I'm sick of MJF, plus a month of missed matches
Some Ratings, including Dynasty, Revolution and some older Stardom stuff.
AEW Dynasty
... Was an okay show. I liked every match about it, but don't feel compelled to write about most of it. It was a very 'average' AEW show, but at least not in a way that felt boring. The main even though kinda killed me.
Kenny Omega vs MJF
4 feels harsh and in a vacuum this would be higher, but this isn't vacuum. I have 5 years of MJF context and my own personal taste to contend with. From that perspective, 4 seems generous.
There is little reason I'd watch this over any other Kenny match. As a physical, in-the-ring wrestler, MJF always raises the occasion, but the problem is, for a "character wrestler"... MJF is static. This is the same MJF match, with the same MJF finish I have seen dozens of time. I don't even mind him beating Kenny. Hell, he could have beat Kenny clean. The story of a broken down Kenny not able to truly ever return to 100%, losing the younger and stronger generation is a compelling story.
Instead, it's just 'MJF just beat your aging fave. You mad?" and I was, when it was Danielson. That was three years ago. At this point, I knew what was going to happen, so when it happened I just felt numb. I've seen this so many times over the last like... 5 years. At this point, I am so over exposed to this same, repetitive story that I could never see MJF again and I would not miss him... which is a shame?? Because MJF feels better than this as a talent, but for whatever reason, every time a another run starts, even if it shows hints of going someplace new... he always just defaults to the stuff that has always worked for him. And maybe it works for most of the fans, but at this point, it doesn't work for me. When MJF is champion, my interest in the title scene evaporates. "Will THIS be the hero to save us from MJF???" No, probably not. Lemme know what it's over so I can start paying attention again.
I had someone on bluesky say "Your loss" when I wished to never see an MJF again... like, dude? You think I don't know what I'd be missing? I can only watch the same movie so many times. There are other things I could be spending my time on. Even just for wrestling, do you know how much cool stuff is available on youtube? Even when I watch Dynamite, I vote with my attention. If shit bores me, I'm off making art or writing something, while vaguely listening as things play on my other monitor.
It kills me watching someone saying "OH LOOK, A MAIN EVENT WITH AN ACTUAL STORY THAT'S TOLD IN THE RING!" because their only point of comparison is the barren wastelands of WWE. They're so overly concerned with the thing that sucks and isn't worth their time that they haven't noticed they've been watching reruns for years.
If someone is into it, I'm not going to argue with them, but I know for me there is better wrestling I can watch that leaves me actually satisfied.
Hangman vs MJF
AEW Revolution, Texas Death
I have misgivings about this match. I don't like when it ended. It somehow felt a little incomplete still, yet even with that, what WAS there was incredible. I was unsure about 5 Stars, but honestly, whatever, it ruled. It was gnarly, Max was funny, and Hangman brought his all.
I'm nervous about the ending. I don't like the decision. Even if it works out, I'm just HESITANT. But it's hard to argue with those final shot. If you're going to do something, don't half ass it.
I don't regret this score, but it's clear that Hangman is the only one who can pull something interesting out of MJF. Not wrestling wise -- again, he IS good in the ring -- but as a character. This feud gave me hope we wouldn't immediately drop down to the lowest hanging MJF fruit, but here we are. It's funny to think, MJF is a more dynamic wrestler than an actual character.
Statlander vs Thekla
AEW Revolution, 2 out of 3 Falls
Thekla is cool as shit and Stat is has a lot going for her but still lacks that X Factor. Like a lot of Stat's great matches, it suffers because the matches lack that emotional element. Not even necessarily in a deep "Hangman" style sense, just in general.
Oh well, at least she can throw Thekla around like a child. Thekla does cool, gnarly shit while Stat ragdolls her around. This was my second favorite match of the night. I wouldn't argue it's the second best match of the night (it'd be too hard to even judge with this show), but it captured my attention in such a fun way.
Athena vs Syuri
NJPW The New Beginning USA 2026
This is a 4 for me but like a 'strong' 4. Great chemistry and physicality. Athena matched the intensity of one of the hardest women in the industry. Ultimately though, it felt like they held back. Not in effort, but in structure, like perhaps one day they might have a chance for something bigger. One of those "4 stars, but they were trying to do 4". Nothing was wrong, or flawed, that was just the match they wanted.
Saya Kamitani vs Starlight Kid
Stardom 15th Anniversary Supreme Fight 2025 In Osaka
Finally got around to rewatching this to solidify my thoughts.
Theater-kids-ass-match. The two most extra, chuuni stardom girls throw each other around and dive on each other and it's great. They both came from the same place... precious babyfaces who become 'evil', but not evil like their stablemates, but... funny, cartoon character versions of 'evil'. Saya with more insecurity, and Kid with more sauce, but Saya is facing someone who escaped the cycle she's currently finding herself in.
The finger break was gnarly. She looks like she's wearing one of the magician false fingers. I couldn't believe how long they went after Saya got taped up.. Lacked that little extra 5 star something, but the two have chemistry.