Pew Pew Shootmania 42

 

Phil Brooks is angry everyone. The Punker hasn't been this upset since he challenged known tough guys Matt and Nick Jackson to fight him after AEW All Out 2022. Using his promo time on Raw to call out TKO Head honcho, Ari Emanuel, along with The Rock, Pat "MAGA-fee," and last but not least, his Wrestlemania opponent Roman Reigns. Who are we kidding, this is just latest speed bump on a hungover road trip back to Vegas for Wrestlemania 42. 

With attendance reportedly down 20% in Allegiant Stadium, home of THEEEE RAAAAIIIIDAHS, from last year's show, WWE is cooling down from their latest hot period that started post-pandemic. The idea to try to heat up Wrestlemania by having worked-shoot promos from Pat McAfee, Cody Rhodes, and CM Punk in a 4 day window, from Friday's Smackdown to Monday's Raw was certainly a choice. 

The problem with Punk cutting this promo in 2026, as opposed to his famous "Pipe Bomb" from 2011 is that the fans watching WWE now actually like they product. Since the birth of AEW, disenfranchised fans like myself just stopped watching WWE. We've gotten a US based product that delivers the type of wrestling we always wanted WWE to be, and stopped caring if WWE changed their presentation. 

Just a couple weeks ago, Punk told fans that the marquee at MSG said wrestling and not cinema. Unfortunately, the current fanbase doesn't want to see actual wrestling on a wrestling show. They'd rather Yeet and hold up their index finger for the OTC.

The one person who does think WWE sucks now is Pat McAfee. Returning as Randy Orton's mentor in a much maligned segment, the ESPN host told fans how much better things were in The Attitude Era (we really have to move on from things that happened almost 30 years ago), before telling Cody Rhodes that he's a business failure as champ. That led to another unhinged Rhodes promo later in the show, which reportedly was a response to the negative feedback of Pat's opening segment. 

Apparently, the decision to bring McAfee back was above Triple H's head, with someone in TKO wanting brand synergy with ESPN. With so many big egos in play, this is turning into Succession. Finding out who the puppet master pulling the strings is has become more interesting than the actual TV product (which is something plaguing WWE for a while).

With just 8 days left before the Grandaddy of 'Em All, it's going to be interesting to see how they try to land the plane.

In a complete contrast from Wrestlemania, AEW's Dynasty PPV is taking place Sunday, with another show loaded front-to-back with great wrestling. I believe that AEW pay-per-views delivers at almost a 100% rate, and this show should be no different.

Kenny Omega vs MJF - AEW World Heavyweight Championship

Can the "God of Pro Wrestling" unseat the Devil as the World Champion? AEW essentially walked back last week's angle about Kenny dealing with diverticulitis on Dynamite this week, and instead is asking if MJF can beat Omega at 100 percent. The 42-year old challenger is looking for his second reign as champ after losing the belt almost 5 years ago.

I've enjoyed MJF's run with the belt this year, as a more mature peformer than his first reign in 2023. While I'd like to see Kenny win the strap to cap off his comeback, the timing isn't right. AEW still has a strong backlog of babyface challengers, like Darby Allin and Will Ospreay, heading into their big summer shows. That's not to say that Khan wouldn't be able to book strong angles with Omega in that role either, it just feels too soon to move the belt again.

With only eight matches on the main card, I expect this match to go long, maybe even teasing a one-hour time-limit draw with MJF retaining.

Will Ospreay vs Jon Moxley - AEW Continental Champion

The story of co-main event is pro wrestling 101. Ospreay was taken out by the Death Riders before undergoing neck surgery, and now he wants revenge against their leader. Holding this match under Continental Clasic rules, the Death Riders won't be able to interfere, and we'll get a great match between two of the best performers in the company.

I feel the end game here is Will winning tthe World Title at Wembley this year, and it's time to start heating him up by beating Mox.

Cope and Christian vs FTR - AEW Tag Team Championship

The first match between these teams at All Out was a little too gimmick heavy for my tastes, and expect these two teams to put on a more basic match here.  Much like the previous match, I think the result here is leading to something bigger down the line, with a three-way involving the Bucks. The local Canadians make the hometown crowd happy and complete their comeback.

Jamie Hayter vs Thekla - AEW Women's World Champion

AEW has struck gold with Thekla. She brings great charisma to her character, and has been a breath of fresh air for the women's division. I could do without some of the outside interfence her matches typically have. After retaining, I think we see the return of Mercedes Mone.

Andrade El Idolo vs Darby Allin - #1 Contenter's Match

Since returning with a chip on his shoulder, AEW has given Andrade a superstar push. Meanwhile, Darby has felt a little stale since Sting retired, something he even hinted at during a hearfelt promo on Dynamite. The winner of this match telegraphs who will win the main event, since Andrade beat Omega in February before losing to Hangman in a #1 Contender's Match.

Since I picked MJF to retain the title, I think Darby wins and you have your main event for Double or Nothing.

Chris Jericho vs Richochet

This will be a good test for the returing Jericho, who has come back in great physical shape. Ricochet has been a tremendous heel, and can bump with the best of them, to make Jericho look great in his first match in almost a year. After his overly happy babyface promo on Dynamite, with the return of The List, it seems like something is up with Jericho's character and I'm curious to see where it goes. He has to win here.

Young Bucks vs Okada and Takeshita

It seems like we're finally getting to the end of the Okada and Takeshita feud, as the Jordan and Pippen of the Don Callis Family. The reluctant stars have to team up one more time here against Okada's former Elite stablemates. I think we'll see some great action, typical of any Bucks match, before some infighting leads to the Jackson's win.

Casino Gauntlet - AEW TNT Championship

Tony Khan's making the best of a bad situation with Kyle Fletcher's knee injury, booking this match to crown a new champ. I think we get another Don Callis Family member winning here, leading up to the eventual DCF Civil War they're teasing when Fletcher returns. Give me Mark Davis or a returning Wardlow.

The Promised Land

When asked about new Quarterback Geno Smith during a media scrum on Tuesday, Aaron Glenn told reporters that "I just feel like he's the guy that's going to lead us to the promised land." In the iconic words of Breece Hall, "Teams will shoot themselves in the foot and we come back and shoot ourselves in the head."

The New York Football Jets just can't stop themselves from giving dumb quotes to the press. From Woody Johnson saying "If we can just complete a pass," to another AG classic " I’ve never said that we’re going to be proud of them right now," the guys leading this franchise must have great gallows humor.

The usual suspects came out with their Same Old Jets jokes that the Promised Land Glenn spoke about is the first overall pick and Arch Manning, but as a fan, the promised land is just giving me a reason to go to Metlife for a game after Halloween. With the additions to the roster in free agency and four picks in the top 44 of the upcoming NFL Draft, it's not unreasonable to think that Gang Green could be close to .500 by the midpoint of the season this year.

Bringing in a veteran Offensive Coordinator in Frank Reich, the offense should turn from The Nightmare on Route 3 to somewhere in the 20th overall range. While Geno fails to generate any true excitement, he has thrown for 4,000 yards twice in the past four years, something that this franchise hasn't seen Joe Namath in 1967. 

I'm still advocating for taking a shot on Ty Simpson with the 16th overall pick. The former Crimson Tide leader was neck and neck with Fernando Mendoza on most draft boards until a late swoon in the SEC Title game against Georgia and a CFP game against Mendoza's Hoosiers. It was later reported that Simpson lost over 20 pounds battling gastritis during that period. 

Now's the perfect time for Mougey to throw a Hail Mary with three first rounders in the 2027 Draft, where if disaster strikes we can still have a chance to draft Arch or another top QB in a loaded class. The next 3 weeks of rumors leading up to the Draft will be fun to sort through.

Last night's Dynamite continued the Road to Dynasty, along with the shocking return of the Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla, Chris Jericho. Jericho interrupted the beginning of the show in his home town of Winnipeg, ending months of speculation where most pundits suspected he'd return to WWE for a retirment tour. The Demo God was a man of few words on Wednesday, just saying "I'm home," before dropping the mic. 

The AEW sickos were getting tired of Jericho's act when he left almost a year ago, but I'm sure the man known for reinvention has some tricks up his sleeve for his character on this run. Maybe a return match against his Learning Tree proteges Big Bill or Brian Keith is on the table for Dynasty. 

The rest of the show was a mixed bag for me. The matches themsevles, including the opening trios match and MJF-Speedball main event were good, but some of the angles of the top feuds heading to the PPV left a little to be desired.

I'm not a big fan of Kenny Omega's promo style and thought MJF's delivery was much better in the contract signing. It's getting a little tiring hearing how the top babyface's are in near death peril, which was repeated later in the show when the Death Riders attacked Will Ospreay's surgically repaired neck.

The Don Callis Family angle with Darby Allin feels clunky to me, with Don choosing a reluctant Andrade to face Allin at the PPV, as he continues to be in MJF's pocket. The stip that if Darby wins he'll get a shot at the World Champion feels like it spoils the main event, and will set up Darby against MJF at Double or Nothing.

It seems strange that was only fourth match announced for Dynasty, along with MJF vs Kenny Omega, Mox vs Ospreay, and FTR defending the the tag titles against Cope and Christian, with only one Dynamite left. 

A lot of top players feel directionless or are just spinning their wheels at the moment after a hot build to Revolution. Frenemies Okada and Takeshita are in a seemigly never ending feud, same with Ricochet and National Champion Jack Perry. Thekla might be defending against Jamie Hayter, and Willow has an open challenge on Collision that might lead to her defense at Dynasty. The Young Bucks should be added on the show to get a win before a possibe 3 Team Ladder match in an homage to the match that defined Cope and Christian's career. On top of that, Kyle Fletcher may miss the show after appearing to get injured during Collision on Saturday. 

Opening Day

I'm getting tired of all the complaints about sporting events moving more and more to streaming services. This past week, it was the Yankees having their Opening Day game against the Giants on Netflix, that had George rolling over in his box. I could do without a Yeet-ing seal, Cousin Itt throwing out the first pitch, and Bert Kreischer, surprisingly keep his shirt on, hosting pre-game ceremonies. Netflix is only paying top dollars for MLB to showcase their other properties, and keep you subscribing.

I can sympathize with Ebenezer, who's been watching Opening Day on his 16 inch black and white TV for the last 80 years, but anyone under the age of 70 should easily be able to pull up the Netflix app on their smart TV. 

The broadcast itself, led by play-by-play man Matt Vasgerian and color guys CC Sabathia and Hunter Pence was well done. The only two noticeable issues I had was the design of the score bug and the green screen ad behind homeplate that was whitewashing out the centerfield camera. Other than that, it was great seeing the Yankees win in a laugher, winning their first game of what would become a sweep of their first series of the season.

As for the Yankee season itself, I have mixed expectations. I hate to come off like a "27 Ring" Yankee fan, growing up in the Core Four Dynasty spoiled me and the rest of my generation of fans. At what point is a perennial 90+ win playoff team that falls short of the World Series a disappointment? While most fanbases would love to see that type of consinstency, and as a Jets fan I'd die for even a season that isn't over before the Yankees first playoff series, this franchise has set unrealistic goals.

The hardest part is that it's hard to quantify what's holding this team back from reaching the mountaintop again and hoisiting their 28th World Series trophy. Aaron Judge is a monster and is putting up historic seasons, we had 6 other batters mash 20+ dingers last season. When your first 6 batters in the lineup are all All-Star caliber, you should be able to look past guys like Volpe and Wells, who can still provide the occasional clutch hit.

On paper, the rotation should also be towards the top of league. Max Fried has been pitching like a Cy Young winner for us while Cam Schlittler might be the most exciting young pitcher not named Paul Skenes. Carlos Rodon is more than servicable as a middle rotation guy, on top of the hope that Gerrit Cole can even 75% of what he was in 2024 after coming back from Tommy John surgery later this summer.

In a perfect world, I'd like to see some younger guys like Spencer Jones, George Lombard, and Jasson Dominguez play with the major league club, but the impatience of the fanbase has already tried running Anthony Volpe out of town.

I'm not going out on a limb, thinking that we'll see a similar story to the Yankee season as we've had in the past decade. A strong start will lead to a midseason swoon before righting the ship heading into October. if we luck out like we did in 2024, we can beat up on the weaker AL Central teams in the playoffs before getting smashed by the Dodgers in the World Series or we'll just get knocked out by our division rival, whether it be the Red Sox or Blue Jays, before getting that far.