Welcome back to another round of Quick Takes—a post that indulges in the topics that aren’t worth dedicating a full article to, but are still on my mind.
Each week, I try to cram in as many smaller talking points as I can via a speedier process, and I invite you to chime in with your own thoughts about these topics and anything else by keeping the discussion going in the comments below! Drop some more talking points in there for everyone to chat it up about, too!
Without further ado, let’s get into this week’s topics.
Being Grateful for AEW via Thanksgiving
As a companion piece to my “best things in WWE right now” post for B/R, I figured I’d turn the tables and talk about 10 of my favorite things in All Elite Wrestling at the moment. It’s important to look on the brighter side of things, even during a pandemic and even while wrestling is sometimes a chore to get through.
In no particular order, here are 10 of the best things going on right now in AEW:
- There’s simple an AEW to begin with. It’s an alternative that has a lot of great content and presents a different style than WWE if you’re tired of that product. Also, more and more people are getting jobs and being saved from the horrors of the indie circuit. That’s wonderful.
- John Silver is the man. I love that guy. He’s easily the best part of Being the Elite and the only real reason why I make sure to watch every week as I skip parts like The Young Bucks promoting their book and all.
- Cody Rhodes can be Cody Rhodes now instead of just Cody. Thank goodness that’s over with.
- Kenny Omega may actually win the title next week. I think it’s time.
- MJF as part of Inner Circle felt like it needed to happen. I haven’t loved everything so far, but I think there is a ton of potential behind this. Here’s hoping he overthrows Chris Jericho a la The Rock booting Farooq out of The Nation of Domination.
- Shout out to Penelope Ford. Just for being Penelope Ford and being rather consistently entertaining and getting better over time. No one talks about her enough, I think.
- Orange Cassidy. Always.
- Brandon Cutler deserved to beat Peter Avalon. Likewise, switching to this Pretty Peter Avalon gimmick is cringy in a whole new way, so that’s good to change things up.
- How the hell is Taynara Conti better in AEW so soon after being such trash in WWE?
- Ricky Starks is so much better as a heel than what I had seen of him as a babyface in NWA.
Who Should Win the No. 1 Contender’s Match for Raw?
Some reports say Braun Strowman’s the plan for Drew McIntyre at TLC. Others point out how that makes no sense now that he’s “indefinitely suspended” and that that storyline is to cover up an injury. That is where I’m leaning, as he’s not in the #1 contender’s match.
Between AJ Styles, Keith Lee and Matt Riddle, I think Styles is the only choice that makes sense. He’s the only heel—and I don’t think Lee or Riddle should turn right now. Nor do I think either of them benefits from losing to Drew at this show.
Styles has Omos by his side. That’s a presence that can aid The Phenomenal One in trying to win a ladder match. McIntyre can retain without pinning Styles, which gives them a reason to do another match at Royal Rumble or on Raw where he has to definitively pin Styles to move on to someone else.
If they go with anyone other than Styles, I’m hoping it’s a ruse about Strowman and The Monster Among Men swoops in and steals the win somehow. Going with Lee or Riddle will just halt their momentum while they should be stepping up to Bobby Lashley for the United States belt instead.
A-Kid Wins NXT UK Heritage Cup
NXT UK has a midcard title of sorts now with the Heritage Cup and the inaugural champion is A-Kid. I have nothing against the guy, but I think picking him is a little bland. He has no real personality for me to latch onto at this point other than “young talented kid wrestler” which is just not interesting.
Plus, we already did the whole thing of crowning Tyler Bate the first NXT UK champion at age 19. Why are we going back to that well again when there were plenty of other options who could have filled this role?
For my money, I’d have gone with Noam Dar. Maybe Alexander Wolfe could have made sense if Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel win the tag titles so Imperium has all the gold. Dave Mastiff could use an upgrade in his credibility. Winning this could have made Trent Seven seem like a bigger deal rather someone who’s best days are well behind him. Rampage Brown could have been interesting since he’s new. Ilja Dragunov didn’t win the NXT UK title, but could’ve won this. I’d even go with a surprise Sam Gradwell as more interesting.
Xavier Woods G4
Congrats to Xavier Woods for getting a hosting gig for G4! He was very passionately campaigning for the job and I think he’ll do great. He’s lively, has a following, knows his stuff with games and geek culture and can provide a different voice than some of the others who are thankfully returning.
I was a fan of G4’s content back in the day. Not all of it, but a good enough portion that I’m fond of its return and I’ll definitely be checking it out. Super quick take just to say kudos.
What are your takes on these topics? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
