Damn that's awful. I know they pulled him before WM because of illness and it came out that it was life threatening at one point, but word was he was close to a comeback, and that came from his father a few weeks ago.
He wasn't everyone's cup of tea but his work over the past few years, the whole Follow The Buzzards thing and the Wyatt family was must see wrestling, and he alongside Harper were my favourite guys for a long time, to lose both of them so young is heartbreaking.
I hope you have the whole world in your hands now, Windham, Rest In Peace
That’s really shitty need to wake up to. I saw him as the natural successor to the Undertaker. Not everyones cup of tea I know but I thought his Wyatt Family persona was genuinely creepy
Was listening to a retrospective podcast on his career earlier. Really hits home how much of an impact he had on WWE, and for how long.
10 years on television on a very regular basis, with recent exception and was involved in storylines with pretty much every single big name in the company during that time.
The character evolved various times, and had matches at Wrestlemania with the likes of John Cena and The Undertaker which didn’t feel out of place for his standing at the time.
Even when the character changes didn’t always quite land in their delivery, the fanbase never seemed to ever give up hope on him. He was ‘over’ pretty much the entire time, whether as a babyface or heel. There was always an interest around what he was going to do next.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest that his creative mind and talent was sometimes a bit too complex for the regular WWE product, which is a great shame. Yet he was still afforded more leeway to put his plans into action more than most other big names during the same period.
Is this the biggest ‘current roster’ loss the WWE have had since Eddie Guerrero?
Was listening to a retrospective podcast on his career earlier. Really hits home how much of an impact he had on WWE, and for how long.
10 years on television on a very regular basis, with recent exception and was involved in storylines with pretty much every single big name in the company during that time.
The character evolved various times, and had matches at Wrestlemania with the likes of John Cena and The Undertaker which didn’t feel out of place for his standing at the time.
Even when the character changes didn’t always quite land in their delivery, the fanbase never seemed to ever give up hope on him. He was ‘over’ pretty much the entire time, whether as a babyface or heel. There was always an interest around what he was going to do next.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest that his creative mind and talent was sometimes a bit too complex for the regular WWE product, which is a great shame. Yet he was still afforded more leeway to put his plans into action more than most other big names during the same period.
Is this the biggest ‘current roster’ loss the WWE have had since Eddie Guerrero?
I was thinking today if Bray is the biggest/most shocking loss in wrestling industry history.
The only other one that comes close is Eddie
EDIT. Actually, I forgot about Owen. That was awful too
No age at all. So sad and like Eddie and Owen he was a family man.
He was so vanilla as Husky Haris, who knew he had it in him? The original Wyatt family was a superb Dusty Rhodes gimmick. Windham did a 180 and looked like a future world champion. I hadn't seen promos like that since Raven. The Fiend stuff was a good 30 years behind when it would have worked.
Was listening to a retrospective podcast on his career earlier. Really hits home how much of an impact he had on WWE, and for how long.
10 years on television on a very regular basis, with recent exception and was involved in storylines with pretty much every single big name in the company during that time.
The character evolved various times, and had matches at Wrestlemania with the likes of John Cena and The Undertaker which didn’t feel out of place for his standing at the time.
Even when the character changes didn’t always quite land in their delivery, the fanbase never seemed to ever give up hope on him. He was ‘over’ pretty much the entire time, whether as a babyface or heel. There was always an interest around what he was going to do next.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest that his creative mind and talent was sometimes a bit too complex for the regular WWE product, which is a great shame. Yet he was still afforded more leeway to put his plans into action more than most other big names during the same period.
Is this the biggest ‘current roster’ loss the WWE have had since Eddie Guerrero?
I was thinking today if Bray is the biggest/most shocking loss in wrestling industry history.
The only other one that comes close is Eddie
EDIT. Actually, I forgot about Owen. That was awful too
Benoit beats them, especially considering the circumstances. Almost killed the industry at the time.
Phew what a night! A lot of ups, a couple of downs, but no doubting it was a success.
I can see it becoming their WrestleMania, and getting exclusivity of using Wembley for AEW now.
I thought the Stadium Stampede was a hot mess, and the ending of a couple of matches felt rushed and anti-climactic, but overall they put on a great show.
The only other thing that feels weird in a live show is the lack of any noise to the action. The bumps in the ring you hear, but chair shots, other stuff outside the ring and the wrestler's cries, trash talk etc you get none of in a big stadium show, and it loses it's significance slightly.
Phew what a night! A lot of ups, a couple of downs, but no doubting it was a success.
I can see it becoming their WrestleMania, and getting exclusivity of using Wembley for AEW now.
I thought the Stadium Stampede was a hot mess, and the ending of a couple of matches felt rushed and anti-climactic, but overall they put on a great show.
The only other thing that feels weird in a live show is the lack of any noise to the action. The bumps in the ring you hear, but chair shots, other stuff outside the ring and the wrestler's cries, trash talk etc you get none of in a big stadium show, and it loses it's significance slightly.
Can't wait to go again next year though!
I went for a piss during stadium stampede, so did everyone else.
Queue was massive.
The right people won pretty much every match on the card, which I do t normally say for AEW.
The main event just felt weird. I loved it but it felt too much like a house show, too many nod nod wink wink spots, that goes for the whole card.
Was suprised how cool the crowd was for the bucks, after the reaction Omega and Page got.
The main event for me was one of the biggest swing-and-a-miss moments, I felt sure we would have a turn, even though they won the tag titles, I was expecting one of them to blindside the other after the confetti
That was great fun. Will post more tomorrow about some of the details.
But for now - let’s just take in the fact that professional wrestling just packed Wembley Stadium in one of the biggest shows in history. A non-WWE show. And you know what, it didn’t feel out of place at all. Very few would have predicted that whatsoever a few years ago, or even 6 months ago.
Walking around London seeing people heading to a wrestling show put a massive smile on my face. For one day, it wasn’t a ‘niche’ interest.
I think well done AEW is the best way to sum it up. As a fan i have a great night and had more than my money's worth. Loads I could criticise, but whatever. I thought they would be lucky to sell 50k tickets so just praise to them.
I'm sure there is a logical reason but why are there such huge gaps on the floor level? Couldn't they have put more seats there?
I’m sure it’s the same/very similar on at least some of the WWE stadium shows, as I’ve remarked on it before. I assumed it must be for access reasons possibly in case of emergency?
I'm sure there is a logical reason but why are there such huge gaps on the floor level? Couldn't they have put more seats there?
I’m sure it’s the same/very similar on at least some of the WWE stadium shows, as I’ve remarked on it before. I assumed it must be for access reasons possibly in case of emergency?
The views in those seats wouldn't be great either. I think only 10k seats can be used on the floor.
- The return of Sting’s old WCW music. Seek & Destroy by Metallica - The crowd was HOT for Punk vs Joe. Great opener for the main show - Saraya’s win was a great moment considering what she’s been through, even if it is just a moment for now - Will Ospreay’s athleticism hits hard when you see it in the flesh - The Fozzy entrance (with Freddie Mercury tribute) actually worked well - Stadium Stampede matches are quite hard to follow live, but it was quite funny just to see two wrestlers smashing chairs over each other in the Directors Box half way up the stadium.
- MJF is some performer. Even from the other side of the stadium, he still has a way of connecting with everyone in the crowd - even in an unfamiliar babyface role. Truly world class entertainer.
I'm sure there is a logical reason but why are there such huge gaps on the floor level? Couldn't they have put more seats there?
I think it's a sight line thing but also a crowding/fire safety thing. From what I've seen from concerts at Wembley the floor standing always looks half full when everyone gathers at the stage
Interested to hear what the balance of the crowd was from your perspectives for the likes of CM Punk, Young Bucks etc
Any other surprising reactions / amusing chants?
Punk booed more than cheered, Takeshita played up heel brilliantly but a couple of his moves were so good he still popped the crowd, Eddie Kingston got a huge ovation, but I don't see the appeal personally. Also surprised how many cheers Jay White and Juice Robinson got when they came out.
Had a guy right up at the top behind my section that screamed Don "Calls is a C*******T" at the top of his lungs intermittently, even when he wasn't part of what was happening, which was interesting.
Interested to hear what the balance of the crowd was from your perspectives for the likes of CM Punk, Young Bucks etc
Any other surprising reactions / amusing chants?
I was actually suprised how little reaction either way the Bucks got, especially compared to the Omega/Page pops in the match before it.
From the cheap seats it sounded like "the floor" was very anti Punk/pro Joe and the bleachers were more pro Punk. Without doubt I saw more Punk merch being warn that anyone/thing else. Including the "I was there" tshirts.
Comments
He wasn't everyone's cup of tea but his work over the past few years, the whole Follow The Buzzards thing and the Wyatt family was must see wrestling, and he alongside Harper were my favourite guys for a long time, to lose both of them so young is heartbreaking.
I hope you have the whole world in your hands now, Windham, Rest In Peace
10 years on television on a very regular basis, with recent exception and was involved in storylines with pretty much every single big name in the company during that time.
The character evolved various times, and had matches at Wrestlemania with the likes of John Cena and The Undertaker which didn’t feel out of place for his standing at the time.
Even when the character changes didn’t always quite land in their delivery, the fanbase never seemed to ever give up hope on him. He was ‘over’ pretty much the entire time, whether as a babyface or heel. There was always an interest around what he was going to do next.
The only other one that comes close is Eddie
EDIT. Actually, I forgot about Owen. That was awful too
He was so vanilla as Husky Haris, who knew he had it in him? The original Wyatt family was a superb Dusty Rhodes gimmick. Windham did a 180 and looked like a future world champion. I hadn't seen promos like that since Raven. The Fiend stuff was a good 30 years behind when it would have worked.
It’s just that there is a limited scope for those types of ‘indestructible’ super-natural characters who are booked into a corner.
Just an outstanding, creative mind. And there were missed opportunities, but not through any fault of his own.
Crazy that AEW have created one of the biggest sold shows ever, seemingly on a whim.
I can see it becoming their WrestleMania, and getting exclusivity of using Wembley for AEW now.
I thought the Stadium Stampede was a hot mess, and the ending of a couple of matches felt rushed and anti-climactic, but overall they put on a great show.
The only other thing that feels weird in a live show is the lack of any noise to the action. The bumps in the ring you hear, but chair shots, other stuff outside the ring and the wrestler's cries, trash talk etc you get none of in a big stadium show, and it loses it's significance slightly.
Can't wait to go again next year though!
Queue was massive.
The right people won pretty much every match on the card, which I do t normally say for AEW.
The main event just felt weird. I loved it but it felt too much like a house show, too many nod nod wink wink spots, that goes for the whole card.
Was suprised how cool the crowd was for the bucks, after the reaction Omega and Page got.
But for now - let’s just take in the fact that professional wrestling just packed Wembley Stadium in one of the biggest shows in history. A non-WWE show. And you know what, it didn’t feel out of place at all. Very few would have predicted that whatsoever a few years ago, or even 6 months ago.
Walking around London seeing people heading to a wrestling show put a massive smile on my face. For one day, it wasn’t a ‘niche’ interest.
Well done AEW.
Interested to hear what the balance of the crowd was from your perspectives for the likes of CM Punk, Young Bucks etc
Any other surprising reactions / amusing chants?
Unless you're on EE the internet is slow at Wembley. So here's my view from the cheap seats.
- The return of Sting’s old WCW music. Seek & Destroy by Metallica
- The crowd was HOT for Punk vs Joe. Great opener for the main show
- Saraya’s win was a great moment considering what she’s been through, even if it is just a moment for now
- Will Ospreay’s athleticism hits hard when you see it in the flesh
- The Fozzy entrance (with Freddie Mercury tribute) actually worked well
- Stadium Stampede matches are quite hard to follow live, but it was quite funny just to see two wrestlers smashing chairs over each other in the Directors Box half way up the stadium.
Had a guy right up at the top behind my section that screamed Don "Calls is a C*******T" at the top of his lungs intermittently, even when he wasn't part of what was happening, which was interesting.
Only problem with floor seats was having to climb a million steps every time I wanted a piss!!!
Great atmosphere though
From the cheap seats it sounded like "the floor" was very anti Punk/pro Joe and the bleachers were more pro Punk. Without doubt I saw more Punk merch being warn that anyone/thing else. Including the "I was there" tshirts.