WWE Survivor Series 2024 Preview & Predictions

Saturday marks the 38th annual Survivor Series event, and once again the branding need not apply because Hunter's still all-in on Watered-Down WarGames.  That should be the new name of this event in fact.  

Substitute chairs, trash cans and kendo sticks for the brutality that once was WarGames (and still is AEW's Blood and Guts), and you have WWE's November PPV.  Anyway, it's once again built around the goddamn Bloodline, but now we have random special guests added!  The women's WarGames match is even thinner, as it's just Rhea vs. Liv essentially, with a buncha partners, which once again would work much better as a Survivor Series match, that's what those used to be about.  WarGames was supposed to be 4 or 5 people on each team that had a team blood feud.  The men's match is at least sorta built like that.  On the bright side, the undercard is much stronger this year than last.  But why the hell isn't Cody on this show?  Instead they have him fighting Kevin Owens again, on Saturday Night's Main Event.  Cody's title run has to be one of the most boring babyface runs ever that started out super-hot.  Once again this show is devoid of any black male wrestlers, by the way.  Hunter's never beating those allegations....

Anyway let's look at this thing....

US Championship: LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Christ, the way WWE has ruined one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time needs to be studied.  As someone who considered the 2015 Nakamura the best wrestler in the world at that time, I don't even recognize what he's become.  Dull, ineffectual, powderpuff offense where there used to be unmatched intensity and charisma.  Fucking shameful.  Can he get the fuck outta this place and go to AEW or back to NJPW while he still has a few good years left?  Anyway, either guy could win this I suppose.  Seems early to take the belt off Knight but it would be the only title change on this show.  At the same time, Nakamura's beaten roughly nobody in the last five years or so.  Eh, I'll throw the guy a bone since no one else will.

Pick: Nakamura

AEW Full Gear 2024 Review: Yet Another Gem

The sixth edition of AEW Full Gear is in the books, and it was yet another gem of a PPV.  Tons of good-to-great wrestling, lots of storyline advancement, and yet another Match of the Year contender from Will Ospreay.  Aside from the Newark crowd being rather languid for a lot of the show, this was a helluva PPV.

The action started with the 4-way party match, as AEW Tag Champs Private Party defended against Kings of the Black Throne, The Acclaimed, and fan favorites The Outrunners.  This was your usual nonstop action opener, all four teams got some time to shine.  The bigger story was the teased dissension of The Acclaimed, as Max Caster was acting very heelish and getting booed.  At one point Caster tried to get Anthony Bowens to pin him so they'd win the match.  Bowens obliged and the ref counted to two before the pin was broken up.  Not sure why the ref would agree to count that, but WWE's done the same thing in the past (so everyone up in their feels about this spot can relax).  Anyway, Caster and Bowens not being on the same page ultimately cost them as Private Party was able to hit Gin n' Juice on Caster to retain.  Good fast-paced opener.  ***1/2

Next was the MJF-Roderick Strong match, and while the crowd clearly wanted MJF-Cole instead (which is obviously being saved for the anniversary of Cole's reveal as The Devil), both these guys worked hard to get them on board.  MJF did lots of trash talking and worked over Strong's fingers, at one point shoving them through the turnbuckle and trying to break them.  Strong made a comeback with his myriad of suplexes, but Max was able to lock in Salt of the Earth and pull on Strong's injured hand to get the tapout.  Max then proceeded to Pillmanize (crazy that we're still using that term 28 years later) Roddy's arm, which brought out the rest of Undisputed Kingdom.  Max took a powder and then Kyle O'Reilly ran down and shoved Adam Cole to the mat, following up on his promo last week that Cole's vendetta against MJF is getting his friends hurt.  Very good match.  ***3/4

AEW Full Gear 2024 Preview & Predictions

This Saturday is the penultimate AEW PPV of 2024, Full Gear!  Like last year's November spectacular, this lineup isn't the most stacked, but as always I'll give this company the benefit of the doubt when it comes to PPV.  In addition to the eight main card matches we'll finally get that Mariah May Championship Celebration she's been teasing for three months.  I guess Toni Storm wasn't ready to come back until now?  

Anyway, let's look at what IS on here....

Zero Hour: "Big Boom" AJ vs. QT Marshall

This is just a cross-promotional thing and if this YouTuber guy I've never heard of before now gets more eyes on the AEW product I'm fine with it as a pre-show deal.  AJ was apparently an indie wrestler 20 years ago so someone, maybe QT himself, figured let's bring him in to draw some casual viewers.  Problem is they didn't really do much with it on AEW television.  But whatever, AJ will get a feelgood win.

Pick: AJ

TNT Championship: Jack Perry vs. Daniel Garcia

Finally Danny's getting a title match on PPV.  He really should've beaten MJF a few months ago but hadn't signed his new deal yet, not sure why.  This feud has been lowkey pretty interesting, with Garcia easily manhandling Perry but unable to get to him psychologically.  Like a Batman-Joker dynamic.  I hope if Garcia wins (and I think he will), Perry continues to turn him into a monster like they've been teasing.  Hell, even Daddy Magic was uncomfortable with how far Danny went.  The followup will be key here.  Match should be very good.

Pick: Garcia

NJPW Power Struggle 2024 Preview & Predictions

NJPW Power Struggle once again falls on November 4th, this coming Monday, and oddly there are only seven matches on the card.  But a few of them should be bangers.  Let's take a look.  I can't pick a winner for the Super Jr. Tag League Final since I don't know who's going to be in it yet.  Also Kenny Omega is apparently scheduled to make his first appearance in a wrestling ring since undergoing surgery for diverticulitis almost a year ago.

Hiroshi Tanahashi/Boltin Oleg vs. Evil/Ren Narita

Tanahashi was originally supposed to be tagging here with El Phantasmo, but poor ELP will be out indefinitely for cancer treatment.  Awful.  Here's hoping he's well very soon.  House of Torture matches generally suck and I'm not terribly excited about Tana vs. Evil at the Dome, but maybe Tana can finally put an end to this wretched stable.

Pick: HoT

IWGP Tag Team Championship: TMDK vs. United Empire

Should be a hard hitting match with O-Khan and Henare in there.  I think TMDK probably retains.

Pick: TMDK

IWGP Jr. Championship: Douki vs. Master Wato

Sweet Jesus this division needs an influx of new talent.  Douki won this title recently so I'll stick with him.

Pick: Douki retains

IWGP Global Championship: David Finlay vs. Taichi

This is an odd one.  Has Taichi gotten any big wins lately?  Not exactly a huge marquee match, but it should be solid.  Finlay keeps it obviously.

Pick: Finlay retains

Sanada vs. Shota Umino

This should be a fine matchup.  Umino could use a big win, so hopefully he gets one here.

Pick: Umino

IWGP Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi

This'll be awesome.  ZSJ racking up title defenses on his way to the Dome.  I imagine Yota Tsuji will be his challenger there?  Zack and Shingo both rule, so instant banger.

Pick: ZSJ retains

So yeah, kind of a skimpy card.  What is this, WWE?  But the main event will deliver big and hopefully we'll get a sense of the WrestleKingdom 19 card, plus Kenny's appearing.

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