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archivalofsins · 2 months

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So, that last minigram huh?

Kotoko continuing to be unable to take what she dishes out is adorable without question. To celebrate the continuation and the use of portal timeline interactions in another minigram-

I wanna take a moment to discuss that and how martial arts is handled in the portal timeline too!

Transcript of official translation of Minigram EP51 "Mixed Martial Arts Competition Part 2"

[51-1] Kotoko: You're a martial arts guy right, Kazui? Kotoko: What do you do? Judo? Mahiru: What's wrong Mikoto? Kazui: Why do you wanna know all of a suddent? nervous Mikoto: If the battle starts here, I'll have nightmares about it. Mikoto: Who is stronger...? Last episode [51-2] Kazui: Uhh. Kazui: I mainly do judo and kendo(Japanese fencing). Kazui: And a bit of karate. Kazui: You also have some experience in combat sports right? Kazui: I can tell. Kazui: Hm... Kazui: It involves punching and kicking... Kazui: But I don't think it's karate... Kotoko: ...! Kazui: Is it taekwondo? Kotoko: I'm not telling you. Kotoko: Stop staring at me you pervert. Kazui: Is.. Kazui: Isn't that a bit unfair...?

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Does Kotoko in the last panel remind anyone else of another prisoner?

I guess playing investigator/hero is only fun when when she the only one doing the watching right?

They’re still here, still here, it grates me.

The difference between this in and the portal timeline interaction is that more prisoners have been included. Mahiru and Mikoto. Two people who had already deduced that Kazui and Kotoko had some martial arts knowledge.

Since this is following up from Minigram EP50 "Mixed Martial Arts Competition Part 1" where Mikoto asks who would win between Kazui and Kotoko in a fight.

[50-1] Mikoto: By the way- Mikoto: Who is stronger between Koto-chan and Kazu? Mikoto: Both of them do martial arts, right? Kotoko: If we go head to head, I'd think Kazui. Futa: Of course it would be. Futa: Don't ask such a stupid question. Futa: Women can't beat men in martial arts. Futa: This isn't a manga. Futa: Body size makes a big difference. step step Futa: How hard you hit is dependent on your body weight Futa: You don't understand. [50-2] Kotoko: Futa does have a point. squeak Kotoko: The fact that many martial arts have weight divisions means that it makes much of a difference. Kotoko: I would be bantamweight and he would be cruiserweight or heavyweight. Kotoko: But... snap Kotoko: I would at least break one of his arms. sst Kotoko: ... So when do we fight?

Maybe we'll get to see Mahiru and Kazui's timeline conversation from 20/06/19 turned into a minigram as well.

20/06/19 Kazui: By the way…… thanks, Shina-chan. You keep going around and talking to people to make sure the mood never gets too sour, right? It’s a big help. We’re all in here together, after all. If a fight broke out, the whole group could fall apart. Mahiru: ……eh? Huh~? Ah, no, I’m just talking to people because I personally want to talk. All the kids are so cute, so I can’t help but want to fuss over them! A fight, huh… But if that ever happened, then you’ll definitely be a big help, right~? Since you’re so big! And buff! Kazui: Ahh, no. I mean, I’ll do what I can. Based on appearance, as long as nobody has a weapon, I think I can probably get everyone under control…… No, we should just hope that nothing like that ever happens. Mahiru: You know, I quite like watching martial arts, actually. I don’t really get it, but it looks super cool. Hi-yah! Hi-yah!

The changes made in the minigram could be to give a more cohesive narrative to those moments. Mikoto, asks Kotoko who's tougher which causes her to get intrigued as well wanting to test her strength, she asks Kazui what martial arts he knows to see if he's a worthy opponent. This leads to Kazui getting nervous assuming this means she's going to try to fight him. Which could lead into him thanking Mahiru for always trying to keep the atmosphere light afterwards and she just explains she has fun talking to everyone.

But let's hop into the interesting thing. Considering the focus on strength and martial arts I decided to look over the timeline interactions involving them. they're interesting to say the least.

Here's the first one to mention martial arts-

20/05/30 Mahiru: Hey, Kotoko-chan. There’s something that’s really been bugging me, so do you mind if I ask? ……how do you style yourself so well? Have you always dressed like that? But it also looks like something you’d wear for training. Do you play sport? Ah, or maybe some kind of martial arts? Kotoko: ……you really are carefree. Everyone in here is a “murderer” right? Is this really the time to be asking questions like that? Mahiru: Hmm, I guess so. That’s what they said. But nobody here seems particularly scary or anything, right? If I had to pick someone, then maybe you’re the scariest! Ah, wait, do you do like yoga or something? Kotoko: ……I can’t tell if you’re making fun of me or are just an airhead.

The second is you guessed it the interaction between Mahiru and Kazui. Wow Mahiru certainly is good at picking out people who know martial arts in a casual way.

The third one is Kotoko's interaction with Kazui,

20/07/09 Kotoko: Kazui, you do martial arts, right? ……what type? Judo? Kazui: Ah, my main is…… judo, and kendo. I also know a little bit of karate. You must have some martial arts experience too, right, Yuzuriha-chan? I can tell by looking. Hmm… probably a combat type…… I’m guessing not karate…… is it taekwondo? Kotoko: ……I’m not telling you. Stop ogling me like that. It’s gross. Kazui: I-isn’t that a bit unfair?

Then the conversation between Mikoto, Kotoko, and Futa.

20/08/03 Mikoto: By the way, Koto-chan. Who’s stronger between you and Kazu-san? You both know martial arts, right? Kotoko: ……if it was a fair one-on-one fight, probably Kazui. Futa: Isn’t that obvious? What a stupid question. There’s no way a girl could win in a fight against a man. This is real life, not a manga. There’s too big a difference in body size. And that’s what determines the weight of your attacks. Kotoko: ……Futa’s not entirely wrong there. In a lot of martial arts, they specifically split up divisions based on body weight for that reason. I’m bantam, and he’d probably be either cruiser or heavy. Well, I’d still break an arm or two though.

The funniest thing about looking over the Portal Timeline interactions in contrast to how the minigram portrays this is-

Well to realize that Kazui never told anyone he did martial arts until he was directly asked by Kotoko. Kotoko and Mahiru both just assumed from how he was built that he did some sort of martial arts. A conclusion they would have come to by oggling the man.

Now Mahiru doesn't hide that she's eyeing up the every adult men in Milgram at all-

20/06/08 Mahiru: Shidou-san…… you’re really good-looking. Personally I think you’d be better if you ate a bit more, but you’re slim and tall, and well put together to boot…… You must’ve been super popular up until now, right? Shidou: ……yeah, that’s true…… I did my share of fooling around in the past. Mahiru: Oh~? That’s not the sort of answer I’d expect from you. I’ve got it! Somebody told you that if you replied like that people wouldn’t resent you so much, right? Shidou: Haha, I’m surprised you guessed. ……it seems that no matter what guise I put on, it’s meaningless against a woman’s insight.

So, it's not much of a surprise that she would make this sort of observation about Kazui. Hell, I'm not even faulting it.

Q.05 Who do you dislike most out of the other prisoners? Mahiru: Futa-kun is a bully, so definitely out! Also Mikoto is pretty flippant, he kinda seems like the type who’d cheat~

If she's trying to use Milgram to find a new boyfriend all the more power to her. Yet, it is again very hilarious that from how the timeline presents it the only reason Kotoko came to the conclusion that Kazui did a martial arts was because she was in her own words ogling him.

Kotoko: ……I’m not telling you. Stop ogling me like that. It’s gross.

What about you, Kotoko?!

Putting this look to the side. Which out of context and in context is not good cosidering the deifnition of the term ogle.

Kazui never told anyone that he did a martial art until he was expressedly asked by Kotoko. The only way that anyone would draw the conclusion that he did is by looking at him (possibly alot). Plus we already know that Kotoko has been keeping an eye on all the prisoner and even more stuff since the release of Deep Cover.

Sorry to go into semantics but yeah what Kotoko did in this minigram is the definition of ogling and is presented as such visually as well as contexually. So, makes sense why they'd have her call him a pervert instead of having her say to stop ogling her like she did before. Having her say that would highlight the double standard here a bit too much.

Despite Kotoko not even answering Kazui when he asks why she's inquiring about this in the overtly menacing way that she is. He still answers her question earnestly. Then when he asks her what martial arts she does to continue the conversation and give her the opportunity to have a reciprocal conversation she just shuts it down by calling him a pervert in the minigram and implying he's one in the original portal timeline by saying he's ogling her.

Him saying that's a bit unfair is rather reasonable. Because that's what it is unfair. He told her what martial arts he does the least she could do is continue the conversation she started and answer the same question she had the audacity to ask.

But while we're still on the topic of martial arts-

Why the fuck are Mahiru and Mikoto so good at telling who does martial arts? It makes sense for Kazui and Kotoko. Also Mahiru admits to being interested in martial arts to Kazui. So, that somewhat explains that. Yet, with Mikoto it's a bit surprising. Given he says that he hates violence.

Q.06 What do you hate? Mikoto: working overnight / reptiles / violence

Well just because he hates violence doesn't mean he can't recognize those capable of being violent or even that he won't use violence himself. It just means he hates it.

Still why is that a skill Mahiru or Mikoto would ever need to the point of being comfortable enough to surmise that two of the prisoners here do it? While also being stunningly correct. Mikoto could have overheard any of the other timeline interractions and just been making small talk though.

Since his talk happens after all the others. Still the fact that four people in this prison are possibly really good at surmising if someone does martial arts by looking at them alone is kind of impressive and terrifying.

This is just some interesting stuff that the new minigram got me thinking about. It's really interesting to see how the staff is incorporating the portal timeline interactions into the minigrams. I can't wait to see what they do with the others from trial one.

#gunsli rambles #milgram #kotoko yuzuhira #mikoto kayano #mahiru shiina #kazui mukuhara

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menonlywrestling · 2 months

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UK 1979

Army vs Navy.

At this years Armed Forces Pro Wrestling Summer Tournament, there is one upcoming match that's the most anticipated, and that's the cruiserweight tag team fight between the Navy and the Army. The reason it's so anticipated this year is because these two teams are tremendous wrestlers, and the rivalry between their infantry divisions is intense. Often these tournaments feature tough guys without a lot of pro experience, or the fights are 'friendlies', but these four have beef, having faced off in singles matches previously, that got out of hand, with a couple ending in disqualifications. Both sets of tag teams are in a relationship with each other, so no one wants to see their lover get hurt.

Two falls, two submissions or a knockout within a 60 min time limit rules.

The match was an incredible, vicious but technical bloodbath, with lots of action inside and outside the ring.

#beefy muscle #gay wrestling #big beefy bears #beefy daddy #pro wrestling #wrestling singlet #vintage pro wrestling

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colossal-niamh · 1 month

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@reneethejackdaw

Alright I promised it so here’s my top 20 matches

Now a quick heads up, this isn’t just going to be a retread of my 5-star list. That’s more of a list of what I think is the best matches in the world, while this is more matches that I in particular like and/or hold sentiment for me. Though there will inevitably be overlap

Honorable mentions:

Hangman Adam Page vs Bryan Danielson 12/15- This match is basically number 21. this is the best AEW world title match and I love it sooo much but it just barely gets eeked out by the other 20

Asuka vs Ember Moon Takeover Brooklyn 3- one of the best NXT women’s matches and just barely didn’t make the cut. If they were to do this with modern Athena this would soar in my personal rankings Bull Nakano vs Aja Kong 11/4- an excellent finale to Aja's long title chase and her crowning as the new top boss of AJW

Kaientai DX vs Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa, Masato Yakushiji, Super Delfin, and Tiger Mask 4- great and extremely fun multiman tag and a perfect primer for Michinoku Pro's style

Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton 6/24- One of Randy's best matches and probably the best PG era no DQ match. THE LIST: 20. Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega, 4/12/09- a cartoonish and lighthearted match before each man went on to dominate the world. This is probably the most farcical match on this list but for good reason. it's an excellent display of both men's comedy chops, crowd work and eventually a sprint of both men's in ring capabilities. I delightful foot note

19. Cody vs Dustin Rhodes, 5/25/19- The Match that made me go "oh yeah, AEW's gonna work." Bar none Dustin's best match as he and his brother honor their late father's legacy by drenching themselves in blood. I know Dustin getting busted open was an accident but it added so much to the sprit of the match.

18. WALTER vs Ilja Dragunov, 8/22/21- This is the best NXT match of all time. A passionate and brutal rematch of their 2020 encounter. Dragunov shows he truly does have that dog in him as with a chest made of hamburger meat and a gash on his forehead, physically clobbers WALTER into submission

17. Steve Corino vs Yoshihiro Tajiri, 5/14- This is probably my most self indulgent pick on this list as I feel a lot of people could be turned off by Corino's racist pre match promo. I justify my liking of this match by going "DID YOU SEE HOW HARD TAJIRI KICKED THAT RACIST FUCK'S HEAD?!" Tajiri gives Corino one of the most satisfying beat downs I've ever seen and it rocks so hard.

16. Tsuruta Gun vs SGA 4/20- best 6-man tag in wrestling history, every participant plays their part perfectly. Tsuruta Gun's monumental hater energy is prevalent in all 3 members, Jumbo's ongoing grouchy ace energy, Taue fighting to prove he belongs with the vets, and Fuchi's the evil old man viciously harassing his younger opponents. Meanwhile Misawa, Kawada and Kobashi are in a constant state of white hot babyface sprit that does not let up the entire match.

15. Rey Misterio vs Eddie Guerrero 10/27- The perfect encapsulation of WCW's cruiserweight division. Eddie clawing and slamming Rey with the viciousness only a rudo like himself can show off. Meanwhile Rey shows of just why he's one of the best underdog babyfaces as he uses everything in his book to counteract Eddie's harsh offence. Special shoutout to Rey's The Sprit gear here as it works with the theming of the PPV and as a visual metaphor for a Luchador's mask being a part of themselves.

14. E&C vs The Hardy Boys vs The Dudley Boys 4/1- WWE's best stipulation match with 3 of their best tag teams ever. TLC 2 is the wrestling equivalent to watching the police car pile up from the end of Blues Brothers. An insane series of mesmerizing car crashes in rapid precession.

13. Akira Taue vs Toshiaki Kawada 4/1- These 2 start their own independent blood feud while inside the bigger blood feud that is Tsuruta Gun vs Super Generation Army. Taue and Kawada go at each other like 2 beta fish in the same tank, fast and violently. Taue in particular does the rare but awesome All Japan blade job. a dark horse in the 4 Pillars cannon

12. Eddie Kingston vs Jun Akiyama 11/19- The proper match itself is a good time and one of Eddie's sleeper hits, but the post match is special to me. Eddie showing respect to one of his all time heroes and that hero showing an equal amount of respect back is the only time a wrestling match made me cry. The exact moment I realized who my favorite wrestler is, hail to the Mad King.

11. KENTA vs Ricky Marvin 10/15- This match is one of the best sprints I've ever seen. The moment Marvin launches himself at KENTA begins 2 minuets of the 2 men throwing the sickest strikes and nastiest bombs I've ever seen. Gets everyone I've shown it to jumping out of their seats

10. CM Punk vs John Cena 7/17- Punk snatches victory from the jaw of a corporation. Punk truly attains his 2nd City Saint nickname and the title of generational talent. Cena's no slouch here either as he does his patented one night stoic heel routine like it's 2006 all over again.

9. Jon Moxley vs Wheeler YUTA 4/6- This is my most biased pick as I was there live in the arena for this, but also it's the best match I've ever seen live, so it evens out. This is the match that convinced me Yuta is a guy to look out for. Jon Moxley initiates Wheeler Yuta into the BCC through blood and carnage. I was physically leaping out of my seat as Yoots bit and clawed his way to meet Mox on his level. While he failed to beat Mox, Wheeler's sheer tenacity proved he deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best wrestlers in the world.

8. Kenta Kobashi vs Kensuke Sasaki 7/18- I lovingly described this match to a friend as "if 2 fridges worked out and hated your chest." Kobashi vs Sasaki is one of the most Dudes Rock matches ever in a medium designed for shit that makes you go Dudes Rock. watch that chop off in the middle of this match and not get hype I dare you.

7. Daniel Bryan vs John Cena 8/18- This is John Cena's best match in his best genre, all timer wrestler sets their legend in stone by surpassing Big Match John. Bryan that this point was, you know, an exceptional technician with a storied career outside of The Fed. But this particular bout cemented him as a star so bright Even the WWE couldn't look the other way as oceans of people rallied behind that little harry hippie.

6. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada, 6/3- This match is mythical. A short hand for greatest of all time for those in the know. In the early years of their decade spanning war, Toshiaki Kawada throws everything in his arsenal at Misawa. In the face of this offence, the Ace manages to have an all timer comeback. I first watched this while on a plane ride and by the time the match was over I didn't ever realize the plane had landed, I was so enthralled I lost track of time.

5. Mitsuharu Misawa vs Toshiaki Kawada, 6/6- Buuuut this is my favorite match between the 2. Years later into the feud, Misawa and Kawada have fought so many time and have elevated into a barrage of heavy bombs, stiff strikes and tight grapples. Kawada is an absolute freak at this point, desperate for his first win and eating everything the Ace has in store. Despite all his efforts, the heartbreak sets in as Misawa once again vanquishes Dangerous K. The ending is the same as always but hits hard, Kawada was so close, but victory slips away yet again.

4. The Briscoes vs FTR 12/10- I find it fitting the late great Jay Briscoe's last great match, the last Great Briscoes match, sits atop the heap as the best tag team match. Blood and metal fly. Jay's bleed, Mark's bleeding, Dax and Cash are bleeding. hell even the ref gets in on the blood. A grand farewell to the best team, dead or alive.

3. Terry Funk vs Atsushi Onita, 5/5- This match is a beautiful as it is violent and boy, is it violent. Onita and Funk slug each other as their bodies are pelted with explosions as the hit real barbwire. The battle makes these great transitions as it goes from all out hatred to desperation as the clock winds down, then finally one of the grandest acts of kindness I've ever seen in a match. Onita, realizing Funk will get caught in the explosion, show his foe some humanity and shields his near lifeless body from the final bomb. The best ending to any match I've ever seen

2. Shinobu Kandori vs Akira Hokuto, 4/2- This. Is. War. Hokuto and Kandori go at each other from minute one with unparalleled animosity. They're snappy, they're agile, they are vicious. Kandori's murderous submission holds, Hokuto's brilliant dives and bombs, THAT TOMBSTONE ON THE TABLE. Undoubtedly the greatest women's match ever, no chance of it being topped.

Kenta Kobashi vs Samoa Joe 10/1- The perfect dream match. 2 of the best to ever do it, at the hottest time for the promotion, at the zenith of both men's careers. Kobashi is fresh off his legendary reign of fire with the GHC heavyweight title. Joe's in that mythical period of his career where he's the best wrestler who ever lived. It is 2 unparalleled greats colliding likes stars, and the explosion is spectacular

#wrestling #aew #wwe #ring of honor #roh #ajw wrestling #fmw #ajpw #pro wrestling NOAH #WCW #NXT #Pwg

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theanticool · 4 months

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I asked you a little while ago about Loma but now as the undisputed fight gets closer I wanted to ask you about Usyk. some people believe that what Usyk has achieved so far is an ATG case in real-time, someone went as far as to say that he's the best boxer since Floyd retired. This conversation was met with "Stop comparing him like he's some Ali" and that was met with "Why? why is it so hard to accept seeing greatness play out in real time!" I know that even Muhammed Ali received criticism during his reign for being compared to Sugar Ray Robinson so this idea of downplaying boxers during their prime isn't new and I feel the same with how Usyk is being seen. What do you think about Usyk? How do you think he compares to Holyfield as a cruiserweight who moved up HW to find success? Have you felt that as you've watched him over the years he's achieved and is currently achieving greatness?

Usyk is unquestionably one of the top fighters of the last decade and (imo) the best cruiserweight ever. Respect to Holyfield, but I think Usyk fought stiffer competition at the weight class. It was just better in the mid-2010s than it was in the 80s. And, to be fair to Holyfield, it was a new division then so it makes sense.

Usyk is one of the best boxers the sport has ever seen and a truly amazing talent. And I believe he will unify the titles at heavyweight.

THAT SAID - Usyk can't compete with Holyfield's resume at heavyweight. Like he might beat Fury twice. He might defend against Joseph Parker, Zhang, and Hrgovic but it's just not the same caliber of opposition. For as "bad" as the 90s were for heavyweight when you compare it to the late 60s/early 70s, it blew the modern field out the water. Holyfield beat Mike Tyson. Post-prison Tyson, to be sure, but still that's Mike Tyson. Holyfield didn't always win but the resume speaks for itself - Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Lennox Lewis, Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz, George Foreman, Chris Byrd, etc. Not all world beaters. Not all in their prime. And again, he didn't beat everybody. But that is one hell of a resume that can't be replicated with the current field of heavyweight talent imo. I also think part of the reason the heavyweight titles are even being unified is because the field is so poor atm. It's not fair, but it's one of the tragedies of fighting. Especially at heavyweight.

Still, unifying would be a huge feather in Usyk's cap. I don't think not doing it would take anything away from what he's already accomplished though. He's an ATG, top 100 boxer of all time already imo.

#boxing #oleksandr usyk

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eldesperadont · 2 years

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I made a biased powerpoint on the jr division for new NJPW fans or people who are interested in becoming one 🤸✨

disclaimer: this aint a super detailed info dump and rather about vibes, if u wanna know who they fought and what they won check out cagematch or whatever

what are Jr. Heavyweight Wrestlers? basically cruiserweights, your funky high flyers, the manlets - the main point is that they are under 100kg/220lbs

why a post just for them? the entire division basically are underdogs given that heavyweights are positioned as "stronger", and sadly at times that reflects in the attention they get, which is a crime cause they are amazing!!!

trivia: their most important title is the "IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship", a belt thats around since 1986 - they also have their own tag titles and technically can fight for Heavyweight titles

anyways lets go! I sorted them by factions:

+ not mentioned are Jado (Hontai), Taka Michinoku (Suzuki-gun) and Dick Togo (Bullet Club), they are veterans of the business and managers/backup for guys in their factions

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christianstepmoms · 2 years

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The pop for Danhausen in a Dark Match is so fucking unreal. TK really needs to make a cruiserweight division, there really something is to be had with Avalon, Nemeth, Danhausen, Serpentico et. al.

Great talents, they're over, use them, let them have minor feuds. The crowds here for it, you're paying for the talent it would cost you nothing to let them do stuff.

#danhausen #wrestling #aew #peter avalon

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memecucker · 1 year

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I’ve been glancing at World of Sports wrestling from 70s and 80s which was when UK wrestling was at its peak and something I noticed that’s kinda funny is how a lot of the talent would be considered smaller than average by traditional WWF standards (usually being under six feet) and tended to be technicians or sometimes high flyers which makes sense since a lot of them were put in Cruiserweight divisions when they went to the US.

Except for the two by far most popular British wrestlers during that time period, the beloved national icon Big Daddy who was 6’6 and 375lbs and his arch enemy the evil Giant Haystacks who were 6’11 and 685lbs and the two of them were basically by far the largest and tallest main eventers in the UK

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wrestlingisfake · 4 months

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Hard to Kill preview

Alex Shelley vs. Moose - Shelley won the Impact men's world title in June; as of this week it's been rebranded as the TNA men's world title. Moose earned this title shot in September in a "feast or fired" match.

I'm honestly not sure there's any backstory to this match. The promotion basically went dark after December 9, and the weekly TV has been little more than clip shows and hype for the big rebranding from Impact back to TNA.

The match works without much context, though. Shelley was a mainstay with TNA from 2004 to 2012, as one of the young indy-riffic guys stuck in the midcard; since returning in 2020, he's been exalted as a veteran and a symbol of everything great about the promotion's history. Moose started with the company in 2016, a few months before Dixie Carter sold it to Anthem; he's been a mainstay ever since as they've gradually climbed out of a deep hole. In many respects, either of these men would make sense as the standard-bearer in this new era.

I don't see a title change happening here. When Shelley first won the title I figured it was a short-term thing until they could get it back on Josh Alexander, but they've seemed pretty committed to this run. My guess is that Moose is just here to give Shelley a statement win, so he can be standing tall at the end of the show when some hotter name debuts as a more serious contender. I don't know that TNA has anybody major coming in, but they made serious offers for CM Punk and Will Ospreay and didn't get either of them, so they probably spent that money on somebody...

Trinity vs. Jordynne Grace - Trinity is the defending TNA women's world champion. Grace won a "call your shot" battle royale in October to earn this match.

It's been exactly one year since Grace lost the title to Mickie James. When Mickie had to forfeit the belt due to injury, Deonna Purrazzo beat Grace to win the vacant title. Purrazzo then dropped the chammpionship to Trinity in July.

Trinity debuted with Impact/TNA back in April, almost a year after an acrimonious departure from WWE. Nevertheless, there's been a lot of rumblings about her returning to WWE very soon. Whether or not you put any stock in that, it's going to be the elephant in the room for this match.

Of course, even if Trinity is headed for the Royal Rumble in two weeks, that doesn't mean she has to lose this match. She could easily retain here and finish up at tomorrow's TV tapings. Or she could just stay in TNA. Or she could leave, but go to AEW or who-knows-where. But if I had to put money on it, I think the safest bet is on Grace winning the title.

Chris Sabin vs. El Hijo del Vikingo vs. KUSHIDA - This is a three-way bout for Sabin's TNA X division championship. Vikingo's AAA mega title is not at stake.

Originally, the X division was TNA's concept for showcasing smaller, flippier wrestlers without calling them "cruiserweights" or "junior heavyweights." De-emphasizing the weight classes worked out well for bringing in Samoa Joe, but eventually led to dopey storylines where Kevin Nash and Bully Ray wanted the belt because there was no rule that said they couldn't win it. At one point a weight limit was imposed to cut that shit out. Of late there's no sense that you have to be a particular size or work a particular style to be in contention for the X title. This match, though, is clearly about getting back to the tradition of flippy shit.

Sabin, who's been with the promotion for most of its 22 years, has held the X title ten times. Kushida was a six-time junior heavyweight champion in New Japan, but he's through being pigeonholed in that weight class so he's made TNA his new home. Vikingo is one of the flippiest flippy guys I've ever seen, which is saying a lot in an X division match. I'd say Vikingo would make a good titleholder for the new era, but he's signed to AEW and I'm not confident he'll be sticking around. I'm thinking Sabin retains.

Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone - Hammersone, who looks like Brock Lesnar and Pat McAfee had a baby, just entered free agency after a five-year run in MLW. Josh Alexander hasn't held a title for nearly a year, but at 36 he's clearly the guy you want to build the company around, since most of the other top acts are hitting 40. I assume Josh wins unless TNA thinks they can sign Hammerstone, or at least get him to commit to another match.

Ace Austin & Chris Bey vs. Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel vs. Mike Bailey & Trent Seven vs. Zack Gibson & James Drake - ABC (Austin & Bey) are defending the TNA men's tag team belts in a four-way. They won the belts from Wentz and Miguel (of the Rascalz). Seven debuted last month to team with Bailey in a winning effort against the Rascalz. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Gibson and Drake) are making their debut with the promotion after a lengthy run in NXT.

This is probably going to be a lot of action, but it probably won't matter how it turns out. No matter who wins, I expect these teams to see a lot of each other in the next couple of months. If I have to pick a winner, I guess I'll go with Gibson and Drake.

Alisha Edwards vs. Dani Luna vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Xia Brookside - This is a six-woman "ultimate X" match. The ring will have poles or scaffolding attached to the ring posts, so that two cables can be hung up, criss-crossing about ten feet above the mat. A prize is hung where the cables meet--it could be a briefcase, but it's typically a giant red "X". The first woman to recover the prize wins the match--other than that, there are no rules. The winner will earn a future women's world title match.

The women's division feels a little weak with Mickie James, Deonna Purrazzo, and (perhaps?) Trinity leaving. Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly, Jessicka Havok, and Courtney Rush aren't booked for this show (so far) and I haven't seen TNA make a big deal out of re-signing any of them (yet). So it's probably time for one or two of the women in this match to step up as a top contender. Luna and Brookside, who came over after the shutdown of NXT UK, probably have the most long-term potential. I wouldn't sleep on Steelz, though.

Anyone could win this, really. It could be someone they're building up for a big push heading into the April PPV, or it could be someone they're just feeding to the champion next week on TV.

Dirty Dango vs. PCO - Dango is the wrestler formerly known as Fandango in WWE, but of late he's reinvented himself as a bitter veteran heel, because heaven knows we don't have enough of those in wrestling. PCO is the wrestler formerly known as Quebecer Pierre in WWE, but a few years back he reinvented himself as a Frankenstein monster, which is a much cooler idea. I'm pretty sure PCO wins, unless he's leaving the promotion soon.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Crazzy Steve - This is scheduled for the pre-show. Dreamer's TNA digital media title is on the line. I think I heard Steve turned on Black Taurus and got more edgelord-y than usual, but I haven't actually seen him in a long time. Dreamer probably still has value as an old-timer wrestler, but not as a champion. I'd give the belt to Steve, but I'm not counting on a title change.

Eric Young & Frankie Kazarian vs. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers - Another pre-show match. Edwards used to lead the "entitled journeymen" stable Honor No More, and Myers used to be in an "entitled journeymen" tag team with Matt Cardona, and somewhere along the line they just got thrown together to complain about how the promotion doesn't appreciate them enough. EY and Kaz have been in and out of this company for twenty years; I feel like they used to be in a faction together but I don't care enough to look it up. This one could go either way.

Rich Swann vs. Steve Maclin - Still another pre-show match. Both of these guys have been Impact world champions, so I'm not sure what they're doing so far down the card. I'm guessing that only the winner of this match will get a chance to do something about that. I'm thinking Maclin wins.

#tna #tna wrestling #impact wrestling #hard to kill #alex shelley #moose #trinity fatu #jordynne grace

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