Nighthawk

I've been on a Cedric Alexander jag. It's almost as though there are two different guys. The chubbier one was good, sure, but there was something always kind of missing. The ripped Cedric Alexander, on the other hand, is exactly what you want. Everything now sounds like it's crisper. He moves with a speed that doesn't seem forced. You know how some guys try to carry off being explosive and it's obvious they're playing a role? It doesn't feel that way with Cedric. He really does seem like he's that fast. The stuff I've been watching is his war with Trevor Lee, the Ultra-J match with Chet Sterling, and the Kota Ibushi one. Those are 3 different matches where he is playing 3 different characters, and it all works.

As I've gotten older, I've gotten more into shoot-style stuff. Also, paradoxically, a chain match. Don't know why but everytime I see a chain match I get a little evil smile.

Flyin' Brian. Not Loose Cannon Brian Pillman. But Flyin' Brian. That intense, homicidally competitive babyface is something people never really get right. Also, the Superbrawl II match with Liger still blows my mind.

I meant more in terms of character, not ring work.

PWX, which is the one where I am, is the one i know off the top of my head. Roughkut might provide you some good options.

It's a weird hobby to have, and it's one that's not nearly as popular as it was severla years ago, but I am a proud e-fedder. And in doing that, and in watching as much wrestling as I have to make sure I don't stink at my hobby, I've noticed the differences in how babyfaces and heels are portrayed from when I was a young wrestling fan (the 80's) to now. Even the most popular guys, the guys everyone agrees are the top faces on the card, are coarser now. Maybe this is the ECW and Attitude Era's lasting side-effect, where no one can be the sort of white meat babyface that Steamboat, Santana, or even Sting would have been. Conversely, as I get older, I find myself realizing just how often the heels of current WWE seem to be entirely justified in their opinions of things. E.G., Alberto Del Rio was right to be angry at Sheamus for stealing his car, joyriding in it, and allegedly soiling it. Question: What makes a good babyface and a good heel? What character traits should each one have? And do you notice the differences I spoke about?

My POV of what makes good wrestling is simple: I abhor laziness, in whatever form it is. Not telling a cohesive story, and just relying on bombs and highspots because you think that's what works, is laziness on the near end. Stalling, cheap heat tactics and cutting a promo on the microphone, is laziness on the far end. That goes for the work too. I enjoy what i enjoy (British World of Sport, Motor City Machine Guns tags, junior heavyweight wrestling) when it's done right. You can work holds on the mat to a time-limit draw, and it can be just as compelling and enthralling as a balls-to-the-wall 45-minute tag match with lots of spots, lots of false tags, and 2 separate FIP spots. The key is that I should, as a viewer, never be able to notice a rest hold as a rest hold. That's my view of it anyway.

All night, and for the past few weeks, this crowd had been saying "Give us someone NEW. We want change." WWE competing against someone would have said "OK" and figured out how to make it work. This WWE says "You'll want what we tell you to want" and moves full-speed ahead with something no one wants but them.

Do you have twitter? Because I just tweeted out what you said, and I wanted to give you credit.

The Motor City Machine Guns vs Beer Money Ladder Match. This is one of those matches that would be good if it were a stand-alone, but because they drum into your head that it's the start of a series, you sort of feel the booking sword of damocles hanging over it. Also, and this is where Mike Tenay as a radio announcer masquerading as a TV announcer gets annoying, the Guns never seem like they really are at home in this sort of match. If it's their advantage you'd think they'd try and do more to win the match, instead of working 50-50 in a match that is supposed to be their homefield advantage.

I might be biased because Walters did some good stuff in 2CW years later, but Walters had that match with Daniels and the Xavier feud to his credit. I'm at a complete loss for anything from Rave that's even close to the Daniels match. And, Rave had a much longer run and a lot more quality opponents than Walters. Are you just talking in ROH?

Rougeau Brothers or Badd Company?

Quack\Jigsaw vs the BDK for their tag titles from Reality is Relative is really good. A little choppy, but seriously dramatic. Also, 1-2-3 Kid vs El Generico from KOT 2011 Night 3. And Johnny Saint vs Johnny Kidd from Chikarasaurus Rex was also good.

bumping this to point out how much different the Time Splitters team with Kushida is than the Motor City Machine Guns. I think it's because New Japan allows them the kind of freedom TNA never did, or that Kushida is just miles better than Sabin (which might be true.) Also, the fact that Kushida\Shelley already have that same kind of chemistry is a real tribute to Alex Shelley i think.

That match isn't bad for what it was. You have to remember that's the style they work. Taz is just horrid. He has never figured out how to uses his words so he goes into his serious voice. For me that brings down the match. That is exactly one of those matches where commentary is not needed.