I'm in the mood to write about wrestling, so that is precisely what I'll do. I don't want my metal-inclined readers to worry (I think I'm safe); my next thesis will be particularly vile. Back to the main topic! There isn't a specific event or athlete upon which I was called to confabulate. Things are simply...interesting. WWE's Raw has pulled in record-low ratings for two consecutive weeks. Does Vince McMahon care? That's a genuine question. If I'm basing it solely on the content of Raw, I would say no. Emphatically. And I would use my outside voice.
At three hours running, WWE's flagship battlewagon (?) is an endurance test. It's fucking terrible. I'd almost consider tagging it as "torture porn." You might be asking yourself why I still watch the show if it's as inept as I claim. I don't! I'll read the results out of curiosity, but hand to Satan, every time I tune into the USA Network on Monday nights, it's a rigorous, harrowing venture. It's beyond stale. Each card is stacked with matches we've already seen. The same does not apply to AEW's Dynamite.
Even if you loathe the promotion, you can't argue the fact that Tony Khan manages to present fresh bouts week in, week out. I say "manages," but when you have a sundry jumble of a roster, it's not that hard. That's why the sterile flavor of Raw blows my mind. Knock it off with the brand separation bullshit. It kinda-sorta made sense when WWF absorbed WCW/ECW talents two decades ago, but in 2021, it's superfluous. Do you realize that there are less than five female superstars on Smackdown? Some division. Don't get me started on WWE's tag team situation. Don't, I said!
We're seeing more and more wrestlers defect to AEW. The skeptical among us are reminded of TNA's most vital period (which wasn't terribly vital), but this feels different. Vince's cast-offs have a wider lagoon of options to choose from and the "direct competition" offers a more stable base of gainful (not to mention lucrative) employment than TNA ever did. Malakai Black? Fuck yeah, my dude! I don't understand why his wife went back to WWE, but hey, that's her business. Personally, I just signed an extension with Smoky Mountain Wrestling. I'm in it for the long haul!
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