stakes to matches (where even a Titus-DY program makes sense) helps quite a bit. I have to say I've enjoyed most of the RAWs and SDs since the brand split. However, I think it's gonna get better when the Universal Title and the Cruiserweight Division come to RAW (and with it, hopefully a better structure) and the new Tag Team and Women's Titles get introduced in the blue brand.

SmackDown! beat RAW twice in a row now. Funny how quickly things can turn around. 3 hours are not doing the show any favours (although that could change with the Cruiserweight Division) but even then, talent is still being underutilised. Neville didn't show up last week, Sami was nowhere to be seen this week - they would've played major roles on the blue show (Zayn could easily be in Ziggler's spot). I hope there's gonna be a supplemental draft in a few months. On a sidenote, is anyone following the G1 Climax? I finally caught up and there's been so many unbelievable matches.

They're finally releasing an Alex DeLarge Pop (in and OOTB). I'm gonna grab this one quicker than you can say "viddy well".

Both were great shows. This is the first week in a LONG time that I can say RAW, SD! and NXT (as well as the CWC) delivered.

Oh my GOD, Gargano-Ciampa was ridiculous. What a match. I'm exhausted.

I liked BvS but it should've been much better tbh. And if you need an extended cut to make it a better movie (and a long movie even longer), I don't know what to tell you. I want Suicide Squad to be a great movie but hearing critics I trust like Stuckmann point out several major flaws (while Jahns couldn't stop praising the whole thing), I'll keep my expectations a bit lower. Which is probably a good thing because my expectations were quite high and I'll probably enjoy it more now.

I think Mendoza won the crowd over big time with his offense, that totally contributed to them turning on Kendrick. For a moment, I actually wanted him to advance and Kendrick to show up in NXT or SmackDown! as a frustrated free agent. Anyway yeah, ZSJ is just unbelievable. I'm liking where NXT is going with new faces getting their pushes but yeah, it's gonna take a while until they find and establish themselves and their characters. What about Kota Ibushi's NXT debut though? Was it even announced? They suddenly showed a graphic of him facing Murphy and I damn near shit my pants. I love that they're doing CWC crossovers, everything is possible now. Also can't wait for Itami and Roode next week as well as Gargano-Ciampa. What a time to be a pro wrestling fan.

As a SmackDown! guy, it pains me to say that the premiere was a letdown. It didn't feel nearly as refreshing and exciting as RAW. I get that it'll likely improve in the coming weeks but I thought they would've gone all out for the premiere. Instead, they had Rhyno show up instead of American Alpha, one of their top draft picks. And while Ziggler as the new #1 Contender is shocking and great, the match itself was strangely uneventful for a 6-Pack Challenge. I mean for a seemingly long while, it was just Crews and Corbin in the ring. And the rest of the matches were nothing special (although Lynch-Natalya was good). This week easily goes to RAW because it didn't seem like SmackDown! was even trying to deliver a better or just great show.

Holy shit, RAW was amazing. I loved everything about it; the overall feel, how the production was handled, the new opening, the commentary table next to the stage, the pre- and post-interviews. They borrowed a lot from the Ruthless Aggression era and modernised it, which is great. I'm still in shock Sasha already got her big moment, fully expected it to happen at SummerSlam. And Balor beating Reigns clean as a whistle? AND facing Rollins for the title at SummerSlam? What a time to be alive. I have mixed feelings about the Universal Title. The name is kinda dumb but RAW needs a top male title if the brand split is gonna be strict. And I think it's clear it's not a proper WHC like the WWE title (even though it's gonna be RAW's main championship) - otherwise, they'd just call it the World Heavyweight Title again, right?

I'm really looking forward to RAW and SmackDown! this week. So many NXT debuts, new storylines, maybe even new titles, possibly new stage designs as well (although those logos suck balls). Also, it turns out Zayn-Owens was even deeper than I thought.

I think she'll have that rematch against Asuka at Brooklyn II and then debut on SmackDown! If not, she'll be part of the next wave of NXT call-ups in autumn. Battleground was such a satisfying PPV. Except for Becky's nonsensical loss to Natalya out of all people, I have no major complaints. The Women's Division opening a PPV for the first time in years was great, Zayn-Owens was a storytelling masterpiece and Ambrose pinning Reigns and taking the title to the blue brand elevates both him and the show. Super happy Ambrose finally gets the treatment he deserves and that Zayn got his revenge on KO (which was nearly two years in the making).

Sex Bob-omb looks insane but even if it was still available, it'd probably be too expensive for me with all the shipping and stuff. Thumbs Up BB-8 probably too. Oh well, good luck to you guys. Got my Pop count up to 24 now. Bought 9 Pops in the past two months alone lol.

Yeah, I was especially surprised by Johnson and Ali (that Springboard Spanish Fly and that Reverse 450). Da Mack looked pretty good against TJP but he needs to spend more time in wXw before he gets signed. Tozawa's Snap German Suplex looked deadly though, damn. Also happy to see Tajiri back, his kicks are unique. Next week is gonna be crazy. Ultima Lucha Dos as a whole wasn't as great as I wanted it to be but it was still pretty good. Rey vs. Prince was fantastic and the rightful main event. Very glad Mysterio is in the Temple where he has the chance to prove that he can still hang with the best. But holy shit, Pentagon. Holy shit.

Bayley better debut sooner rather than later because calling up Carmella, Dana Brooke and Nia Jax before her is just ridiculous. I don't even care that NXT may be suffering, their roster is stacked and they can build up new talent easily (that goes for all divisions). It's about time for the likes of Billie Kay and Peyton Royce to shine and Asuka's there too. Disappointed that Nakamura, Joe and Dillinger weren't named but I kinda get it. I do hope Swagsuke debuts before the end of the year, there's not much for him to do in NXT except for a quick title run just for the hell of it. He's too big for the show, no matter how good it is. Besides that, I'm happy with the draft results. Cena on SmackDown! is wonderful, Balor with the Club on RAW is great. No tag teams got broken up. Didn't expect Zayn and Owens on the same brand (as well as Cesaro and Banks on RAW and Kalisto on SD! where there's no Cruiserweight Division) but I ain't mad. SmackDown! may look inferior right now but hopefully the next big NXT call-ups and returning veterans will all end up there, simply because there's barely any space left on RAW (especially with the upcoming cruiserweights). Poor Heath Slater wasn't considered at all though lmao. Also, just read that Cole, Graves & Saxton will call RAW and Ranallo, JBL & Otunga will call SmackDown! Uhh ... I'm happy for Graves but Ranallo deserves better partners, seriously. And Saxton and Otunga are just unnecessary.

Lol turns out I called it. RAW + Cruiserweight Division is an odd pairing but with it being 3 hours, it only makes sense. And with Foley as GM, I guess I won't quit RAW in favour of SmackDown! anytime soon. So wonderful to have Bryan back on the main shows. Man, he truly has a unique connection with the fans.

The only new albums I've bought on vinyl since Jack White's Lazaretto in 2014 (which I mainly bought because Ultra LP and shit).

Yeah but I was hoping RAW would go back to 2 hours. But if they permanently dedicate RAW's second or third hour to the Women's/Tag Division (or Cruiserweight, even though I want that on SD!), it's cool. I think either way, SmackDown! will be the real winner here and I'm very glad my favorite brand could be must-see TV again. Balor, Bayley and AA are a lock. Really hoping for Swagsuke but Joe is just as likely if he drops the title at Takeover Dallas II. Bliss would be great since Jax and Carmella are still too green for the main shows (didn't stop them from calling up Dana though, so eh). Last pick could be Mojo Rawley just so both of the Hype Bros are called up. Don't think it'd be wise to have Aries, Roode or EY debut already, they're gonna be important for NXT when Balor, Bayley and potentially Shinsuke/Joe are gone (same goes for Asuka and the Revival). About the CWC, they signed Gran Metalik and Kota Ibushi to NXT. I'd be shocked if they don't end up signing TJP and ZSJ as well.

WWE just shared the draft rules: So, RAW continues to be the superior show as long as it's 3 hours. Still have a feeling that SmackDown! will become the more watchable show overall though. (oh and btw, the first episode of the CWC was amazing, exceeded my already high expectations)

I'm surprised they're adding GMs for each brand despite already having the McMahons in control. Oh well, I don't want to judge before it's even happening, Teddy Long and Bischoff were fantastic back in the day so it could work again. Has anyone else done these fantasy drafts? I'm hoping they don't break up too many tag teams because the current division is actually stacked (not even including NXT).

On a sidenote, has anyone seen the Final Deletion? This may be the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in wrestling but it's also kinda sorta the greatest thing ever.

I personally don't need to see guys like Gargano, Ciampa or even Swann in the final because they're already in NXT (and especially the first two have had a prominent spot all year). I'd prefer to see an unsigned talent win the whole thing and then get rewarded with a contract or Takeover spot. For me, there's no other final than ZSJ-Ibushi because as stacked as this tourney is, those two are among the absolute top talents in the world right now. The Brian Kendrick's backstory was surprisingly emotional. Even though he's a veteran, I'd like to see him get to the quarter finals and then lose to Ibushi. Meanwhile, I can't decide whether I want to see Swann or TJP in the semi-finals because I really like both. And I'm gonna hate to see guys like Cedric, Gallagher/Tozawa and Gargano/Ciampa out early on but I guess you can't get everything.

Even though Ultima Lucha Dos is under way and SmackDown! is about to get great again, I'm hyped for the CWC the most. The Bracketology (and this whole thing in general) feels like an actual sporting event and I've always thought that there needs to be more of that in the WWE and pro wrestling as a whole. Couldn't be more excited for this. And yeah, I'm surprised to see ZSJ-Dux and Gargano-Ciampa in the first round but I'm cool with that. This whole tourney is stacked so seeing great match-ups early on is kinda inevitable. I mean, Gulak-ZSJ, Ibushi-Cedric and TJP-Gargano could happen in the second round already.

Since they're facing each other soon, I thought I'd share this gem here.