MJF's Promo and Where the Feud with CM Punk Goes Now

 

For the last little while, the MJF/CM Punk feud has been the best thing in wrestling. However, last night on AEW Dynamite, it went to a whole different level. Everything has seemingly been turned on its head now. 

If you haven't seen MJF's promo from last night, you should watch it right now.

This was great promo work for multiple reasons. Yes, MJF is a heel and that felt like a very "face" promo, but that doesn't make it bad. In fact, that makes it great. One thing that makes AEW interesting is that, for the most part, the wrestlers feel like real people. They're not just a collection of catch phrases and t-shirts and slogans. They're real people and real people have layers. CM Punk coming out in street clothes without music or a mic or anything else further highlights this. 

Very rarely is someone just a bad person from the minute they're born. MJF is a total jerk now, but was he always that way? And, if he wasn't, what made him that way? Going into his history makes him a better, more well-rounded character. He's not just a cocky jerk who makes fun of your hometown and tosses out insults. He's more than that. And that makes him more interesting.

If everything he said in that promo is true (and he told CM Punk that it is), MJF was bullied as a kid. He was treated badly, but he had sports and wrestling to keep him going. When sports betrayed him and the other kids on his team mistreated him, all he had was wrestling. And then wrestling betrayed him when CM Punk walked out.

So now he had nothing. 

He said that motivated him to show the world that he's the best. He couldn't count on anyone or anything, so he felt like he had to do it all himself.  The unsaid part is that those feelings of rejection also caused him to turn into a cocky asshole. And he didn't have to care about anyone else because no one else cared about him. 

So what does that mean? Is he justified for acting the way he does because he was mistreated? Or is everyone responsible for how they deal with their own circumstances and their own trauma? Plenty of people are bullied and they don't turn out to be assholes. He didn't need to turn his own insecurities into cruelty, even if others were cruel to him. 

Should we feel bad for MJF because of how he was treated? Or should we continue to hate him because of how he acts today?

This segment also added layers to the CM Punk character. Since he returned to wrestling, it's been mostly all happiness and smiles. But that's not how everyone feels about him, or how they felt about him in 2014. He touched on it in his return promo in Chicago, but some people likely felt let down when he left wrestling. They may have even felt betrayed. He needed to do it, but that doesn't mean people weren't disappointed when he did. MJF is the first guy to really highlight this. Punk has his own past and the things he's done have affected people too.

Going further back, CM Punk has had his own trauma. He had numerous family issues growing up and his father struggled with alcoholism, which inspired him to follow a straight edge lifestyle. He's called himself a "Sociopathic Straight Edge Atheist Jerk", but he's also gotten through a lot of his trauma and come out on the other side as someone who wants to be a better person.

He took something bad like his father's drinking, and used that to make himself better. He also took what happened to him in WWE to become a better person, which is evident by how he acts today. He didn't let him trauma turn him into a bad person in the same way MJF did. 

CM Punk and MJF seemed to have taken two different paths, but they both have trauma.

In comic books and movies, super heroes are often born from trauma (a criminal kills Peter Parker's Uncle Ben, Bruce Wayne's parents are murdered, etc.) and that trauma causes them to dedicate their lives to doing good. But villains are also often born from trauma. Dr. Connors tried to regrow his arm but the formula turned him into The Lizard. Dr. Fries was caught in a laboratory mishap while attempting to cure his terminally ill wife, turning him into Mr. Freeze. These people turned their trauma into evil. And it's easy to see why they did. Letting something awful turn you awful is often easier than using something awful to become better.

So where does the CM Punk/MJF feud go now? There are a few options:

• Punk feels bad for MJF and MJF tries to take advantage of that situation because, ultimately, he's a jerk
• Punk calls out MJF for allowing his trauma to turn him into a villain 
• MJF made the whole thing up to try and get into Punk's head

Any of those situations could be fascinating. 

Punk feeling true empathy only to be attacked by MJF who doesn't care about anyone but himself could add new layers to both characters. Punk would learn to be more cautious and potentially worry that he's gone "too soft" while MJF would be shown to be pure evil. Maybe he was a good person once, but he's been corrupted so badly that he now cannot be saved. So he must be destroyed.

If Punk calls him out for turning into the same type of person he was trying to avoid growing up, that could also open up new avenues for each character. Is Punk not understanding enough? Or is he right? Is MJF weak for acting how he is? Or is he right? What would that mean for their match at Revolution?

If MJF is making the whole thing up, man, what an asshole. Punk needs to end him.

Either way, it's a fascinating storyline and one that will likely have ramifications for both characters even after this feud is over. 

Vital Wrestling Issues N' Stuff: Wrestling News for February 23, 2022

 

Shameful Wrestling News for February 23, 2022

The world of wrestling/sports entertainment/stupidity never stops, so there's always news! And here's some wrestling news for today!

Enjoy!!

Are you sick of stuff that's fungible? We all are, believe me! The good news is that Paul Wight is going to "produce and star in an upcoming live-action series being made as an NFT called GenZeroes."

In what can only be considered, honestly, not that shocking at all, apparently Shawn Michaels acts like a jerk when he's around the rest of the Kliq. Dax Harwood told Renee Paquette's 'Oral Sessions' podcast that he confided his personal thoughts and struggles to HBK, only to have the Showstopper make fun of him once Triple H, Billy Gunn, and friends were around. Yes, I know Billy Gunn and Road Dogg weren't actually a part of the Kliq. Leave me alone.

Machine Gun Kelly will appear as a playable character in WWE 2K22, so that's certainly a thing that will happen. 

Speaking of WWE 2K22, Kenny Omega says it looks "absolutely gorgeous" and notes that the AEW game will "never be able to compete with the production value of WWE’s game." Instead, the AEW game will be more focused on gameplay and "fun."

Bray Wyatt/Windham Rotunda is making a horror film. I hope it's based on that Hell in a Cell match, because that was certainly horrific. 

Tony Schiavone said he was shocked that Cody Rhodes left AEW, which is probably how literally everyone feels about this situation. It still feels very strange. Is this real life?

And, finally, Mick Foley has filed a trademark for the term "Cactus Jack" which is probably related to merchandising. I can't wait to buy a Cactus Jack foam finger or whatever in 2022.

Cody Rhodes Leaving for WWE Doesn't Hurt AEW's Product, but it Hurts AEW's Story

The story of All Elite Wrestling is an interesting one. Born out of the "indie showcase" event ALL IN, which was primarily promoted by Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks, it has quickly grown into a solid alternative to WWE.

Cody Rhodes leaving All Elite Wrestling doesn't change that. His absence from the promotion doesn't hurt the company's shows. Yes, Cody could put on good matches, but so can many competitors. We've heard over and over again over the last few months that AEW actually may actually have too much talent in the company, if  that's even possible.

In fact, Cody and Brandi leaving could improve the on-screen product in some ways. Cody's promos and Brandi's segments were often the low points of Dynamite, at least for many people. Whether it was solving racism, dragging out a feud with QT Marshall, doing a live baby gender reveal, teasing his retirement, or just being generally aimless for long periods of time, a lot of his stuff seemed too self-involved. It often felt like it didn't really fit into the rest of AEW.

That's not to say Cody didn't do a lot of great things. His focus on "Southern wrestling" and making AEW feel like a spiritual successor to WCW was important, especially when AEW was just starting out. He did crazy stunts like jump off cages or put himself through flaming tables. All of that stuff was nice. But there are a lot of guys in AEW who can have good matches and do crazy things. And AEW no longer needs to be "the new WCW." It has its own brand now.

Cody's character started to get grating. It definitely seems like he really wanted to be a big face in AEW. And, if you just read his story and accomplishments and didn't see him or hear him speak, it certainly feels like he should be a big face. He left WWE after getting fed up with the company. He went to Japan and ROH and all kinds of other places and rebuilt himself. He made friends and promoted shows and helped give wrestling fans the best alternative to WWE we've had in decades. That's an impressive resume and it's one that should make him a big face.

But it didn't. 

In what now seems like one of his last promos in AEW, he mentioned that while CM Punk cut the Pipebomb Promo, Cody actually did all the things Punk said he would do. And that's true. But people didn't give Rhodes credit for that stuff any longer. Instead, AEW fans praise Tony Khan for the company's success. Cody even mentioned that it a promo.

Why?

There are a couple of reasons. One is that once Tony Khan took a more hands-on role over booking in AEW, things got a lot better. The other reason is that Cody Rhodes' character just isn't likeable.

If he wants to be the "do the work" guy, the grandson of a plumber, the spirited face, it's not working. If he wants to be respected for his hustle and his effort, he's portraying himself all wrong. The grandiose entrances, the over-the-top promos, the pomp and pageantry, it doesn't seem like he's a hard working face character. It seems like he's a heel. CM Punk may have an ego, but his character doesn't seem like it. He doesn't have special tunnel for his entrances, he doesn't constantly remind people of why they should like him, and he doesn't ask you to cheer for him every week. And that's why people like him.

People respect Cody Rhodes the person for what he's done, but Cody Rhodes the character seems like a cocky, egotistical heel. That's why he should have turned heel. It would have worked. Him coming out with Brandi and talking about how they're the reason AEW exists, how they're the ones who built this company, how they're the heroes that everyone needs... it could have been great. But he didn't do that. And that's why he won't be missed from AEW TV.

However, what will be missing from AEW is an important part of the story. The fact that the company basically grew from a Cody Rhodes Tweet feels a bit tainted now. So does having the Revolution pay-per-view without the clip of Cody saying "It seems like this is a revolution!" Something is missing. 

WWE no longer owns all of professional wrestling, but it certainly feels like now they "own" a bit of AEW's story. And I bet that's exactly why they want Cody Rhodes in their company.

WWE was rejected by people like Daniel Bryan and Adam Cole. Now they want to show that they can win some battles too. And getting Cody Rhodes is big for them. Not because him leaving AEW hurts their on-screen product, and not because he's going to vastly improve WWE's on-screen product, but because of the symbolism of the move. 

It probably would have looked worse for AEW if a homegrown star like MJF or Wardlow or Jade Cargill was the first big name to bolt for WWE, but Cody is a huge symbolic hit. And he won't be the last. WWE is successful for a reason.

But, as Cody himself once said, "it's better to have competition."

Will Cody Rhodes Jump to WWE? Is He Still an AEW EVP?

 

You can say a lot of things about Cody Rhodes (and we do) but the man knows how to get the internet buzzing. It started this morning with a Tweet from Cody:

pic.twitter.com/iyKVg1nVpm

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) February 15, 2022

There was also a similar Tweet from Brandi:

Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mvs1lJS0UO

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 15, 2022

And then a Tweet from AEW:

Thank you Cody and Brandi Rhodes pic.twitter.com/tkDvVpnrrE

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 15, 2022

Of course, the rumours started flying! Dave Meltzer reported that "the two sides didn't come to terms on a new deal after six weeks" and that Cody "could legally be on WWE TV at any time" while also saying that lawyers were involved.

Whatever you think of Cody as a performer, him leaving AEW is a big story. Now is this a "Cody working the internet" story, a "Cody is sick of AEW booking but he's still an EVP" story, or a "Cody has completely left AEW and he's going to face Triple H in a WrestleMania match where the entrances take 37 minutes before he quickly jobs" story?

That remains to be seen. It initially felt like a 100% work, but there is a chance that it's not. The most likely course is still that Cody heads to NJPW for a bit or ROH if it ever returns and then comes back to AEW in hopes of a huge pop. But could it be more than that?

WWE would LOVE to take a big figure like Cody from AEW and, even though he'd soon be trading wins with Dolph Ziggler on Main Event, having Cody Rhodes return to the company he has insulted so, so often would be a big deal. 

It honestly comes down to whether he's still an EVP at AEW, which isn't quite clear right now. That could be why there were lawyers involved. If Rhodes is still an AEW EVP, he's not signing a WWE contract. But if he also resigned from that role? Then it could be interesting.

Vital Wrestling Issues N' Stuff: February 10, 2022 Wrestling News

 

Shameful Wrestling News for February 10, 2022

You want wrestling news? We've got wrestling news! You want snarky comments about each story? We've got that too! You want actual reporting? Well... two out of three isn't bad! 

Here we go!

Unless you've been living under a rock (not The Rock), you know that Keith Lee made his AEW debut last night. It was a very strong debut and he has to be one of the favourites to win the Face of the Revolution ladder match now. 

Speaking of AEW debuts, Jay White also showed up on Dynamite! NJPW has mentioned his debut on their official website. It will be interesting to see how this apparent NJPW/AEW relationship will continue, especially since Impact also has a relationship with NJPW. All we want is All In 2. Please give it to us. 

One more note on yesterday's Dynamite. Did you catch how Matt Hardy walked away from the ring through the crowd last night? That was just like his brother Jeff! I'd like to see the Hardys in AEW, especially if they end up in a feud with Private Party. 

Continuing his streak of saying very dumb things, Bully Ray thinks Bill Goldberg should beat Roman Reigns for the Universal Title. Ending Roman's title reign in this way would be absolutely awful.... which means WWE might actually do it.

You may be shocked to learn that Vince McMahon's son Shane hasn't been blacklisted from the family and kicked out of the company following his booking of a single match at the Royal Rumble. It looks like he's still doing business stuff for the company. Honestly, I know it's the internet, but the number of people who were seriously convinced that Shane (and Triple H) were going to show up in AEW or start their own wrestling company made me feel sad.

Apollo Crews says he "would love" to go back and work in NXT. This surprises me because I forgot Apollo Crews existed. Great job, double-double-e!

Tony Khan says he's not running for Congress. Which is too bad because I'd like to see him tease bills and votes on Twitter every week and plug every meeting as a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT. Also, I would personally love to call him "Tony Khan-gress."

Speaking of Tony Khan, he recently said that he "can't renew all of the contacts" that are coming up soon. That makes sense. Contrary to what WWE stans with Roman Reign's avatars on Twitter may say, letting a contract expire is not the same as releasing someone. AEW can't employ everyone, but honouring the terms of their contracts rather than letting them go whenever the company wants more money seems like a much better way to do business.

And, finally, likely due to the size of their current roster, AEW is having a special Thursday episode of Dark tonight on YouTube. Using YouTube specials more often seems like a good idea since you can't get everyone on TV all the time.