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muzzable · 1 year ago

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My thoughts on the Miraculous Movie (in List Format, Written as I Thought Them)

With added comments as I'm making this post in purple, and a short review at the end.

Spoilers for the movie and show under the cut; though most of my comments may not be the most relevant, many are.

"Do you believe in magic" you mean miracles? Cause it's Miraculous?

"stronger than death" they're reviving Emilie aren't they (thankfully not; I guess they mean love is stronger than the grief of death)

Tom looks creepy

I actually think "believe in me" could have been tied to "Believe in Miracles" well

I like her having more general social anxiety compared to just around her crushes like in canon (and then it kinda disappeared)

This girl really does have a pretty singing voice so I'm conflicted but like. Who is this singing. Not the same as talking.

I like getting to see more of Gabriel running a fashion empire (has probably just not watched those episodes of the show) (I think this helped set the tone of Gabriel being controlling down to the last detail, and he didn't even act like he cared about fashion so it helps sell him as the villain or something)

Why is Luka here

I kinda like this chloe more so far tbh

Did they take Marinette's freckles? (pretty sure they did; they're really subtle in the show though)

Why does Emilie sound so impatient if she doesn't mind waiting forever lol

I like that tying into him as hawkmoth though, that she'd wait forever for him so he'd try forever for her

This is a completely different school lol

Saw a brown eyed student that looked more like Adrien than Adrien I think lol

Why'd she start calling her Marinella (seriously, why? she demonstrated she knew her name and they did bring back "baker girl" eventually)

Is she crying? I don't think they animated it (i still don't) Cristina voice acted it though

Adrien sells being socially inept by asking if Marinette's ok then walking away

Marinette holding a black cat book is sweet

I think she and Adrien look better in motion (seeing lots of screenshots I didn't really feel they looked like them, but it was mostly fine when animated)

Ok but he did not say "she's so weird" like he liked it and that's not an Adrien thing to do (and then he seems to love Marinette later for no real reason? Since they can't be together due to his love for ladybug and not "sorry I don't feel the same to you.")

Dang Nathalie get a better guy already he's rude

I thought that was Amelie in the picture cause Gabe had long hair lol

Also why is Adrien at school already? Chloe made a big deal about showing him around so I know he's new but. (in fact they didn't show Gabriel as controlling Adrien at all, just emotionally distant. kinda hurts the point of Ladybug making him feel free or whatever; i guess she makes him feel free from...being depressed that his mom is dead? even thuogh he tells Gabriel to move on at the end, it feels like Adrien's character in this movie is defined by his mom being dead almost as much as Gabriel's is, while in the show he genuinely does move past it.)

Emilie looks the most different (And then the painting is exactly the same lol)

Nooroo temple is kinda cool. Why does he sound like a 36 year old lady

Flying miraculous is .. interesting

"friends don't run from frienfs who hate them" "nice screaming exchange" ok yeah I think this Chloe is funny lol (in hindsight she was funny in the show too i just forgot)

"you are the one" you mean one of the two

Ok so Marinette is chosen for saving Fu's life and Adrien for…having a trash can for Plagg to hide behind? An open window? (Answer: we don't know. We don't really see much of how Adrien gets his miraculous.)

Why is that lady who rejected that guy's proposal the only one in Paris with a French accent (later on there were two other Parisians with accents! wow!)

Also the first akuma is just…some guy? (i just really like how in the show the first akuma was a classmate, and someone they know. we get to see ivan grow, and he rejects perfect alliance in the season 5 finale if i remember right. come to think of it they don't put a lot of emphasis on the fact that akumas stem from emotions here, which pretty much exists to explore characters and stuff.)

I like Plagg seeming to turn into a black cat and Tikki as a ladybug (unless Marinette and Adrien are just attracting those animals which is also cool) (this was also not really expanded upon, but I think the ladybug turned into Tikki)

Also the animation is just so pretty. I love the ladybug miraculous and Tikki here

I like keeping Marinette thinking she can't be ladybug

Ok Tikki is acting like there's no such thing as Chat Noir

Also I like them using the theme melody

Also she already had black earrings

Tikki's lines are definitely funny though

I mean gargoyle is practically flying stoneheart lol (this is related to me talking about Ivan earlier)

I feel ROBBED of seeing Adrien and Plagg meet for the first time Plagg is so important for Adrien as a character (especially with Chat saying in one of the songs that he feels free, and Plagg as his confidant is a really big part of Chat Noir being so liberating to Adrien)

Chat why are you being so mean

Chat expects Ladybug to be his sidekick so at least Plagh told him about the existence of Ladybug which is more than Tikki did lol

I'm finding Chat kinda annoying. I do not think that is good. (Ladybug go to the supermarket and pick up some taste in men)

I'm not sure what's supposed to be going on with the yoyo. It seems alive or at least responsive to Marinette's desires but the staff doesn't do that? (Later he calls it back to him kinda like how Hawkmoth called his cane back in Chat Blanc)

Ladybug sure did go to "no I'm here to save the world" fast after arriving on site and seeing another hero and no villain

Ok don't just say stronger together but like. Tell them why their powers rely on each other (I don't think they did. They were only really stronger together in the sense that two people are more than one)

See I don't like Ladybug actually disliking Chat at first but I would too and I don't think that's good

This guy sounds a bit more like Bryce Pappenbrook than that girl sounds like Cris

Yeah I'm not completely sure why he's in love with Ladybug? I guess cause he smiled when he made jokes at her? I mean I like the idea of her making him smile and that's why he likes her since his life otherwise is so frickin depressing but I don't recall her making him smile.

So he likes Ladybug because he's delusional?

Ok what the frick did they do to Plagg (maybe it's a good thing he wasn't in the movie that much actually) "you'll destroy everything" "duh I'm the kwami of destruction" was the only part of it I liked

Marinette what the heck lol. Just throw Tikki out a window. Unhinged Marinette (good)

Afraid Marinette (sad but also good)

Did Gabriel forget what happened when he akumatized that guy? Interesting if so (I think Nooroo's power just knocked him unconscious. It feels like a way to say using the butterfly miraculous isn't good for him but it's not brought up again.)

Why did Tikki and Plagg disappear if Hawkmoth can have Nooroo while transformed

I don't feel like this animation/choreography fits Gabriel but the song itself works

So is he just akumatizing people who are already supervillains or is this song completely metaphorical

No way. Ladybug the world's first female superhero. (I forget this is a show aimed at preteen girls sometimes lol. That being said it feels odd for a modern day setting to have Alya emphasize that she's a girl superhero because just having a female superhero isn't a new concept.)

I feel like they've got Alya down character wise

Is the mime still Mylene's dad. Why was he in prisonMatPat

Today's back to school fair? But they were just at school yesterday?

Are they trying to set Adrienette together? Because I don't recall Marinette telling Alya she liked Adrien

She seems to have gotten over her social anxiety fast

"leave the fair. I won't drive you myself. I'm sending a car." Gabriel moment

Alya and Nino are going to die

When did Marinette put the earrings back on

This song reminds me a bit of Wall Between Us (rip)

Marinette you don't have time for this musical number PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE

Yeah I think they recycled some of Wall for Courage in Me's melody (unless it was originally a reprise of Courage)

Wait didn't they say they needed to free the akumatized victims or whatever earlier. Is there no consequence for them failing to do so with Gargoyle (no, because all they do is just fight the villain until they're knocked out or in Gabriel's case reject the akuma. So I Guess they technically succeeded with Gargoyle.)

Ok Ladybug smiled even though she acted upset about Chat so I think she likes him lol

Dang Chat catching an invisible bullet

Poor Nino. Flying blind through the sky.

I'm confused about when his ferris wheel has windows and when it doesn't

I liked that Alya/Nino scene

Maybe Magician is Mylene's mom lol

Ok no they were just dressed like a mime and magician already (do people in Paris just wear their same outfits in prison? Were they already supervillains with theming or did they just arrest an actual mime and magician?)

What do you mean you think you know what to do Marinette. Nobody told you.

Ladybug and Chat Noir cars lol

Is her Lucky Charm move not gonna be in this movie (no.) Sorry Paris no miraculous cure for you (until the end, which i did like that it reminded me of the "holder sets the limits" thing from Mr Pigeon 72. If you're going to ignore your main character's main superpower until the very end of the movie, that's the way to do it)

How much time passed in that montage I wonder. They should make a show about it (this was mostly a joke, but I do think the movie suffered from a confusing sense of time.)

I like that we've seen a bit of Adrienette and Ladynoir already. Surprisingly I was worried they'd forget that a big part of the show is the interactions of different love square sides

You can't just have a shot of Chat alone in front of the moon like this you're giving me Chat Blanc trauma

Tikki why are you not encouraging her to be happy lol

Ok that was smooth Chat lol (when he pretended to be dead)

Chat just traumadumping Adrien stuff to Ladybug

We're not seeing Plagg again are we

Ok so Chat's verse makes clear that what he likes about her is that he can share anything with her, which I like. It's always been about the freedom from his civilian life and his dad (I liked Stronger Together as a song that explored what they both got out of their relationship, with Marinette sorta getting the ability to do anything. However, I went in knowing that it replaced Wall Between Us, which was about the emotions that make them love both sides of the other, confuse them, and keep them apart. This fact was a bigger part of the movie I feel like, since they both said they had someone else they loved, so I think it kinda suffered by losing a song that actually explains and explores those emotions.)

Ok good job singing with Chat, Mrs Marinette "hes not my boyfriend" Ladybug

What do you mean you can't date cause your heart is someone else's? You and Adrien are not dating.

Oh did you Plagg? Did you tell him not to love Ladybug? I don't recall that (he probably did and I forgot. I don't know.)

Oh dang Adrien. Good for you. (yelling at Dad I mean)

Ok so every love square side is already in love but they can't be with each other despite not having made any commitments to any other side. I shouldn't bash that I guess they're teens dealing with hard feelings

Gonna say I love the animation again

I wish the show had this budget

Alright then. Paris apocalypse. Honestly I'm here for it. I wanna see where Gabe akumatizing himself to die goes (ok I guess he didnt akumatize himself to die. He said he'd be joining Emilie by doing so but I guess not.)

I feel like the characters have a lot of emotions driving their actions and we're not getting time to explore them in this movie (actually my main issue with the movie)

Ok are they gonna address Chat Noir being mad at Ladybug for rejecting him the same way he did Marinette or. (They really didn't.)

Cataclysm the Eiffel Tower. This is in fact a Miraculous Ladybug movie

I'm guessing there's no senti lore

So the suits can just be cut up, huh?

They still haven't actually said that the two Miraculous grant a wish. There was no explanation for how getting them would get him his wife

Ok I'm glad the ultimate takeaway was still "Let Emilie be dead"

Ok so this is kinda like her Origins speech. Except that Chat is already in love with her. (And Gabe's been defeated or whatever)

Oh my word finally. Miraculous cure.

They kinda skipped out on Marinette's emotions and reaction to seeing Adrien was Chat huh. And also that Gabriel was Hawkmoth

Finally Adrien gets to go to the dance. (He could have gone in Representation if his dad was already in jail or whatever. Food for thought.)

Marinette did you seriously just wait months to be like "oh also I know your identity and I'm Ladybug"

Why did they stop being superheroes? No patrol?

How is her hair in that bun is it longer now

That's sweet. Except they cut off before the kiss.

Oh Emilie has the peacock on already. Maybe there is senti lore in this universe after all

Ok no credits song for me I guess it cut to puss in boots

Alright so to recap: I really did like the movie. The characters were fun, it got some laughs out of me, and I liked how emotional the ending actually was. I just think the story is too big for a movie. When watching it I was sure there were complex emotions in mind when writing the characters and their motivations, and that's great; it just didn't feel like they had enough time to explore those emotions. Frankly, I feel like Miraculous needs to be a show. It needs that time for the characters to grow close to each other, to grow as people, to process the revelations they have to deal with. Even with the movie focusing almost solely on Marinette, Adrien, and Gabriel, none of them felt like their character arcs were completely shown. We're told "Marinette's afraid to be Ladybug," "Adrien's never felt free since his mom's death except for when he's Chat Noir," "Gabriel finds his life empty without Emilie," but I don't feel we see those in-depth. Even Marinette and Adrien/Ladybug and Chat Noir getting closer together felt rushed because it was mostly a montage. It's stuff that fans of the show already know, so they don't exactly need to see in the movie, but I think it hurts the movie as its own independent story. I could see this version of the story working better as a one season show, or even a miniseries. Of course, there is a show, so it's not like I can't go back to that.

So overall, I'd say I like the show more than the movie, and I feel like the show is better as well, due to really having the chance to get to know the characters it's about.

#miraculous movie #ladybug and cat noir the movie #miraculous awakening #ml spoilers #miraculous spoilers #miraculous awakening spoulers #miraculous movie spoilers #ladybug and cat noir spoilers #ml season 5 spoilers #miraculous ladybug spoilers

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poguestvff · 3 years ago

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CALL ME BACK P. 2 — JJ MAYBANK

in which, JJ and Y/n finally reconcile whilst sat on the bathroom floor

taglist | masterlist | 1.8k words

warning(s): very small descriptions of wounds, angst if you squint, fluff, for the most part, and nothing else i dont think. she/her pronouns part one !!!

The ringing of the phone beside her hadn't made y/n budge instantly. She wasn't expecting a call, her parents knew where she was and who she was with, her friends knew where she was and who she was with. she didn't exactly think there was a reason for a phone call so she let it ring. When a soft ding followed it, the boy beside her let out a sigh.

She raised from the bed, sitting up as she stretched her arms above her head. Y/n picked up her phone from the small table as she noticed the photo she had tried posting finally went through, the tagging of Topper's account making his phone go off as well. She swiped down to the notification center, finding a voicemail from JJ. Her heart seemed to sink within her chest momentarily. She hadn't seen that name in a couple of days, hadn't come in contact with him in a couple of weeks.

It wasn't something she wanted, it was something she needed. Something they needed; Space from one another. She should've seen it coming, hurdling at her at a rapid pace since the time they'd began dating, but she ignored just about every sign until it was right in front of her. She never blamed him, she never would blame him. Y/n understood he had a troubled time showing affection, he was her best friend after all, she knew him in and out, there was no reason to not hold a candle to his name.

Seeing his name made a mountain of things run through her head. Questions upon questions on whether she should listen but a gut feeling made her decision final as she lifted the device to her ear. "Uh, hey. Hey, Y/n/n." She could hear the shakiness, the sound of hesitance that wavered within his voice. "I don't know why I called... Yes, I do. I just really need someone right now and—and everyone's gone. I didn't know who to call except you. Just... just if you get a minute call me back." Then the line went silent.

She looked over to Topper, the boy sleeping sound beside her on his stomach previously though now he lay, staring right back at her. "Was that maybank?" He asked in a groggy tone, a yawn following as he rubbed at his eyes. She hummed, pushing her legs over the side of the bed. "Why did he call?"

"I uh... he didn't say." she said in a low, confused tone, holding the phone in her lap. She couldve called him back, she probably should've. But she didn't know how she'd react if she heard his voice and have to listened to his pained tone again. She typed out several different messages, all in preparation to send but she couldn't decide on which one immediately.

"It's too early, just go back to sleep." Topper said, pulling lightly at the back of her shirt. She looked over her shoulder to him, seeing a tired smile on his face that she didn't reciprocate. "What?"

"I really have to go, Top." She told him as he let out a sigh, turning over on to his back to stare at the ceiling. "He needs me—"

"Just like how Pope needed you to come to dinner the other day or like how Kiara needed your help to chose an outfit."

She clicked her teeth, shaking her head as she stood, setting the phone on the bed. "Don't be an ass." She muttered, grabbing her hoodie from the floor as she threw it over her head. "This is different."

"Tell me how it's different."

"It's JJ! That's how it's different." She exclaimed, hands tossing up before settling at her hips. "If he needs someone and I'm the person he calls, it's not for a dinner date and it's not fashion advice. it's because he genuinely needs someone."

She wasn't quite sure why Topper was so upset over this. they weren't dating, they were just close friends. Friends who spent the night together, watching comedy movies until they cried of laughter. Nothing more, she didn't doubt that for a second. Especially when she knew even when she did these things with JJ, there was always the happy, bubbly feeling within her that didn't feel the same with Topper.

And so the boy rolled his head over to her, fingers thumping against his chest. She couldn't tell what was going on in his head. He hadn't looked angry and there wasn't a frown on his face. It almost looked like he was expecting this, expecting her to defend JJ, tooth and nail. "Then go, y/n."

He looked like he had more to say, like he was biting his tongue, but if he had, he kept those thoughts to himself. "I will." She said, grabbing her phone and her keys, placing them in her back pocket to leave the thornton house.

She sat in the drivers side, pulling her phone from her pocket as the second she'd opened it, JJ's contact was still there. She still hadn't decided on what to send and so she finalized her messaging that she was on the way, sending that she was on her way and a heart. Which, ironically, was the same heart, once again, that they had sent weeks ago before for the last time in their last and final text conversation.

Driving the direct route that she'd known to the chateau had made her stomach feel unnerved. She’d recognized every turn, every stop sign, and the dirt road leading up to the plot. Finding that the front door was not properly closed, clearly slammed as she remembered that the screen was missing a screw causing it to need to be closed slow. The creaky door made someone in the house move as Y/n entered. "JJ?" She asked, making her way further into the home. "Jay, it's just me."

Another noise came from the bathroom as she moved around the corner, seeing JJ sat on the floor. The back of his head was against the wall and his eyes were closed though soft tear streaks shined across his cheeks from the way the light hit them. He opened his eyes finally, only side eyeing Y/n as she stood at the doorway. "i'm sorry."

"Don’t even think about apologizing." She said, pushing his feet back lightly to open the bottom cabinet, finding the medicinal items she needed. She sat in front of him, her knees digging into the hard wood floor below them. She could feel his eyes on her every move while she poured the alcohol onto a small hand towel. "This is gonna sting."

"I know." He replied, a sad smile coming on her face as she began to clean up the small cuts on his cheeks and the split lip. Her opposite hand held his chin lightly, dragging the towel lightly over his skin. She avoided all eye contact, he knew that for a fact as his eyes darted around her face.

She sat back on her ankles as she pointed at his shirt. He nodded, arms raising though wincing in the process as she rushed to his aid, helping him pull the dirty tee from over his head. The bruises that had become more prominent in the time of him waiting on the floor had caused for a heavy feeling to settle in her chest but she didn't say a thing, continuing to work in silence to help ease his pain just enough, leaving at one point to grab a cold beer from the fridge to place against his abdomen since there wasn't a single thing in the freezer other than the quarter filled ice tray.

"So...you and Topper." He said as she tilted his head to the side to clean the blood from the side of his jaw. She gave him a rather chagrined glare. "Sorry, just looking out."

"You don't have to look out anymore." She mumbled as he frowned. "And no... Topper and i— never." she cut herself off.

He went silent for a second, feeling the way her short nails scratched at the side of his cheek lightly. "You’re wrong." he said, suddenly, in Y/n's opinion as she gave him a confused look. "i always have to look out for you. like... like how you're doing right now."

"That’s different." She said for the second time that day.

"You wanna tell me how?"

She sighed, placing her hands in her lap as she sat back. "It just is, JJ. I’m sitting here cleaning your stupid... wounds like old times. This is nothing new."

"And because you and topper's friendship is new, it's different?" he asked. She placed her hands over her face, letting out a low groan against them. "It it's different because we're exes? Because you and Topper dating shouldn't be any of my concern now? News flash, you and Topper even remotely being friends was one of my concerns when we were friends."

She moved her hands from her face, staring at him. "No. what? No, what are you talking about? I didn't even come here to argue about topper, I don't get why it's even a topic right now." she said, her voice faltering near the end before she began leaning forward again to place a bandaid over his cheek.

"Because you know..." he trailed as she didn't even bother stopping. "You’re not... his."

"So what? I’m yours, is that what you're insinuating?" she asked, collecting the trash into her hand.

He didn't answer immediately, fiddling with his fingers in his lap instead. "Yeah." He mumbled. it was clear to him that she had not expected that answer. She stopped, pulling back again, so they could look directly at one another. "I didnt just call you because I could, I called you cause I needed you. I couldve called anyone but I called you because you know me best and i know you best. I know you well enough that you'd drop whatever you were doing for me. That's selfish, yes, but I needed you. Not want, need. A want would be that i want you back."

He was right because that's exactly what she did. And she knew him well enough to see the way he suck his shoulders just slightly in fear of what she'd say next. What she did next. Y/n's hands moved to rest on both of his cheeks, leaning forward to press a light kiss to his forehead before hugging him to her chest. "It didn't work out the first time." She told him in a lower tone.

"That was a trial run, i know what not to do." It was a joke, she knew. He had terrible timing. She heard the emphasis on the ‘I’, implying that he was the only one who made mistakes with the relationship. She let out a very minimal laugh at this, shaking her head at his antics.

She pulled back, running her thumb over the bandaid on his cheek. "We know what not to do." She correct him, placing a gentle kiss to his lips that he returned.

And within that moment, They both knew they were neither a want or need for one another. They were both.

#outer banks x reader #outer banks #jj maybank #obx #jj maybank fluff #jj maybank x reader #jj maybank angst

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arminbitchlover · 4 years ago

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reincarnated lovers (2)

armin arlert x f! reader

summary: after a terrible first date with armin, sasha convices reader to go out to a party but only to have an unexpected turn of events

word count: 2.8k

content warnings: mentions of drug use, alcohol use, assault is insinuated but doesn't actually happen

"YOU LOOK SOOO GOOD," Sasha squeals as you show her your outfit, making your confidence boost significantly.

"YOU TOO, YOU'RE SO HOT FOR NO REASON!" You both keep showering each other with confidence, not caring if your neighbors could hear you shouting.

You don't understand why you're suddenly filled with anticipation to go to some frat house that would be filled with strangers and smell like alcohol and weed, but you not troubled enough to even question it. All you know is that this is your first party as a freshman, and you want to make the most out of it with your best friend.

"So, who's going that you know anyways?" You glance at Sasha through your mirror as you apply lip gloss.

"Too many to count honestly and not to alarm you or anything but Jean will be there too." Sasha reluctantly spoke as you feel your heart drop to your stomach.

You completely forgot that Jean was a part of Sasha's friend group and now you're going to see him for the very first time since your breakup.

"Y/n?" Sasha waves her hand in front of your face and snaps you out of your deep thoughts.

"Sorry, but thanks for telling me." You shake your head as you try to not lose your train of thought again.

You and Sasha finish up on your final touches and make your way to the party as you feel your stomach flipping and hands slightly shake. Every time you start to tell yourself that Jean was just a friend now, you get flashbacks of everything you did as a couple, but you're going to let some guy ruin your first night out in college.

It doesn't take long to arrive and fuck, it didn't take long for the feelings of regret, nervousness, and panic to sink in. When you first arrive, people were already drunk in the front yard as couples made out the staircase leading to the front door. Immediately when opening the door, the bass from the speakers maakes your whole body vibrate with the music and your eyes strain from all the lights that were being cast across the house.

The whole place is already trashed with cups, plates, and different articles of clothing are scattered across the floor. You've always heard about how wild college parties can be, but you didn't expect something as crazed as this.

You turn to Sasha and see her talking to you but could only read her lips that make out, "I'm... drink," and walk away to the kitchen.

Well, shit.

You awkwardly stand in the middle of the room, not recognizing a single person until you feel a hand clasp your shoulder and pull you to a corner.

"Heya, gorgeousss, name's Flochhh..." A drunk man with auburn hair presses you against the wall as he tries to make conversation with you.

"S-Sorry, but I have to go." You try to get away from him only to have your arm get pulled back to the wall.

"Fucking let me go!" You fight to yank your arm away but don't have enough strength to succeed.

"Buttt I wantss to get chu know you babyyy." He leans in, trying to get your faces closer together, but luckily you dodge him quick enough to get out of his grasp.

"Watchu doinn- runninnn from me." He grasps your hand, but right when you were about to get pinned back against the wall again, you hear a stern voice.

"Get your hands off of her." You and Floch turn and see Armin, but this time with slightly smudged eyeliner with a long black sleeve that's complemented with a necklace and silver rings on both of his hands.

"Huhhh-," Floch slurs, finally letting go of you and confronting Armin.

Armin takes a step back with his hands in his pockets, not wanting to cause any issues, and lightly asserts, "This is my lovely girlfriend, so I would appreciate it if you would just back off, that's all."

Armin walkes up to you and wraps his arm around your waist as Floch's face becomes filled with complete disgust.

"So if you'll excuse us, we'll be getting out of your way so you can get as shitfaced as you like." He smirks at Floch and pulls you away, his hand still clutching your waist.

As he takes you away, you immediately notice how his arm feels so natural around you, like it was meant to be there which causes your heartbeat to quicken.

You only see him as the boy you went on an awkward date with, why did he suddenly make you feel this way?

"Thank you for your help, Armin." You bring your hand to the one that was resting on your waist and squeeze it to show your gratitude.

"I was only doing the bare minimum, no need to thank me." He tenderly looks into your eyes with compassion, not aware that he never let go of your waist.

"Well, what were you doing here anyway, you didn't catch me as the party type." You playfully joke as he grabs your arm and enters a large crowd that's dancing to music.

He turns to face you and tilts his head towards your ear to answer, "I heard you were coming, and I wanted to talk to you."

He grabs you by the waist and starts moving to the beat of the song to follow along with everyone surrounding you.

You feel your face start to heat up, finding it so attractive the way he leaned in to talk to you. He's a completely different person from the guy you went out with. This time he seems so much more confident by the way he holds you, speaks to you, and his fashion did a complete 180.

"Well, what's up?" You gain enough courage to wrap your arms around his neck and move your body with his.

You both move completely in sync forgetting for a second that you weren't the only two people in the room. You feel yourself start to get more butterflies as he maintains eye contact with you and slowly pulls you closer and closer. Before you know it, you have the biggest smile on your face as you have the time of your life with Armin.

This is what you've been missing out on, while you had been locked up in your dorm, exhausting yourself with no sign of ending. While Sasha's the one who made you come out of your comfort zone, Armin's the one who making you enjoy yourself the most and you love the idea of that. You love knowing that there's a person who could actually make you a better person and still make you feel comfortable while being alone with him.

"I don't really know how to explain this, but-"

"Y/N!!" Sasha pushes her way into the crowd and finds you and Armin with your bodies only centimeters apart, but seemingly didn't notice the tension between the two of you.

"Armin, I told you to find her and come to the game room!" She scolds Armin and pulls him away from you, making you feel a bit upset that you're not able to be alone with him a bit longer.

She takes you and Armin to another room that you assume were their friends because as soon as they enter, they're greeted with open arms. You immediately notice a small blonde girl and a tall brunette with freckles sitting together on a love seat and you have to admit that they make such a great couple. Sasha introduces you to everyone in the room and while it was pretty packed, it's easy to memorize who everyone is given that Sasha has mentioned them many times before.

Before you had the chance to settle in with everyone you see Connie get out of his seat and clear his throat very loudly to make an announcement.

"I think that it's only fair, since y/n is the newbie of the group, to play a 2v2 intense game of beer pong between me and Jean." Connie widely grins as everyone agrees and starts rioting.

"I heard my name." Jean abruptly enters, at first not noticing that you're in the same room.

"Well, I don't have a partner to play with so-" You feel a bit of shame while speaking but are quickly interrupted.

"I'll play with y/n," Armin speaks up and everyone gets louder, becoming enraptured as if this is the biggest game in history.

"Let's fucking go then." Jean locks eyes with you for a split second before talking to Connie.

You have to admit, while Jean looks like he's taking good care of himself, you don't feel the butterflies and tension that you thought you would. Maybe you're just overthinking everything because he's your first love, but you figure that maybe something would be left for him. You look back at Jean making sure you don't feel anything, but when you turn to face Armin. Butterflies. Even if it was just a tiny bit, something was there.

For him.

"You guys got this, I mean no offense to the other two, but they're either high, tipsy, or a bit of both." Eren walks up to you two as he chuckles and rubs the back of his neck.

"I've never played this before, so we'll see." You look down, afraid that Eren or Armin would judge you in some way.

"Neither has Armin, he always watches other people play, but I'm pretty surprised he volunteered himself. So, I'm guessing that your first date went pretty well today." Eren playfully nudges Armin as his face turns into a very light pink.

"Um, yeah it was pretty alright," You reply and smile at Armin, even though you both knew that your date was anything but 'alright'.

"Okay, it's set up, you guys can start whenever," Mikasa speaks with a complete monotone voice as she takes a seat back down next to Historia and Ymir.

You and Armin walk to your side of the table as Connie and Jean do the same, while everyone stands around the two teams ready to start their ear-piercing shouts. You start to feel a bit of pressure right before the game started, anxious that you'll make yourself look like a fool if you don't at least make a single cup.

"We'll give Armin the first shot." Connie cockily smirks and bounces the ping pong ball across the table.

Armin grabs the ball with his fingertips and starts calculating the way he would throw the ball. You have to admit, he looked absolutely adorable while concentrating on making it into the cup. You figure that maybe he thinks the same as you, not wanting to embarrass himself, but he looks so relaxed at the same time. After a few more seconds of critical thinking, he carefully throws the ball and makes it perfectly into the middle cup.

Expectedly, everyone starts screaming, jumping up and down, while some people grab Armin and shake him profusely as their excitement shoots through the roof. You can't help but feel thrilled for him as well, and right when his friends get their hands off of Armin, you wrap your arm around his neck and bring him in for a tight hug. You immediately pull away, unsure if he's uncomfortable being hugged by someone he barely knows, but when you take a step back you see his eyes light up with a small smile.

"Cut it out, love birds. It's my shot," Jean shoots Armin a snarky look and chugs the shot. He wasn't concentrating as much as Armin was, probably because he's played this game many times before, and to your surprise, he recklessly tosses the ball and makes a spiral dunk into the cup at the front of the formation.

"GOOD SHIT, JEAN!" Connie aggressively smacks Jean's back, causing him to jump forward and knock down two cups in the back row.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Connie?" Jean hits the back of Connie's head and they both drink whatever liquid was left in the cup and takes them out of the formation.

You look at the cup that has the ball in and right when you're about to take the shot, Armin swiftly takes it out of your grasp and drinks it as if it's water.

At this point, everyone was making fun of Connie's fuck up and cheering on Armin for chugging the shot like nothing while you're panicking in your thoughts, begging yourself not to make a foot out of yourself.

"Here." Armin hands you the ball and you feel your anxiety kick in as everyone's focus goes directly to you.

You feel your fingertips lightly quiver as you begin to aim the ball into the last cup in the back. Predictably, the ball hits the rim of the cup and doesn't make it in, but Armin still whispers to you a few words of encouragement as Marco picks up the ball from the floor and hands it to Connie. The game continues and luckily you and Armin win because of the two cups Jean knocked down, so while you and Armin are a bit tipsy, the others are completely plastered.

"This... nngh - bullshizz..." Connie clumsily walks over to you and hooks his arm around your neck, somewhat pulling you down while speaking to you.

"Alright, enough." Armin pulls Connie's arm away from you and takes you out of the room, before getting the chance to say bye to anyone.

"Armin-" He leads you to an empty room and doesn't hesitate to lock the door behind him.

"Please, let me talk, I've been waiting all night." Armin pulls you to the edge of the bed and slowly sits down as he tries to figure out how to come out with his news. You gently place your hand on top of his and give it a gentle squeeze, reassuring him.

While you did have a feeling about what he'a going to say, you don't want to jinx anything too good to be true. Even though when you first met Armin it wasn't the greatest first impression, spending time with him at the party made you realize that he's so much more than the awkward guy you went out with. You don't understand how your feelings for him switched up so fast in a matter of a day, but you don't care. At this point, Jean's completely out of the picture and something in you is telling yourself that there's something really special about Armin.

“So, um basically I just want to apologize for everything that happened earlier at the café. I-It’s just that you’re the first girl I’ve ever taken out and I didn’t want to fuck up, but I did absolutely everything wrong. It didn’t help how Sasha was talking so highly of you and god, when I saw your pictures, I thought you were the most perfect person I ever laid my eyes on. Then when I saw you, something in me just clicked that you were meant to be mine and I’m not one to believe in that love at first sight bullshit, so I didn’t know what to do. I just nervous and I didn't know what to do. I knew you were and still are way out of my league even though I felt like you were my person, but I didn't want to mess it up, so I tried to be distant to make it go away and I realized how fucking stupid that was. I'm so sorry for wasting your time and I was hoping we could have a second chance at a first date again to make it up to you." He has such a pained but relieved look on his face when he finishes talking, not looking at you, afraid that he may have done something that he would regret.

"I would actually love that, Armin." You exchange smiles and both stare at each other for a second in comfortable silence.

"Well, let's go then."He stands up and brings out his hand to yours.

"Wait what?" You give him a confused look as you place your hand in his and get up from the bed.

"Are you tired or something?" He furrows his eyebrows with a bit of a pouty face.

"No, not at all." You intertwine your fingers with his and make your way out of the frat house, forgetting say goodbye to anyone.

"So, where are you taking me so late at night?" You ask and turn to look at him to see a small smile plaster on his face.

"I was hoping I could take you back to my apartment to make us a proper meal after all that partying." You feel your heart pounding against your chest as he has the most genuine look in his eyes.

"Absolutely."

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#tw: alcohol #tw: drug use #tw: assault #armin smut #armin x reader #armin arlert x reader smut #armin arlert #armin arlert smut #aot armin #snk armin #aot smut

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futuregws · 2 years ago

Note

Emma does seem to be getting alot of attention from tiktok if that helps I've seen lots of fan edits of them. But maybe that's just my for you page.

Yeah same my tiktok is also full of videos of them not only in character but out of character too, I feel like that could be a mix of not only are they going viral bc of the video where they are talking about their favorite drink, but bc the show is popular and they are doing a really good job and they look amazing doing it, and I have seen quite a few people say that they were constantly stumbling upon edits of the show more specifically Rhaenyra even though they don't even watch it, so clearly it's not bc of what they search its bc it's actually popular, but the type of attention that I was talking about is not just regarding the general public or fans but also the media, like obviously we know nothing so maybe they were invited for all this but they just said no, but still they were on one magazine and did a few interviews, but they were never invited for any talk show even though a lot of the main cast did and since they are playing the main character you would think they would be one of the first to go there but no, and Milly she's going to fashion shows doing multiple magazine covers and more, and I don't see that with Emma and then there's also something that I've been thinking about and I know a lot of people will disagree and that's okay but the obsession with Milly specially from grown ass man when she's playing a very young character (I know she's not that young so don't start) for some reason it irks me I don't know how to explain it, and then it just gets worse when you go and see those same men that are obsessed with Milly attack Emma for taking over the role that THEY were originally casted for, bc Milly was chosen after them not the other way around so if anything Milly was taking Emma's place and now it's how it should be (which is stupid bc both of them are the character) and when they attack Emma they always go for their looks not as Rhaenyra bc like I've seen a dude say "they are pretty as the character but not the actor" (I'm typing it as a quote but the guy didn't actually use the right pronouns bc once again they are assholes) and for me that whole argument just shows how being considered conventionally attractive will help you a lot, pretty privilege is a fucking thing, and since Emma doesn't fit what society deems as pretty, people trash them and it pisses me off, not just bc it's gross but also bc what does that have to do with their work, and THEN we also have the fact that people refuse to use the right pronouns and apparently to them you're less worthy if you simply want respect when it comes to how you identify, and then there's other problems that are more focused on plot and how if people thought for a second instead of jumping into saying that they aren't a good actor or how they have no chemistry with their co star, they would see how the chemistry and reactions are completely valid and more realistic the way they were portrayed but oh well, I'm gonna be praising the shit out of Emma every time

#I always make huge ass posts when it's about Emma geez lol #emma d'arcy #house of the dragon

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boop-le-snoot · 4 years ago

Text

PARTY FAVOURS I CHAPTER 21

First time reader click here

TWs/SUMMARY: Wanda fluff, Loki fluff, we're getting a whole ass friendship! Dad sucks. The outfits are neat tho! Check the end for a mood board 😍

a/n: dress inspo and aesthetic visuals can be found here, here and here. (Paolo Sebastian, Firefly Path gowns and Viona Ielegems photography).

"Gi-i-irl..." Wanda drawled, seeing me arrive with Tony, both of us freshly showered and still hazy from the amazing orgasms. God only knew what she'd seen in both of our heads - if judging only by the vivid, crimson blush she spouted, it was definitely something very NSFW. Bruce already sat at the dinner table, quietly slurping his soup, his back and shoulders the most relaxed I'd ever seen. He gave me a knowing smile once he noticed my presence in my usual spot by his side.

The rest of the team appeared completely oblivious, preoccupied by their food.

"So, about the party. Got any costume ideas?" I cut straight to the chase, unwilling to wait for Wanda to start asking for details right in front of everyone.

Steve, Bucky, Pietro, Thor and Natasha all answered affirmative, the latter whacking Clint upside the head and firmly stating "no funny business". I couldn't help but wonder what kind of crazy shit the Bird had in mind and was kind of disappointed at Nat's intervention. A good chaotic moment was always worthwhile in my opinion!

The other bird, Sam, approached Bruce with caution as he wondered if the scientist was interested in doing a paired costume with him, only to be interrupted by Tony declaring, with childish glee, he had a "wicked project" that he and Bruce would be doing together. The scientist gave a resigned sigh and apologized.

Sam wasn't deterred by the slight setback; he approached Clint instead and after being given an okay from Natasha, the Birds decided to pair up. As they should, if you'd ask me.

"I have a costume but I need some accessories. Wanda, Lokes, join me on my lil' shopping trip?" I prompted, wanting everybody to be included. I was fully prepared for Loki to scoff and dismiss my invitation but the Asgardian nodded after a second of brief speechlessness. Didn't anyone invite him to birthday parties as a kid? Either way, Thor gave me a grateful smile, like a proper big brother. Both Asgardians had grown visibly closer during the past couple of months which made me hide a secretive smile behind a spoonful of soup.

It turned out, Loki hadn't exactly been introduced to the buzzing beehive that is NYC. He didn't get out much and when he needed to be somewhere, the man simply teleported to the desired destination. As convenient as it must've been, I still expressed my outrage at his lack of experience doing the usual "touristy" things that, in my opinion, every non-newyorker was obligated to do when visiting. Yes, even if said visitor had literally traveled across different galaxies.

Wanda wasn't much better in terms of city knowledge. According to her, she'd lived here for several years already but never bothered to go beyond the borders of the block surrounding the Avengers tower. The witch didn't have friends outside of her teammates (therapy. they all needed so much therapy. y'all...) so she simply saw no point in going anywhere beyond the local mall.

Which was trash. I mean, I loved Hot Topic and Forever 21 as much as any other young adult with depression and anxiety but it was literally impossible to wear clothes made out of cheap cotton and polyester all the time. I'm pretty sure I would have hives and ulcers if I attempted that.

"We're going on Sixth Avenue and that's final. No friend of mine will be wearing shit from Wal-Mart at a Stark party," I interrupted Wanda's defensive stuttering, using my other hand to summon an Uber.

"That is good advice," Loki, previously silent, added in a sweet tone. I counted on the fashionable Asgardian to be on my side and with his schmoozing skills, I didn't even have to drag Wanda inside the car by, like, her hair or whatever. The three of us barely fit into the small Toyota anyway.

A thought struck me when I had to consciously avoid stepping on Loki's leather shoes and keep away my elbow from Wanda's stomach. "Mister? I'll give you a hundred bucks cash if you turn around and drive to this address," I hurriedly rattled off my home address, delighting in the way the driver nearly did a U-turn at the mention of crispy dollar bills.

We arrived home quickly. Wanda gaped in mild disbelief at the size of my house while Loki looked about as interested as he'd ever be. His face was akin to an expression one made while smelling fresh manure. Opening the garage, I was greeted with an unpleasant surprise of my dad's outrageously painted Corvette standing neatly by my white Range Rover.

Loki looked and felt considerably less tense in the back of my car. The subtle signs of discomfort all but left his face replaced by slight wonder as I explained how to adjust the temperature and turn on the heated seats.

Dad met us at the gates. "You didn't come in to say hello," He pouted. His breath reeked like a five-day drinking binge hangover and he looked a dead man.

"We're in a hurry, dad. There's a lot to be done," I replied curtly, hoping to get rid of him fast. I hated being sober around my drunk father. My fingers twitched on the steering wheel.

"You're like your mother, always busy," Dad's laugh was coarse and bitter. "But at least you find time for Stark and his friends. That'll do your future real good," He clapped once on the hood of my car, heading back to the house with a wave of his hand, just in time to miss the disgusted shudder that ran through me.

I knew my dad well enough to understand the implications of what he meant by his words. In his world, fucking way up to the top was considered the norm. I'd rather cut off my own foot than use Tony that way.

"Sorry you had to see that. I thought he was still in Cali," I gritted my teeth, pulling out of the driveway.

"I'm sorry you had to experience that. I have no kind words regarding your father," Loki's look was sympathetic in the rearview mirror.

"Or your mother," Wanda added, messing with her seatbelt. Loki nodded tersely.

"Aight, aight," I sighed, set on improving the mood. "Let's not poop this party. We're getting some absolutely delicious beverages and wasting my money on outrageous pretty things. My treat."

Wanda's protests were drowned out by Motorhead and Loki's grumbling was overshadowed by Guns'n'Roses. Their resistance didn't stand a chance. Few blocks out, the witch was singing along to November Rain, heavily accented and terribly off-key, and the Asgardian watched New York city intently behind the protection of the tinted rear windows of my ride. He seemed mesmerized by the crowds and the variety of colorful shop fronts. This was the the one and only reason I eased off the gas pedal and drove the speed limit for once.

The atmosphere was, well, magical. Looking at my two companions, I discovered the familiar city anew with every question they asked, every remark they made. The desire to ask in turn about their homelands melted like the tension I was harbouring after the run-in with my father. Content and warm, I had my attention divided between Loki and Wanda juggling their wonder back-and-forth between themselves and the absolutely crazy NYC traffic.

So what if I parked in a no-parking zone just to get us the most delicious coffee in the city? Loki, the resident tea person, ordered himself something unpronounceable, something that made the barista twitch. Wanda got a sugary-sounding vanilla-white chocolate perversion. I just got a mocha, having had outgrown my adolescent desires to experiment with "how sweet can I make this coffee before I literally puke?" beverages.

With a laugh, I instructed them to pose in front of the nearest reflective surface to brag about our coffees on Instagram - this café deserved more recognition. My companions reluctantly obliged.

I wonder if the barista realized just who had bought the coffee - Loki was quite a media darling when it came to fangirls. Tony's PR team did a wonderful job on the Asgardian's redemption arc. The trickster only fueled the utter devotion his fangirls had for him by being extra nice and charming in every video I've seen. I guess you can't out-mindcontrol manners outta somebody, he was raised a prince after all.

It wasn't raining but the autumn chill seeped into the tiny spaces between my layers of clothing. I already managed to regret my fashionable dark academia inspired outfit at least twice, however the matching vibe all three of us had was positively dashing. Loki, wearing his usual onyx black and dark green. Wanda with a burgundy sweater dress and thigh high platformed boots - sweater dresses, out of all things, had no business looking this good on anybody. But she pulled it off.

"You said you've got a costume. Mind sharing what it is?" The witch said, curiously peeking into the windows of a nearby vintage boutique as we took our leisurely stroll with steaming paper cups keeping our fingers warm.

"A fairy dress. It was custom made for me last year and I actually didn't get to wear it. I need some jewelry to go with it," I explained, stopping to show a photo of the dress on my smartphone. "And some shoes, too. Let's hope the party will be held completely indoors, otherwise I'll freeze my ass off."

"Custom made?" Wanda squeaked, looking at the garment in wonder. Loki gave a vaguely approving nod.

"Yeah, there's a company that makes these fantasy dresses. You want one? What did you have in mind for your costume anyway?" I switched the topic quickly, seeing how Wanda withdrew into herself slightly. I heard from Peter she grew up poor, in the middle of a war and I didn't want to make her feel bad or anything. I wasn't good at these things...

"I thought maybe I could match with you," She replied, slowly taking a sip of her coffee.

"Sure. There are a couple of shops with really cute dresses that fit the aesthetic." Marchesa. We need a Marchesa store. And a Zuhair Murad - if there was one on this stretch of road. "What about you, Lokes? Anything in particular strike your fancy?" I asked our silent companion, frantically googling the information I needed.

"Black," He answered moodily.

"Boo, you whore," I rolled my eyes at his scoff. We had watched the Mean Girls recently and he got the reference, immediately raising a sarcastic eyebrow. "You know, you could do so much with this pale aristocratic look you've got going on. How about a medieval vampire?"

"Like Lestat? He's fucking hot," Wanda and I understood each other promptly. She jumped on the bandwagon immediately.

Combining my blunt honesty and her adorable fawning over a fictional bloodsucker, we managed to convince Loki into going on a hunt for brocaded, velvet suits and blouses with ruffles for his look. The trickster revolted at the mere suggestion of procuring some fake fangs, instead magically making them appear and showing them off in the middle of the crowded sidewalk, much to my and Wanda's delighted shrieking. He looked, I daresay, very attractive, like a porcelain figurine. Delicate but dangerous.

We arrived at the store that showcased beautiful, airy dresses of silk, chiffon and tulle. The lace was delicate and the seams invisible. I ushered Wanda into a dressing room with a shop attendant that was quietly but strictly instructed to not discuss the cost of the dresses and hide the price tags.

"I want it to be a gift. My friend here deserves no less than a magical experience," I explained quietly, winking at a bewildered Loki.

"Why did you do that?" He asked once Wanda was given a selection of several dresses in flattering colours and led into a separate dressing room.

"These dresses, they're special so they're a bit pricey. And knowing Wanda, she'll make a scene and refuse to let me buy them for her," I idly twirled my phone in my hands. "But every girl wants to be a princess and it's kinda sad she never got to be one. It's more than just a dress, it's more than feeling pretty, although it's a big part of it. She'll feel on top of the world."

Loki nodded. I'm certain he didn't understand it - being a man and all - and I wasn't sure I understood it completely, too. I never lacked pretty or expensive things, always got whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. But for a moment, I thought how it must've been for Wanda - seeing all these girls on TV, looking like pictures - and never having the chance to experience that. A concept that made me so sad, I was tempted to ask the customer service person for a glass of scotch. Being poor sounded depressing as hell.

Suddenly, Loki's cool, large hand landed on mine. "Thank you. I am certain Wanda will be the most beautiful lady at the ball."

I stared at him. Loki understood.

"Well, I... I don't know how finicky you are on gender labels for clothes, but there were a couple of blouses you might want to check out. They've got the neck ruffles and shit." My throat suddenly seized up and I had to clear it before speaking, steering away from the uncomfortably emotional moment. Thankfully, Loki wandered off without as much as a word.

THE TAG LIST IS NOW OPEN! @another-stark-sub @mostly-marvel-musings @vozit @littlegasps @pilloclock @shereadsinquiet @downeyreads @hermione-grangers-wife @individualistfem @sleep-i-ness @capbrie @lillsxd @agustdowney @dee-vn @justanotherblonde23 @fanngirl19 @persephonehemingway @softie-socks @schemefrenzy @letsby @cutenessloading @romeo-the-cactus @jelly-fishy-babie

& the promised aesthetic

#tony stark x y/n #tony stark x reader #tony stark x you #bruce banner x you #bruce banner x reader #bruce banner x y/n #stephen strange x y/n #stephen strange x you #stephen strange x reader #party favours #bun writes

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khaosgaming22 · 4 years ago

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Expunged Part II

Drifter hefted his coat up over his shoulders as he fired up his ship from The Derelict where he transmatted Guardians in for his Gambit. It was tattered and scratched from the last time he wore it. On that cold, desolate hellhole planet with the shadows that snuffed out his crew's light. As for the rest of them well... only one came back to tell the tale. He activated the communications. "How you doin down there Moondust?"

"I've told you numerous times to refrain from using that nickname of yours Germaine." She said back through the crackled radio. The icy moon had a blisteringly cold atmosphere and an almost perpetual cycle of snowstorms.

"Any idea where this friend of ours might be hidin?" He asked and the ship jettisoned from its hangar toward Europa.

"We don't even know who sent the signal let alone what it is. They simply said that they mean to show us something." Eris says stumbling over a pile of snow laden with orange streaks encased in the ice.

"Okay well meet me in this clearing. Storm's too heavy where you are for me to land." He clicked on autopilot and sat back in his chair maneuvering his jade coin around in his hand then setting it ablaze. The ship sat down eventually and Eris walked up to it having crossed the field of ice and snow. She removed her shawl from around her mouth and watched as Drifter got out and stepped onto the moon. He was not two steps on that they heard a low hum coming from the north. They looked and saw a sparrow rounding a glaicer in the distance and speeding towards them. The sparrow disintegrated and the stranger jumped off. Drifter put a hand on his revolver. He turned to her.

"So. You must be this stranger we've been hearin about, the one who sent that signal." The stranger nodded and they saw what she was. Metallic.

"You're an Exo." Eris notes out loud. The stranger nods but does not speak. She walks past them and looks off at the distance.

"Good spot to land." Her voice sounds English with the reverb that always comes with Exos. Drifter and Eris look out at the horizon. A pyramid ship wedged into the surface like a chisel. This is what I brought you here to see."

Kenneth and Drake flew to Europa immediately after hearing of what they found. Ken got the signal from the Drifter and Drake from Eris, they knew full well the danger of the situation, Europa was not Vanguard approved, still they piled into Ken's ship

"This ship is a dump. What happened to your old one?" Drake asked looking around at the interior. It wasn't as cozy as Ken's usual one. No Golden Age relics.

"You think I'm gonna fly my good one in this far out? And risk never getting it back? Hell no I took the junker." Drake sighed and sat down in the cockpit next to him after swiping off the dust.

"Are you certain that this flying scrap is going to survive Europa?" He asked and looked out the window as they ascended off Earth and jolted into lightspeed. Ken was hesitant.

"Do you want the nice lie or the cold hard truth that you probably shouldn't even pick it's really not worth-"

"Kenneth."

"....maybe." Drake got up from the chair and grumbled to himself.

"I'm going to walk around." He said halfheartedly and exited the cockpit to find another hopefully not-too-disgusting place to sit and think. He found a broom and began to brush off a place for himself to sit and meditate on the last time he had gone out this far. Eve buzzed around him, she could tell something was troubling her Guardian but ever since his encounter with his father she had been quiet. He thought about calling Torra but he didn't want her to worry anymore.

Drake still felt ashamed for the events of that day. It was idiotic to think he could take on his father alone. He didn't want to involve anyone else because he didn't want anyone else to fix what he thought was his mess. It wasn't his mess. It was his father's, but none of that mattered now and not just others, but his own lover got hurt. When he woke up he saw Torra over him, he remembered the tears down her face. She had taken her hood off to try to get through to him, a fruitless attempt. As he contemplated what had happened he heard the door open and Eve quickly returned to her bag.

"We're here." Ken announced. His gear had changed drastically from his Last City garb. His hood was white as snow with a glow from his Solar Light running through it, he had a thermal mask over his face along with a wolf insignia on his chest piece. His arms had armoring around them and his boots were gray with pipes running through them. Probably some sort of heating system, it looked appropriate for the surroundings but jerry rigged together in classic Ken fashion.

"I was wondering when you would change." Drake said standing up from his spot on the floor. "You were gonna freeze to death in...whatever you had on before."

"For your information I got that from The Nine. But yeah no that ain't gonna stand up to the temperature of this place." He said fiddling with his Hunter knife.

"Right. Well then we should get going now." Drake looked around the ship then turned to Ken. "Where exactly is the exit?"

"Right there." Ken pointed with his knife to a small round hatch that looked about the size of a trash can.

"...on second thought, transmat me out Eve."

Eve did so and Drake was dropped into the white powder below as the ship flew off to find a suitable landing zone. He looked around through his hood and got hir bearings before summoning his sparrow and sidearm. The wind howled around him and he had to use thermals and the location point to guide him through the terrain, but eventually he came to where an glaicer collided with another creating a flat field of ice where he saw both the ship and where the signal came from.

Drake took his sparrow up over the cliff and onto the ice meeting up with Ken and speeding off toward the camp that was set up against the glaicer. The storm was not as bad here as the cliff blocked the bad weather so he could make out three figures. Eris was sitting by the fire, Drifter was standing and fiddling with a radio and another hooded Exo that Drake had never seen before was leaned up against the tent. She had a pulse rifle slung across her back.

"'Sup Drift? How's it goin." Ken asked and got off his sparrow. Drifter waved to him not moving from his place by the fire. Drake understood why, whoever this hooded stranger was was an Exo, with no feeling for the blistering cold, Eris was Awoken and Drifter was human.

"Aside from the storms that come up over the ridge every now and then, not too bad." Drifter answered and took a swig of something in his canteen, Eris said otherwise.

"We have much to talk about." She said gravely and the stranger walked forward to greet the Hunter and Warlock.

"Greetings." She said in a metallic voice. Ken recognized it was modeled after a posh British accent and along with her frame she would be eye candy for any interested Guardian. "My name is Elsie Bray and like Eris said, we have a lot to explain."

The pyramid ship, Elsie's origin and why they were here already were heavy subjects, but then she told them why they needed them here so urgently. Drake was astonished at all of it. He had studied the records left on Mars' Braytech facility before The Eclipse, Elsie was Ana's sister but not from their timeline. Instead she somehow was able to move through the Vex Network using her weapon as an anchor point. Fascinating. He would have numerous questions for Elsie, but those would have to wait.

"You have an Exo friend yes? He's a Titan." The two thirds of a strike team nodded. "He is here. But... he is lost to something. He's gone on a rampage destroying everything in his path in blind rage." This concerned Ken greatly. Drake couldn't believe it.

"No. No those days are over, Chao reset himself he is a different person now there's no way-" Ken put his hand on his shoulder and pointed to the ebony pyramid looming behind them. Drake lowered his head and stood up. "Where is he now?"

"He is almost here, but I know how we can help him. He's an Exo, we can use my bastard father's laboratory to reset him again and hopefully that will calm him down. Ken shook his head.

"No. Nu uh no way absolutely not, we are not resetting our friend he will lose everything he knows about us. We'll break his corruption just like we did Drake." Elsie nodded but did not look as sure of herself.

"Come with me, he's just up the glaicer. The storm will have moved on by now."

The three of them took their sparrows up to where an old communications satellite dish laid in ruin from both the weather and their corrupt Titan friend. Ken pulled up his hood that had blown off from the ride up and took out his handcannon from its holster. Drake readied his sidearm and Elsie followed suit with her weapon while they braced themselves. They could hear the crushing of metal coming from the radio tower and soon it would no longer hold, fallong over onto the outpost with a crash. On top of the building was a Titan in armor that was black as soot and looked like a knight. His armor had changed. He was breathing heavily.

The Titan turned his head and saw the three of them, then he did something that Drake nor Ken had ever seen. His chest exploded and his fist became encased in ice, he ran off the building jumping up and slamming it into the ground. Drake was so baffled at this that he had to be woken up by a shout from Ken.

"Drake get your head in the game man! We gotta take him down!" Ken shot rounds of his Sacramento at Chao but he slammed the ground and more ice shot up and the shots hit it instead. Then the Titan slid into them and they shattered into shards that exploded out and at Ken and Drake. This was not normal ice, it was sharp and tough as a rock crystal and it embedded itself into Ken's leg. He yelped out in pain.

"Agh- Son of a bitch that hurt! Drake! Don't let them hit you!" Drake ran over to Ken and put his healing rift down but it would only do so much and the Titan was not stopping to let the Hunter go through rehab. Chao slid into Drake and landed a punch knocking him off his feet and over Ken as he clutched his chest in pain. Elsie helps Drake up.

"I've called for Drifter and Eris, they'll be here shortly. Kenneth! Can you keep him busy?" Ken dodged out of the way of one of Chao's attacks and pulled out the shard with another scream.

"Yeah I can keep him busy but where the hell are you going?!" Elsie summoned her sparrow once she heard Drifter and Eris coming up the ridge.

"The Drifter and Eris are coming to help! I'm taking Drake somewhere where we can even the odds! We'll be back soon!" With that she and Drake sped off.

------------------------------------------

And here it is everyone! Part 2 of Chao's story here on Europa. I know this is like 2 seasons late and we're almost to Splicers (which looks really cool btw definitely look out for stuff around this new season) Hunt was the worst season for me and the burnout hit quick, I played enough of Chosen to hear all the voice lines of my favorite blonde mechanic during Battlegrounds and took down Caital's champ in the tank. Long rambling short: It's almost summer and I'm ready to write more stuff as the longest and hardest school year finally starts to wind on down. And as always I hope you enjoy! (Art was done by the Magnificent @scout-fang check out her stuff if you haven't but you probably have already lol)

#destiny #destiny 2 #destiny oc #bungie #destiny hunter #destiny beyond light #elsie bray #destiny titan #destiny warlock

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marypsue · 3 years ago

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Stranger Things for the meme? I might not be the first to send this one in

Actually, you were the only one to send this one in! Thank you!

the first character i ever fell in love with: Probably unsurprisingly to anyone who knows me, it was Nancy.

a character that i used to love/like, but now do not: I'm going to go to the writers' room and I am going to tie them all to their chairs and duct tape their eyelids open and roll in one of those nineties school A/V carts with the VHS player and the old cathode-ray tube TV on it, and I am going to plug it in at the front of the room, and I am going to force every single one of the writers to watch every excruciating minute of Runaway Bride (1999) from start to bitter end. And then I am going to untie them, and very sweetly tell them all that what they have just seen is quite possibly the most perfect exemplar I know of how not to write a romance. And then I am going to decidedly less sweetly tell them that if they do not rectify season 3's characterisation choices, I will be back.

With another movie.

A worse movie.

a ship that i used to love/like, but now do not: See immediately above!

my ultimate favorite character™: I would die for Joyce Byers and do the dishes. Also, give me an extended-Labyrinth-reference plotline for El complete with cathartic 'you have no power over me' moment or give me - uh, cancellation, I guess.

prettiest character: Was it a total copout for the hair and makeup department to say that the reason they gave Joyce Long Loose Shining Attractive TV Show Star Curls(TM) in s3 was 'because she couldn't be bothered to cut it because she had Let Herself Go With Grief'? Absolutely. Am I complaining? Absolutely not.

my most hated character: I've written Murray completely out of the kids aren't alright-verse because he just annoys me so. much.

my OTP: Again, it's actually an OT3 - I believe I may have become the de facto captain of the good dinghy Joyce/Bob/Hopper. Yeah, I went and actually got invested in this pool noodle. There's more fic coming. I am a parody of myself.

my NOTP: Oooh, I don't want to say it out loud on this website in case that summons its worst-behaved fans like speaking the name of Beetlejuice three times. Let's just say that I'm not interested in seeing it, but I also don't care enough to get into arguments about it, and leave it at that.

favorite episode: Can I pick just one? Do I have to pick just one?

saddest death: I will never be over Bob. Ever.

favorite season: s1 had the most Human moments, the best emphasis on connection, and the most guttingly, movingly tragic ending (imo), but s2 had Bob and Kali and Max, and justice for Barb, and El getting to live and a chance to be a kid. Decisions, decisions.

least favorite season: I love the colours and the fashion of s3, but it sounds like almost every character moment that I loved from that season was something that the actors came up with and had to fight the writers and showrunners tooth and nail for. I may need a more torturous movie to double feature with Runaway Bride. Suggestions, anyone?

character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but i hate: I do not care about Alexei. What tiny shreds of personality the show gave him are all identical to how they wrote ten-year-old Erica and it's bad. He's a cardboard cutout of a character and I don't give a shit that he's dead.

my ‘you’re piece of trash, but you’re still a fave’ fave: I will fight Jim Hopper with my own two tiny fists for s2 and s3, but also...*glances back over shoulder at the string of tragic fictional father figures and terrible fictional men unexpectedly asked to step up when forced into a parental role for a small girl who I have obsessed over in the past* I am who I am and I cannot change that.

my ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave: I'm going to rescue Bob in everything I write where it's possible for me to do that, because he's wonderful and I love him. The end.

my ‘this ship is wrong, nasty, and makes me want to cleanse my soul, but i still love it’ ship: This really isn't a reaction that I have to shipping!

my ‘they’re kind of cute, and i lowkey ship them, but i’m not too invested’ ship: most combinations of the teens and many combinations of the kids tbh. This show is a collection of dolls and action figures, and I am Erica Sinclair mushing their faces together to make them kiss.

#chatter #i am full of opinions and you will read them #stranger things

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fullsunalicia · 4 years ago

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Hi omg 🥺🥺 I was wondering if you could do a nct 127 reaction to their bisexual latinx s/o dressing alternative and being activist? Like going to blm activities and equal rights and pride I'm sorry if it's too specific 🥺 ilysm 🥺!!!

no problem at all my love !!!! ilysm too, thank you for your request!!

Moon Taeil

the proudest boyfriend ever. this is a common fact for everyone in nct. everyone, taeil included, would be so proud to have a girlfriend like you.

your no. 1 supporter! though it’s harder for him to attend protests for example because sm sucks and deserves to get their ass beat, since they can clearly rip off black artists but not acknowledge/help them, he still does everything in his power to support you!

need help with getting there and there to attend a demo? you got it! need a helping hand with drawing leaflets? you got it! write down ways you can safely protest and hide your face? he’s already making notes on a hk protest video!

Lee Taeyong

like taeil, taeyong is very supportive and goes out of his way to help you! he likes helping you with posters and other little things that can be helpful for protests - some solution for when you get teargassed, for example.

y’all have seen the way he stands up to his managers lmao. though it would be a little harder than exposing his managers on vlive, he’d still try to help on sns in a subtle way. a lysn bubble update with the date of the blm demo, maybe... very inch resting, ty doesnt know how that got there.............

in terms of dressing alt, you’ve got yourself a fanboy!! our fashion icon taeyong adores your sense of fashion and always watches you pick out fits. wants you to shop for him, aswell!! they’re such cool looks!

Seo Johnny

man the way he would be EXPLODING from pride. that’s his gf right here!!! his perfect little activist gf saving the world!! catch him crying in a ditch johnny loves you so MUCH

since he grew up in the states and experienced those problems firsthand, johnny would definitely make an attempt to join you on protests. whether that’s blm, pride or equal rights. he believes in you and he believes in those causes. will definitely get in trouble for secretly attending a demo with you!!

the biggest fucking ally ever omg. whether it took you some time to tell johnny or saying it right at the start, he supports you for your sexuality and never once makes you feel weird about it. nor insecure! he just fell in love with you HARD

Nakamoto Yuta

MAN... y’all already know yuta would join you on every. single. demo. he’s the loudest protestor on the goddamn street. I SAY LESBIAN YOU SAY ALLY. watch him raise up a lesbian flag and yell profanities at homophobic ass people

yuta is already so so vocal with his open support for lgbtq and others!!! this man is a feminist to the blood, to the bone. you got yourself the perfect boyfriend ma’am. hot and educated? goddamn

y’all are that activist power couple that is cheered on every protest!!!! he supports you! your causes are his causes!!!!! literally the perfect match

Kim Doyoung

this is so self explanatory i’m gonna CRY from laughter. everything about this man screams ally. will beat anyone up that belittles you for your sexuality, or anyone else in that matter

that vlive where the czennie talked about an unrequited love and he went “it could be a boy loving a boy, or a girl loving a girl, we don’t know that.” man....... kim doyoung, your hand in marriage juseyo??

like yuta, he is right beside you aiding your beliefs. he loves you so much, it’s only fair he does the best he can to support you. i love him

Jung Jaehyun

this man is so in awe at your fashion sense he literally annoys your ass for ootd pictures. spams you until he gets all the deeds. very obnoxious but also very cute, it’s quite an ego boost to have the jung jaehyun as a hype man!!

it’s not a big thing to him that you’re bisexual - he acknowledges it and supports you with all his heart. no matter what your sexuality is. there’s not a single inch of you he doesn’t love or adore or support. he literally has love beams shooting out of his eyes !!

has to be physically restrained to not attend demos with you LMAOOO, there’s a picture of him floating on sns where he raises you up so your poster is seen. power couple coming through to support blm and pride!!! move, homophobes !!!!!

Kim Jungwoo

jungwoo is someone i think who’s a little clueless to the causes you’re fighting for - not in an ignorant sense! i don’t know how to explain it, but i think jungwoo would realize through you what problems the people around him face, and then it’s just one big shocking realization for him

after that, he becomes an avid supporter!! again, sm is trash, but jungwoo would still try to spread your message about protests and petitions that can help. quite literally does not care if he is punished or not LMAO

is the first one to beat a mf’s ass up for fetishizing your bisexuality. that’s his queen and other queens/kings you’re insulting bitch, better get ready for an ass beating

Dong Sicheng

tbh i don’t see him reacting that much to you being bisexual??? i mean sicheng supports you 1000000% but it’s not a life-changing thing. you’re still his perfect y/n, who he loves with heart and soul.

as a chinese idol in nct, he would have it the hardest to support you. but that does not stop him, even though it gets dangerous every once in a while. my heart hurts thinking about how sm treats him hhhhh i’m gonna cry

again, the proudest boyfriend ever!!!! i know i’m kind of repeating myself, but they’re all just supportive! sicheng loves you so much and is filled with so much pride that his girlfriend is fighting for whats right. his heart aches to be with you on the streets :(

Mark Lee

the biggest himbo ally ever LMAODJSHSH. i’m so sorry for the slander mark but that’s the first thing that came to my mind 😭😂

gets quite literally angry with you at the problems in the world. like sicheng, he wishes to be with you marching through the streets. equal rights should be a given and it makes him so mad that people have to protest for them. so mad!

does whatever he can to help you. mark lee is so in love with you, he’d drop anything and everything to help you. say the word and he’ll do it! i’m soft

Lee Donghyuck

y’all know that one tumblr post? he’s a little confused, but he’s got the spirit? yeah that’s donghyuck HDHDBDB

like mark, he is so utterly confused why the things you’re fighting for aren’t already a given?? i??????????? his girlfriend is literally a latinx bi queen, and she’s AMAZING. openly bashes people on sns for biphobic, homophobic, or anything else discriminatory on that matter.

though he’s a little clueless on how he can help you, he still tries his best! not only does he ask you, but also his foreign czennies. hyuck makes the effort to spread your messages to k-netizens, and though it’s hard since sm sucks ass, he still shows open solidarity. that’s his girlfriend protesting on the streets, together with all the people who fight to make things right. he’s gonna make sure your voices are heard.

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danwhobrowses · 3 years ago

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AEW Double or Nothing 2021 - Review

It's that time of the year to put your chips in, Double or Nothing is back with a big card that includes a Stadium Stampede, Sting in Non-Cinematic action and AEW's first Triple Threat World Title match.

Unfortunately due to the UK having a weekend heatwave I was way too tired to watch this live, so I'm watching the replay on Fite- thankfully it's a Bank Holiday so I don't really have to rush this and I somehow managed to get through the morning without being spoiled.

Like my Wrestlemania review I will be putting in bold who I thought would win Also it goes without saying, Spoilers within

The Buy-In Not a fan of the 5-ish minutes of beeping as the camera synced up or the 12 minute wait overall but it is the Pre-Show. But we start with a lot of packages, in fact we had 2 packages of Bucks vs MoxEddie which was weird. 45 Minutes we get the crowd though and that just injects you with the energy.

Matt and the HFO starts with a backstage promo, bragging of his win and enticing Private Party by lowering his 30% cut to 15% if they win, then another Shida/Baker package...like, we could throw more matches we had an entire Countdown show for these packages on Fite and Youtube, you have the roster for it. Also the stage did invest a lot in the fan seats, not much of the set, kinda 50/50 on it because on one hand it's a shame we didn't have a grand set but on the other hand it had an ECW feel of being swarmed with (COVID safe) fans.

NWA Women's Championship: Serena Deeb (c) def. Riho (Submission via Serenity Lock) At about 50 mins of a 75 min buy-in we get our first match, and Riho and Deeb come out to big pops. I'm glad they noted that Riho has a win over Deeb too. Bell rings to a big cheer, after some back and forth Riho extends the handshake but Deeb slaps her, cementing a heel turn. Riho slaps back and fires up, knee to the corner and a diving crossbody for 2, she tries a sunset flip but Deeb almost gets the Serenity Lock. Deeb then decides to pick off Riho; Dragon Screw, launch pad into the bottom rope, Elbow into the thigh, she looks to set up the Romero Special but instead pulls on Riho's nose, then stomps her knees down. Abdominal Stretch and then a Cravat, but Riho snapmares out and chases Deeb at the corner, Deeb catches her though through the ropes with 3 rope-assisted chokes and the a spinning neckbreaker into the middle rope for 2. Deeb then pulls Riho up for a inverted Gory Special then driving her into the turnbuckle, she tries the superplex but gets knocked off, Riho hits the stomp but the knees buckle so she can't make the pin. She attacks with some strikes, headscissors, 619 but it's only 2, she tries the Dragon Suplex but Deeb locks in the Octopus Stretch, transitions into a sleeper but Riho gets a fantastic reversal of the bridging suplex for 2 again. Strung on the middle rope, Riho goes for the double stomp but misses and hits the ring apron, injuring the knees more, Dragon Screw on the rope, Twisting Neckbreaker for 2, she charges at Riho in the corner but Riho has her boot up, Riho tries to kick away but Deeb keeps hold of the leg, catches the other and Dragon Screws both of her legs, Powerbomb 1, 2, No. Deeb sets up the Detox but hits the back body press, she tries the Dragon Suplex but Deeb escapes, she gets it on the third attempt of the match, Double Stomp on Deeb's back while she was bent over but the knees give way again, she tries the running Meteora but Deeb rolls into the half-Crab in Maki Itoh fashion, Riho makes the ropes but can't escape the inverted Dragon Screw, she rolls out another Detox into a pin combination for a tight 2, but when she tries for the Crucifix Roll she can't wrap her legs and drops, leading to Deeb hammering the injured knee into the ground and cinching in the Serenity Lock, Riho taps out to a standing ovation.

I wish we lingered on the celebrations a bit more since we moved straight onto the fanfest thing with all the neat merch, but damn did that match go! That was a PPV quality match and just the thing to heat up the crowd, Deeb's vicious heel style still suits her especially against Riho's connection to fans as a babyface. This also sets up Rosa to be the babyface in her pursuit to reclaim the NWA title too, but yeah excellent match, it could've gone either way but I know that COVID would've restricted Riho's schedule to be the champ, otherwise a hot start.

A THIRD Bucks/MoxEddie package preludes Taz and JR coming to commentary to get the main card started. The main card has a bit of pyro though

Main Show We were kinda given away on the first match since you hear the entrance theme just as the Buy-In ends, no time for packages we're jumping straight into action.

'Hangman' Adam Page def. Brian Cage (Pinfall via Buckshot Lariat) Cage comes out with some Terminator gear and the FTW title, a low hum of boos for the Machine given how he is the heel. Hangman however gets a massive pop, a poster of 'Hangman is a Dream Boat' and 'He's a F***ing Horse' and the traditionally hilarious name plate joke being 'Horse with a Hangover' pads Hangman's time getting in the ring while Taz talks trash. The moment the bell rings Hangman is off the mark but gets shoved off by the stronger Cage, some Big Boots stagger but Cage throws him into the turnbuckles, he tries to set up a Pumphandle version of the Drill Claw but Hangman lands on his feet. Triangle Clothesline doesn't stun Cage long enough to pull Hangman out of the ring and into the guardrail, but Hangman comes back with a Suicide Dive. Cage catches the Diving Crossbody and powerbombs him into the ring post, another guardrail throw and Cage brings things back into the ring, every time Hangman tries to strike back Hangman uses his power, choking Hangman on the ropes, throwing him into the turnbuckle, Cage is having fun. That fun almost gets him though, after some showboating with bicep curls, Hangman reverses the Fallaway Slam into a Crucifix Bomb for 2, Hangman tries the lariat but Cage doesn't budge, he tries again but Cage responds at the same time, only Hangman falls from the impact though. Cage then tries a lariat but misses, leading Hangman to use his whole body to Lariat both of them over the ropes. Big Moonsault out of the ring hands the Hangman an advantage but as he climbs to the top rope Cage pulls back, looks to set up an Avalanche Drill Claw but Hangman fights out, Hangman tries a super Hurricanrana but Cage is too strong, Cage looks for the Avalanche Bomb but Hangman hits the super rana the second time, 1, 2, No. Hangman looks to set up the Buckshot but hits a boot through the ropes, Cage hits back with a Superkick that kinda doesn't hit him at all XD Cage sets up the Deadlift Suplex, but Hangman flips out of it and sets up a Powerbomb, Cage wriggles out, misses the Discus Lariat and gets hit with a forearm, Lariat floors Cage for 2. Commentary notes that Cage is dazed as Hangman sets up the Deadeye, Hangman clubs out though and hits the ripcord elbow, looks for a F-5 thing but Hangman floats out, Cage catches the big boot, Knee to the gut and a neckbreaker for 2. Cage does his corner combo but Hangman holds off the German, he hits an elbow but runs into Cage's F-5 that drops him into the ropes. Seeing the entrance ramp, Cage hits the Deadlift Suplex, hits an Avalanche Flatliner back into the ring and sets up his own Buckshot Lariat, but he staggers on the flip and Hangman hits the F-5 for 2. He tries the Buckshot but Cage ducks German, Powerbomb, Buckle Bomb, but Hangman gets the Jacknife Pin, 1, 2, NO. Cage hits the Discus, Spinning Liger bomb, 1, 2, NO. The crowd are getting super hot. And in that heat a reign of boos come about as Hook and Starks rush to the ring, the former distracting the ref as Starks throws Cage the FTW title, Cage though is having none of it, throwing the title back to Starks declaring that he can win it without. Starks is offended, aghast even, but as Cage turns Hangman tries to lift him for Deadeye, Cage escapes and throws Hangman into the ropes, as he turns to address Hook though Hangman holds on, Buckshot Lariat! 1, 2, 3!

And Breathe. Lord what a match. Granted the FTW shenanigans was a little bit of a damper but this sets up Cage's face turn away from FTW, and it protects him a little because they distracted him. A big Hangman win was definitely the best way to open the match with the crowds, Hangman grabs a beer and cheers to the roaring crowd as Taz voices his disappointment. Angered, Cage gets in Hook and Starks' faces, he goes to shove Starks but he notes his bad neck so he shoves Hook instead and leaves.

Yet another Bucks/MoxEddie promo...this time though it's because the match is on next.

AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks [Matt & Nick Jackson w/Brandon Cutler] (c) def. Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston (Pinfall on Moxley by Matt via BTE Trigger x4) Wild Thing (admittedly, while it was nice for Nagata I prefer his old theme) hits the crowd as the crowd get to their feet, Mox and Eddie enter the crowd like they're in the streets, carrying the Buck's fancy shoes with them. The Bucks comes in with a Red and Blue with liquid prints on their jackets (signifying 'drip'), but as the streamers pop Mox and Eddie attack. A good nod from commentary joking that the pop of the streamers signified 'Go' to Mox and Eddie as Mox fed Matt his streamers outside of the ring. While choking Matt with a scarf though the significantly blonder Nick escapes Eddie and gangs up on Mox, all get hit with a Suicide Dive from Eddie as the two take things outside of the ring. Kingston throwing streamers in front of KiLynn King while Mox soaks in a beer with the crowd. Both bucks get thrown in the Barricade as Brandon Cutler attempts to tend to them with Cold Spray, Kingston stalks him though so he rushes through the ring in hopes of getting to the ramp - only to run into Moxley's Rear Naked Choke - Kingston and Mox combo a Half-Nelson Suplex and Clothesline combo to finish him. The Bucks come back though as Matt pulls Mox out the ring, Nick blindsides Eddie and calls for the bell to ring, the match is finally started. Moxley deals with Matt as Eddie chops and Kitchen Sinks Nick. After a double shoulder block Mox alerts the ref to Matt entering the ring illegally, as the duo stomp at Nick in turnabout. After both hitting Nick in the corner Kingston hits a Drop Suplex? (I dunno what it's called he lifted him up but then dropped him face first rather than leaning back) and an STO. The Bucks recover momentum with a thumb to the eye thanks to Matt's distraction, Matt tags in and knocks away Mox, mid-rope dropkick while skinning the cat leaves Eddie alone for the corner combos; boot and enzugiri and then the bottom corner dropkick/kick to the back of the head, the Bucks then chide the crowd. The Bucks start getting into their groove with their usual combos, but when Nick mocks Mox it gives Eddie time to Flapjack him into the ropes, Matt tags in though before Eddie can reach Moxley and kicks away his leg before knocking Mox from the corner and pretending to Hot Tag from Kingston. It's your traditional hot tag stuff, clotheslines then the 10 clubs in the corner, powerslam then some Hogan-esque showboating, but Moxley catches Matt's legs when he goes to the ropes and hits a lariat. Throwing his brother in the ring, Nick tags himself in but lands into an exploder, both men tag out but Mox goes at both Bucks, dropkicking Matt into Nick, throws Matt, hits Nick with the Money Clip and Gotch Piledriver, Matt jumps Moxley but gets a piledriver too, Mox tries the Bulldog Choke but Nick breaks the hold, the Bucks try a double suplex but Mox twists out and into a double DDT. Both Bucks are in opposite corners, Nick gets hit by a clothesline but Matt gets his foot up, Mox hits the back body press and then Anderson comes out. The ref distracted, Nick goes to hand Matt the spray, but Eddie's got a glare like hell on the Bucks and scouts what they're doing, he dives at the blindsiding Gallows and Kazarian out of nowhere charges at Anderson, he warned the Elite that he would come for them. Matt does get the Cold Spray in Mox's face and hits him with the bottle for good measure, 1, 2, No. Mox is busted open now but Gallows and Anderson are ejected. The Bucks are pissed now, and hit Moxley with a Meltzer Driver on the rampway, wanting the countout as Don Callis (I only could confirm he was there up till now...) notes how he'd be happy with that. Moxley staggers around the ring, dazed but able to get back in the ring, inviting more from Matt. Matt goes for the open wound, stomps and punches, then the draped swanton for 2, the crowd chant for Moxley as the Bucks kick away at him for 2, then a Bulldog Choke by Matt, then an outside the ring choke from Nick

as Eddie tries to alert the ref. Mox tries to fight back but the Bucks team up to club down at him, they mock the Shield as they set up an assisted powerbomb, but as Matt does the OOOOAHHH he eats a boot from Moxley, German for Nick, German on both at the same time (Matt grabbed Nick trying to escape it), Eddie tags in for a big hot tag. Belly to belly on Nick, Enzugiri and DDT on Matt, he tries his submission hold but Nick hits breaks the hold by hitting Eddie's head, Eddie is not at all impressed - as am I for JR forgetting that Maki Itoh has the 'hardest head in the business' - Nick eats the big boot and Matt gets the chops, Nick though superkicks the back of Eddie's leg to regain momentum. Assisted Sliced Bread and a running Shining Wizard gets 2, Nick goes for the Swanton but the knees are up, Mox tags in but runs into a double Superkick, they set up More Bang for your Buck but Mox gets the Rear Naked Choke as Eddie holds Nick down. Nick escapes and just as Matt rolls out lands the 450, 1, 2, NO! Matt is furious, sets up the Meltzer driver but Eddie pulls Nick down, Mox gets the Choke again, they try their combo (I think they called it the Violent Crown) but Nick pulls Moxley from the ropes. Bucks try the Meltzer driver on Eddie but Mox pulls Nick into the apron, Mox throws Eddie one of the Bucks' Diors in front of the ref, but grabs the other three as the ref confiscates it, using one of the shoes he hits the Doomsday Device but Nick breaks the hold, rocks Kingston with a knee and sets up the superkick, Mox catches and sets up the Paradigm Shift, Nick rolls out and gets the Sharpshooter (JR correcting with the Scorpion Deathlock) as Matt tries to hold down Eddie. Eddie breaks the hold and hits Matt with the Backdrop Driver but eats a Superkick, Moxley hits the Lariat, Paradigm Shift, 1, 2, Matt breaks the pin. Moxley hits headbutts and tries to throw Nick out of the ring, but he lands on the apron and kicks at Eddie's leg again, that leads him to be choked but he's on the ropes so Mox drags him into the ring, Matt tries the superkick but Mox catches, but he can't stop both of them, double Superkick! But Mox rebounds to a double Lariat, he looks to get Nick with the Paradigm Shift but eats a Superkick, then it's just a Superkick party, Nick, then Matt, then both, On-NO! Not Even One! Moxley is possessed, staring at the Bucks, they hit another double Superkick but Eddie comes in, he flinches at the Superkick and gets one in the shin by Matt, leading to Nick hitting him with one in the face. The Bucks smell the end, BTE trigger! But Mox doesn't fall, BTE Trigger, BTE Trigger, BTE Trigger, and Mox finally collapses, 1, 2, 3. Callis comes down to celebrate as the Bucks mock in the camera.

3 Matches in and all have been bangers. I sincerely thought that Eddie and Mox's unorthodox nature would throw the cocky Bucks off for a short reign until Renee was due but I am not unhappy with what we got, stunning match where the Bucks simply won because they were a tag team, plus their position on the card - no way they were gonna have Hangman and then MoxEddie win consecutively. It's a shame that Eddie rarely wins a feud still but what a showing from all four men, shades of Revolution's tag team banger too.

As Commentary run down the rest of the card we learn that the Blade will be replaced by Serpentico and QT is replaced by Aaron Solow in the Casino Battle Royale due to injury, shame but I doubt they were gonna win. They at least storied up QT's one as him 'not wanting to risk injury'. Paul Wight comes down as guest commentator for the CBR as the rules are run down.

Casino Battle Royale - Jungle Boy wins the battle royale (Eliminated Christian Cage). The Clubs come out first with Christian Cage first out, Matt Sydal, Powerhouse Hobbs (looking extra lean now), the Bullrope-wielding Dustin Rhodes and Max Caster look to start off, Caster running down his opponents in rap - that 'had no Edge' comment for Christian was one hell of a deep cut, but also alluding to Sydal's flop last year - it at least got the crowd going. Bell rings and Hobbs and Christian pick up where they left off, Dustin goes for Caster while Sydal bounces off Hobbs. Dustin and Matt switch places for Sydal to have a mini-match with Caster, but Caster hits him with a low blow and dumps him out - I guess we won't see him do the Shooting Star Press. Caster though gets eliminated by Christian, he landed on the ramp first so there was confusion but he rolled to the floor to sell it properly, he may've hurt himself though because Christian did pop his head out the ring to check on him. The Diamonds are out next; Matt Hardy, but he and Kassidy wait at the tunnel to try and jump 10, Vance though boots Hardy and Powerbombs Kassidy so the two can sleep, Comoroto is out next and guns for Dustin, easily outmatching him as Serpentico makes his entrance dragged by Bobcat Goldthwait Luther. Serpentico doesn't last long against 10 though, who squares up to Comoroto, Spine on the Pine by 10 but he can't clothesline Comoroto over the rope, he lands into a Spear and gets thrown over to the apron, 10 looks like he was meant to headscissor but didn't grip well, as Comoroto is draped Dustin throws the Freakenbeast over as 10 falls with him. Comoroto though still cracks Dustin with the cow bell, their Bullrope Match is imminent, leaving Hobbs able to dump Dustin out. For 4 seconds only Hobbs and Christian remain in-ring (Hardy starts to enter at 1 seconds) for him to hit the Killswitch. Hearts are next as Kassidy chop blocks Christian when the crowds popped for a classic E&C/Hardys retreading; the Varsity Blonds though roar in together to get Matt and Kassidy, Colt Cabana comes in with Brodie's old ring jacket to hit the Dusty Elbow but the numbers are balanced by Bowens (Christian and Hobbs are sleeping now). And then Penta rocks up in a Joker-inspired gear which looks insane in the best possible ways, Cero Miedo superkick to Bowens, then just having it at anybody who looks at him. Cabana is eliminated off-screen by Kassidy when trying to deal with Hardy, Bowens is it with the Dropkick/Spinebuster combo from the Blonds before being dumped out, Griff is eliminated by Hardy after some blows on the apron as Pillman struggles with Penta. HFO try to clean up but Penta just goes at it with Matt now, the crowd chant for Brian Pillman as Jr tries to dump Kassidy, but the Spades are coming. Baltimora pops the crowd huge for Jungle Boy's entrance, immediately getting in Penta's face, two Singblades by Penta follows Quen's entrance to Gin n Juice Pillman Jr, Pillman's dumped by Private Party as Aaron Solow goes in for Matt Hardy, Evil Uno and Lee Johnson complete the 20, Uno at Hardy, Johnson to Solow, the latter two go to the apron and Johnson elbows Solow off but gets knocked off by Hardy - tad abrupt for me really. Uno is eliminated by Penta's Enzugiri but then Jungle Boy just LAUNCHES at Penta, headscissors him out while still holding the ropes that was insane, but Hobbs has slithered back in and just ran through Quen, patented Spinebuster on Kassidy and now Christian is back in the ring. Hobbs though is shrugging off any offence, Hardy is knocked away, JB is being choked out, he tries to splash Christian in the corner but Christian dodges, and after a labored attempt throws Hobbs over. 50 seconds until the Joker; Hardy Party vs Christian and JB, Christian is hobbling as the numbers advantage comes into play, 20 seconds both faces are just being stomped in the corner, 10 seconds and Kassidy is holding Christian down with his foot, 7 Seconds the Crowd Stand to see who it is; 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Lio Rush, it got a tiny pop but, yeah...people were

hoping for something bigger. Rush is another Forbidden Door given his time on NJPW Strong and starts immediately with Private Party, Poison Rana on Quen, Spanish Fly on Kassidy, botches the first but hits the second rebound stunner on Hardy, the Man of the Hour is the only one standing. Rush looks to try and dump Private Party, they try the Silly String but Rush puts Quen back on Kassidy, he looks to add the weight but Hardy eliminates him, saving Private Party and kinda rendering the Joker meaningless, a half-hearted 'sorry, Lio' from JR too. Back to how it was before Lio came in, Hardy Party dealing with the faces, doing some 'Delete!' chants as Hardy hits JB with a Side Effect, JB though hits the rebound Clothesline so Quen attacks, JB is on the apron but Christian has come in, Private Party try the Silly String again but JB superkicks Kassidy off him and sweeps Quen for Christian to dropkick him, the turns have tabled! Hardy tries to establish veteran teamwork against Christian, Christian looks to agree then just throws Hardy out to a big pop. It comes down to Jungle Boy or Christian Cage, it really sells on JB's face what a moment it is. Christian tries for a quick throw over but JB goes to the corner, the crowd chanting his theme song, Flying Uppercut by Christian but JB gets his Enzugiri combo, rebound clothesline is reversed into a reverse DDT, Christian favors the knee but sizes JB up for the Spear, JB lifts him though and tries to DVD him off, but Christian shifts his weight back in-ring, Christian throws JB onto the apron, but JB latches onto Christian, trying the slow DDT-drag but now both are on the apron. JB tries to get in the ring but Christian grabs the hair, JB (sitting on the middle rope) leans back to kick him in the face, he knocks away one hand, goes to boot the other but Christian dodges, sets up the Killswitch but JB elbows out, goes to push him into the ring post but JB SWINGS AROUND IT and back into the ring. Christian tries the dropkick but JB headbutts him in the gut, tries the back body press AND HE'S OUT! JUNGLE BOY WINS!

The crowd erupts in Baltimora as Jurassic Express congratulate their stablemate, Christian returns and congratulates JB, telling him to make the most of his opportunity. I am physically sweating right now. Battle Royales are tough to get right unless it's called 'Royal Rumble', even then the CBR did fail in some places of not giving some younger talent enough time. Hardy eliminated a lot of younger talent which while it's a storyline sense because he's the Leech didn't sit too well, once again Evil Uno gets slighted but at least he didn't botch his elimination. Lio Rush as a Joker would've been fine but he came in, had a flurry and then got eliminated so nothing really changed, I know a lot were hoping for Daniel Bryan and lawd would it have blown the roof off but I am fine with a Forbidden Door entry, should've at least gotten one person - I had hoped the Joker would be the winner too. I really appreciate though that Christian didn't win, he still has his mini feud with Hobbs which is elevating the dude big time, and I don't think winning a royale to get a title shot fits for his 'Out-Work Everyone' Mantra and I was convinced he was gonna win after being the first to enter, Jungle Boy though is a thoroughly deserved winner, this dude was bouncing off all manner of things! He has been a proverbial bridesmaid in royales because of how good a babyface he is and while I doubt he'll beat the champion this can act as a similar saga that Darby had when Moxley was champ.

In prep for the Patriotism match Shawn Dean - a veteran himself - and the K9 for Warriors group while respecting the fallen and showing a number to support the Paws Act S.613, which will help Disabled Veterans get Service Dogs to combat Veteran Suicides. Blatant placement to make Cody the face aside, this act should be a thing. But of course, this leads to USA chants and a very American veteran's package which I thought was preluding Cody's entrance to start. I have...thoughts...but not ones I'm going to rant about.

'The American Dream' Cody Rhodes [w/Arn Anderson] def. Anthony Ogogo [w/QT Marshall] (Pinfall via Din's Fire) Ogogo enters to weak boos carrying the Union Jack, it seems that some fans have been handed mini-USA flags too. Ogogo's entrance is short because Cody comes in with the tron showing the American flag, Cody is VERY red white and blue, with some gold in there too, it's not Apollo Creed level but if you stuck that attire in a fighting game you'd tell that they were the American. The announcer really hammed up both men too, but while Ogogo's is worth noting since he is an Olympic medallist I don't think Cody's needed the 'he's the son of a common man and a father to be', I would actually have been intrigued to watch this match with an American because as a Brit this is super excessive and pandering. Cody hands his weighted USA belt to a kid in the crowd and at this point Cody's entrance has lasted 2x longer than Ogogo's did. A tale of the tape also kinda undermined Ogogo, 'The East of England'? He's from Suffolk just say Suffolk, England. The Bell rings and Ogogo goes straight for the hammer, Cody ducks and does the Boxer-hugging thing to stop punches. Ogogo tries another punch but Cody catches and tries to wrench it, being knocked away he does the drop uppercut but then runs right into the Guv'nor's Hammer, but Cody is a patriot, we all knew he would stand up from that. Olympic Slam hits 2 as Cody catches his breath, he dodges the corner charge and hits the powerslam but now both men's ribs are hurt. Cody knees at Ogogo's ribs, but Ogogo shows his athleticism, leapfrogs Cody then stomps him down. He tries for a punch but Cody grabs the leg to knock him down, Cattle Mutilation weakens the arms but doesn't get the submission as he rolls out the ring, Cody tries a dive but gets clubbed in the arm. German from Ogogo, kick to the gut, then kinda a heelish People's Elbow - he middle finger'd the crowd and did the wanker gesture then hit the elbow - but it's only getting 2s. Cody grabs the leg but Ogogo rakes the eye, corner European Uppercut and a Clothesline from Hell, as Ogogo talks to the ref QT suckers Cody but it only gets 2. Anderson chases QT with a chair to prevent him from interfering again, QT scurrying to the ramp to avoid the Enforcer. Ogogo misses the...let's call it The Empire's Elbow as Cody goes for the hands, Ogogo lifts him up though to a F-5/chokeslam kinda move for 2. He boots Ogogo in the face and looks for the lariat but Ogogo just sidesteps him and throws Cody into the ropes, Cody then quickly rushes to Arn for encouragement - for a brief moment I thought he got whiplash or his throat got crushed because that was a nasty rebound. QT is busted open, likely bladed by QT, as he tries for another punch, Cody though keeps kicking away, picking at each limb and then the Bulldog (ironic), Cody clubs at the open wound and hits the Cody Cutter, he puts him on the top turnbuckle but Ogogo punches him away, he gets down but gets back up on the turnbuckle so he probably forgot his position for a bit but he lands an impressive Frog Splash, the injured ribs means that Cody kicks out at 2. Cody hits a dropkick and puts in the Figure Four, QT tries to pull the ropes to Ogogo but it's too far so Ogogo rolls, Cody breaks the hold and goes to the ropes, headbutts blindly at Ogogo and sets up the Cross-Rhodes, but Ogogo snapmares him, Guv'nor's Hammer, Uppercut, but as he pins Cody's arm is under the ropes. Dominator, 1, 2, no...He tries the Pop-Up Guv'nor's Hammer but Cody elbows at his head, Din's Fire for 3. Cody jumps in the crowd to celebrate.

*sigh* Yes, let's not put over Anthony Ogogo in victory, not like Cody has a child he'll wanna take care of and thus be written out of tv. It went how I feared it would really, Cody shrugs off 3 gut punches that have KO'd him before AND AN UPPERCUT from an Olympic Boxer who KO's people for 10 seconds rather than 3 because 'Murica and Memorial Day Weekend, could QT have not moved Cody's arm from under the ropes? Or told Ogogo of that fact? I'm sorry but I didn't feel this, it doesn't ruin the PPV but this match should've ended on the first gut punch, but Cody is Cody, he doesn't lose clean unless he gets a win back and he's only ever done that once - I just hoped this'd be different. This feud didn't need the America vs UK stuff, but Ogogo really makes the valid points about the failings of America's healthcare system and how the foundation of America is built on underpaying and overworking the lower class while Cody's argument is 'my wife is black', but Cody is the face. This narrative also was hampered by the fact that Cody beat QT - the faction leader - previously too, so what was the point of putting his less-experienced student against Cody if he wasn't gonna win? As a match it was a good showcase to what Ogogo could do, but booking wise this only benefits the uber-patriots and Cody's ego, especially since he didn't even land a Cross Rhodes he used Din's Fire which hasn't beaten anyone in AEW nor does it affect any of the 'injured' spots alluded to in the match, the worst thing he got before that was a cutter, so sorry but no don't buy.

We move to setting up the TNT title match as it's noted that in a prior fans-only weigh in between Baker and Shida, Miro cheap shotted Jake the Snake.

TNT Championship: Miro (c) def. Lance Archer (Submission via Game Over) Archer charged in without Jake, scaring the announcer since he hadn't brought any jobbers with him, Miro next comes in with the TNT title colors. Before the match even starts though Archer dives at Miro, throwing him in the ring to begin the match. After some running corner clotheslines Miro tries to clothesline Archer, neither man budges though so Archer hits the big boot, he does his Old School Moonsault but only gets 1. Miro takes advantage outside the ring by hitting Archer with the barricade, but when trying to use Archer's hair as leverage Archer comes back, hitting Miro on the ring post, a table then a spinebuster through that table. Miro leaves the ring but Archer goes for the charge, he's caught though and belly-to-belly'd into Fuego del Sol and friends, Northern Lights back over the Guardrail and Miro takes advantage, he takes a bit too long to soak in his strength though as Archer crossbodies into his charge, Miro gets back the momentum with the leg lariat as he amps the crowd for some Yes Kicks - while holding Archer's hair - his third one though is caught and I think they called it a 'Hellercoaster' is hit, only gets 2. Archer goes up top, but misses the Moonsault, Matchka Kick, Samoan Drop, 1, 2, no. Miro sets up another Matchka but Jake the Snake is in, with the snake bag in hand, Miro drags Jake in and superkicks Archer, he then grabs the snake bag and throws it all the way back down the tunnel - rather he had stomped it first like Earthquake killed Jake's original snake. Eyes like Death Miro prepares to finish Jake off, but runs into a chokeslam by Archer, 1, 2, No. Miro's on the turnbuckle clubbing at Archer, Archer sets up the Black Out but Miro gets out, chopping the tree at the legs but then gets hit with a Pounce. As Archer attempts to enter the ring he grabs Miro with a chokeslam in mind, but Miro kicks the middle rope so it hits the nether region, suplex into the ring by Miro, Matchka and then Game Over is announced. Archer struggles before Miro can lock in and as Miro tries to cinch back it's proven that Archer's knees are in the way. Miro kicks at the kidneys then pulls back, Archer now laying on Miro as the Game Over fades him. Miro rallies the crowd as he gleefully celebrates his successful defense.

Nice little TNT title match, I think it did well to cleanse any sour palettes that the last match begot. Archer is sadly in the same case as Kingston where he does keep losing but at least here they had a pseudo-low blow to protect him. Miro's reign continues which is a positive though the snake stuff probably wasn't needed.

A promo for All Out returning to Chicago is made, Cody announcing it probably not the best call either, there are other EVPs, how about World Champion Kenny Omega?

AEW Women's Championship: Dr. Britt Baker DMD [w/Rebel 'Reba' Tanea] def Hikaru Shida (c) (Submission via Lockjaw) - TITLE CHANGE! The show wasted no time getting this started, no promo package at all. Baker came in to a huge pop clad in red and black as Reba feigned walking with a crutch. Shida arrives clad beautifully in white with the new Women's Title (Bigger is better but I still think it could be wider). While it didn't get a package it got an announcement, allowing the crowd to cheer both women, but the DMD chant was louder. Staring down each other, the match immediately explodes, clubbing blows from both but then Baker rolls for the Lockjaw, Shida escapes and tries the Tamashii but Baker dodges. Baker takes control and gets a snapmare pin, but then Shida powers out, stretching Baker with the Bow and Arrow, then a Bodyscissors, then a shoulder stretch, Baker escapes the dropkick though and catches Shida with a kick when re-entering the ring, she holds the hammerlock but gets thrusted into the turnbuckle, a fantastic rana from Shida and then a dropkick lands, Baker is thrown into the barricade as Shida sets up the Chair-assisted knee strike. Baker looks to reverse it into a Sling Blade but Shida dodges by jumping onto the apron, diving crossbody takes out Reba and Shida sets up the apron knee-lift, but Baker kicks Shida during her charge. Baker resumes control by attacking the head, stomps and punches, Shida tries to reverse into an arm drag but Shida then hits the curb stomp (the one where she holds the arms not the Rollins one), Reba brandishes a black and red sparkling glove as Baker prepares for Lockjaw but Shida rolls away, Baker hits the butterfly suplex for 2 twice and lays into Shida, Shida gets a foot up but Baker sweeps her face first into the turnbuckle for 2. Shida catches one of Baker's mock kicks as she starts to heat up, two hits in the face sets her off as she goes to town on Baker, sweeping her leg to club at her some more. Headshots into the turnbuckle, 3 knee strikes and a stretch at the nose, she looks for the Falcon Arrow but Baker sandbags and tries to roll away, but Shida rolls with and hits the normal suplex for 2, Tamashii to the back of the head - Reba unable to grab the leg - 1, 2, no. Shida tries Falcon Arrow but Baker hooks the leg to try a Fisherman's Buster, Shida escapes with some knees to the gut as they trade punches, Baker kicks the thigh but Shida hits the Enzugiri, low superkick by Baker and a Fisherman's Neckbreaker gets 2. Baker tries to get the Rollins-esque Curb Stomp but Shida catches her into the Stretch Muffler but Baker gets to the ropes, Superkick and Sling Blade gets Shida as her emotions are running high against the ref, Air Raid Crash for 2, she sets up for Lockjaw but Shida is crawling for the ropes, so Baker cleverly switches sides but can't get the Mandible Claw in, in Sasha Banks fashion she kicks the ropes to roll them both into the ring but Shida's on her feet, Baker looks like she yanked the hair to get off. Both trade yanking at the hair, Shida hits the German, a Sliding Lariat for 2. It may've been a botch because I think Shida was trying to do Colt Cabana's finish when you drop someone into the turnbuckle corner but it was easily sold as Baker wriggling out, instead we get a In and Out Superplex by Shida for 2, she lifts Baker to try again but Baker rolls her up for 2, Shida gets the Stretch Muffler so Reba distracts her with the title, scouting the crutch though Shida side steps Baker and Baker gets cracked by the crutch, 1, 2, No! Falcon Arrow, 1, 2, No! Shida sets up the Katana but Reba distracts her and the ref, Baker grabs the title, Shida takes it off of her, Baker superkicks, Curb Stomp on the title, 1, 2, NO! Tony cannot believe it! I can't either! Baker goes for Lockjaw but Shida rolls up for 2, jumping Knee strike by a wobbly Shida, Tamashii! 1, 2, No! Baker rolls Shida up, 1, 2, No! Baker has the Lockjaw, gets the Mandible Claw and Shida taps! Reba comes to the ring to show a new shirt and Tony embraces Baker.

It had to happen, but by god...what is this show? Palette completely cleansed now the women killed it. My only complaint would be how quickly Shida tapped - and that she tapped at all - but it does really sell the Lockjaw well. Shida though, I will have no disrespect towards her, she has delivered all freaking year AND she was responsible for the eliminator tournament, Hikaru Shida is an AEW Legend, full stop. As for Baker, as I said it was indeed her time, Shida had beaten everyone in the division and now Baker can be at the top of the mountain, we can also now establish a ton of new challengers for Baker, like whoever takes it from her will be instantly elevated, will it be Rosa, Conti, Anna, Riho, Itoh, Leyla, Abadon, Statlander, Yuka? There are endless possibilities to look forward to.

We pan to each of the Triple Threat members in preparation for their match; PAC is working out, Cassidy is chilling with his Best Friends and Alien with ice cream, and Kenny is playing with a ball with all the titles around him - Callis holding the Impact World title is a nice touch.

Tag Match: Darby Allin & Sting def Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky (pinfall on Sky by Sting via Scorpion Death Drop) The team I like to call ScorpEgo enter first with their posturing before a package by Darby signifies 'It's Showtime', skating down the highway he this time enters a 50s car Sting is riding. Sting enters first with his snow and a huge pop from the crowd, Darby soon after with the Sting-inspired paint. Darby gets in the ring, then dives right at Page (seems to be a theme this PPV) to instigate a brawl on the outside. Darby using his full body to crush Page by the guardrail before rabidly attacking him with the rail and then hopping on him like an animal while Sting and Sky (Scorpion vs Scorpio) go to the rampway. Sky rakes Sting's eye and hits 60 Year Old Sting on the rampway (the red carpet must be obvious padding) as Page crushes Darby between the apron, but Sting immediately gets back up as Sky poses on the poker chips and throws Sky off the stack and into Page. Sting takes off his sweater and there's the old ring attire, diving crossbody! The crowd goes wild! Sky gets thrown into the ring to start the match as Sting throws Darby into Sky, then again into Page, before hitting a bulldog. The duo isolate sky with an armlock and quick tags, Darby tries the armbar but Sky powers out, he looks to jump off the top rope but Page cuts the legs from under him, making an innocent shiteating gesture as the crowd boo him. In and out cutter by Sky puts the heels in control, Page toys with Darby as Excalibur notes on their shared history outside of AEW. Sky tags in to bend Darby with a backbreaker and a stretch, but Darby goes for the fingers to escape, only to be hit by Page's elbow drop after Sky tagged him in while still locking Darby down, Page mocks Sting before hitting a suplex, Sky tags in and sends Darby into the corner as Page rakes him, Darby tries to kick but Sky catches it and swings him for a Draping Neckbreaker but Darby flips over and tags in Sting. As Sting goes to clean up though Aubrey dismisses Sting, having not seen the tag due to Page's attacks against Darby, Sky drags Darby from outside the ring back into his corner and tags Page back in, Page mocks Sting by extending Darby's hand, picks him up for a gorilla press and JESUS CHRIST ETHAN! The dude throws Darby into the crowd, and you hear where Darby's legs clip the barricade that was close. It turns out that the people who caught him included Darby's brothers as Page just looks insane. Sting drags the limp body of Darby from the barricade as Aubrey is forced to start the count, Sting torn between protecting his successor and continuing the fight as Page goads him into bringing Darby back into the ring with him. He tries to lift Darby but he can't do it in his heart, the count gets to 9 as he drops Darby and looks to charge into the ring alone, but then Darby just darts back inside the ring on his own. Page drags Darby back into his corner, mocking Sting for too long, because when he sets up the Ego's edge Darby kicks Sky off the apron and uses the turnbuckle to lock his legs around, he scraps out and applies the backpack sleeper, pulling Page's arms under his legs so he can't reach Sky. Page breaks the hold by charging into the turnbuckle, but Darby replies with the flip stunner and finally tags in Sting. Sting clubs at Sky and whips him into Page, then whips him into the other corner for a Stinger Splash, then another to Page, he clotheslines Sky out the ring then hits a rolling 'code red' onto Page for 2 (it was more a sunset roll but still really impressive). Darby asks to be tagged for the Coffin Drop by Sky cuts the legs from under him, Page then winds Sting with some kicks, with Sting on the floor and Darby on the turnbuckle, Page throws Darby into Sting like a Swanton, maintaining wrist control to set up the Ego's Edge, it looks like he's gonna drop Darby on Sting but Sting pops up and gets the Scorpion Deathlock in. Sting is not legal, but Darby adds to the hold with the armbar, Sky though gets the heel lock in, so now both legal men are being

subjected to submissions by the illegal men, slapping at each other and gouging at the eyes as Aubrey tries to reclaim control. At 4 she pushes Sting away and Sky breaks the hold, Sting and Sky square up but Aubrey sends both to their respective corners. Page and Darby tag in to set up Sky and Sting - JR noting the Scorpion/Scorpio comment I said too, quit stealing my lines JR - Sky keeps chopping at the legs but Sting rallies, he tries the Stinger Splash but Sky goes for the In and Out Cutter, Sting catches it, Scorpion Death Drop, 1, 2, 3! Sting pulls Darby back into the ring to celebrate.

Really good match, Sting really showed his stuff and AEW did really well to mask any limitations he might've had. Sky and Page worked great too aside from that throwing spot which scared the shit outta me. I had ScorpEgo to win by neutralizing Darby because they were undefeated, there looked to be a Dark Order feud on the horizon and I did have a lot of babyface win predictions (in this I'm including Ogogo as a face, because he was) but I am not upset with Sting and Darby getting another win. I will say however that this needs to lead somewhere, and not just Archer interrupting Sting interviews it actually has to lead to something tangible, even if it's Darby getting a rematch so he can face Miro at 100%.

We get out World Title package now for the first of our co-main events.

AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega [w/Don Callis] (c) def. PAC & Orange Cassidy [w/Best Friends & Kris Statlander] (Pinfall on Cassidy via Crucifix Roll-up) PAC enters first, he doesn't go to the turnbuckle though and he's not with his Death Triangle buddies, OC though comes with his squad, a chekov's backpack and Statlander looking extra beautiful - her outfit seems to be an alien homage but I dunno which one, Kenny then comes out draped in gold; AEW title on his waist, TNA on his chest, and the AAA and Impact titles in his hands. Also Unbeaten in 638 days...we not including Impact where he lost in tag action? The bell rings and PAC tries to go for Kenny, but hides in the ropes before jumping OC. PAC and Kenny square off in the ring, trading blows off the rebound before wiping each other out with simultaneous crossbodies, OC struts back in, casually pins both men each time for 1, both men get up and try attack him while he gestures for the pockets, but OC ducks and hits a double rana. PAC leaves the ring leaving just Kenny but OC does the suicide dive on PAC and a tilt-a-whirl DDT on Omega, more emphatic cover for 2, he gestures the Orange Punch but Kenny goes in close, PAC returns and ejects Kenny with a Headscissors, then an Asai Moonsault before tending to OC in the ring. PAC tries to choke OC in the corner, Shotgun Dropkick to OC, then to Omega, then to both, now he chokes Kenny in the corner, Kenny whips PAC into OC but his running back elbow only hits Cassidy, he seats Cassidy on the middle turnbuckle and hits PAC with the You Can't Escape while hitting OC with the backstabber. Kenny continues his focus on PAC, dragging his face across the ropes then hitting the backdrop for 2, chops piss off PAC though and they trade blows, PAC asks if that's all he has so Kenny replies by shoving PAC into the turnbuckle with his boot, he talks shit to PAC but as he turns OC is doing a Last Supper rollup, only two! Kenny hits a Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker as PAC rolls out the ring, Kenny gets a gutbuster and mocks the Freshly Squeezed Chants with the thumbs up, he throws Cassidy to the ropes but he grips on, hits and elbow but PAC slides OC under the ring and then gets hit with Kenny's baseball dropkick then hits both with his diving tope. He pulls OC into the ring, sets him up for a suplex but gets countered into a Stundog Millionaire, he sets up the Beach Break but Kenny tries the sunset roll, OC sits down to pin him but they see-saw back and forth with pins, OC tries the Jacknife pin, Kenny gets each shoulder up but on the third PAC breaks the pin with a 450. Pac leapfrogs over Kenny on the springboard but gets hit with a Snap Dragon Suplex, two for OC as well, both opponents are on the ropes, V-Trigger for OC but PAC dodges and hits the German, blocks the Superkick but not PAC's boot, Kenny uses OC to block PAC's momentum and tries another Snap Dragon, but PAC wriggles out, he goes for a superkick but Kenny ducks and it hits OC instead while Kenny swings a Lariat. Another V-Trigger to OC this time on the turnbuckle, he sets up for an Avalanche Snap Dragon Suplex but OC is fighting, the crowd sense it as he lowers his hands, inching to his pockets, Kenny tries to torque back but he gets them in there, and is unable to get them out, in his struggle PAC leaps up and Avalanche German's Kenny, PAC rolls out the ring but OC hits him with a diving flip. He goes back into the ring for Kenny but gets a kick in the gut, Kenny unpockets him and hits the Tiger Driver 98, 1, 2, No. PAC is on the apron, ready to springboard on Kenny, but as he jumps Kenny catches him and sets up the OWA, PAC shifts himself though and tries to flip him, but Kenny catches him and does a bridging German Suplex for 2. Kenny pulls down the Knee Pad and strikes OC with a couple of knee shots, on the third OC puts in his pockets and then collapses, giving PAC time to recover, but Kenny hits a knee onto him, he rebounds off the ropes but OC pushes PAC out the way and hits the powerslam, PAC then hits OC with the Brainbuster, 1, 2, No. PAC is growing even more

brooding as he sets OC up for a delayed Superplex, but Kenny breaks it up - OC falls real hard off the apron though, he did not get any grips on that - and sets up the OWA again, but he's climbing the turnbuckle...he looks to finish PAC but he reverses into a sunset bomb, Avalanche Falcon Arrow but OC has stormed the ring, thrown PAC out to pin, 1, 2, NO! Callis choking in fear. Kenny's out of it and PAC and OC are in the ring, OC goes for his deadly shin kicks but PAC just low blows him like a BASTARD, all fair in triple threat rules. Twisting tope to Kenny then setting up for the Black Arrow, he hits it, 1, 2, Kenny breaks the pin! PAC goes for Kenny this time, sets him up for the Black Arrow, but this one he misses, Kenny sets up the OWA but PAC locks in the Brutalizer! The thing that KO'd Kenny last time weakens Kenny but OC comes in with a wild swing that's probably meant to be the Orange Punch, in the rebound from the ropes PAC is dumped out the ring, Beach Break! 1, 2, NO! PAC rushes back in and tries to low blow OC but he catches it, PAC goes for the powerbomb but OC flips out of it, Orange Punch! Kenny's setting up the V-Trigger though, OC dodges it, Orange Punch to Kenny! Callis has left the announcer's table, OC picks his corner, hits PAC with the Orange Punch again, 1, 2, Callis pulls out the ref. I hate ref pulls to be honest, I don't get why that stops a count, you could just tap from the apron, but it serves as a means here. Callis is arguing with the ref as KiLynn King stands out from afar, Callis turns and is met by a very bewildered OC. Callis flinches away but OC goes to the top turnbuckle, Kenny grabs his leg and climbs up, but OC headbutts him away, he tries to hit PAC with the diving DDT but PAC catches him, Northern Lights with wrist control, rolled over and now the Brutalizer to OC. Kenny stomps on PAC's head but PAC won't break the hold, OC is fading and there's no rules about breaking a hold, so Kenny attacks the ref. Spoiled for choice, Callis picks to throw the Impact title to Kenny, who cracks PAC with it, then again with the AAA Mega Championship, then with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, and finally with the AEW world title, as he postures though OC hits an Orange Punch, he crawls for a pin and Aubrey darts in, 1, 2, No Kenny's rolled him, 1, 2, 3! The Bucks, Gallows & Anderson celebrate with Kenny as OC looks on in lament, probably could've stayed there a little longer.

Really good match, shenaniganry was expected of course and I feel like the finish could've been a bit more but OC did endure a shit ton of abuse earlier to warrant exhaustion, it protects him and PAC that it took so much to be inches from a win, for AEW's first triple threat for the World Title it was really good but honestly, nobody expected Kenny to lose and when they did it was 6 seconds before he did win.

An ad for Full Gear in St. Louis is set for a Saturday Night in November as JR and Excalibur talk about going back on the road. Tony announces that AEW Rampage will debut on August 17th and that they have signed a 'special analyst' and his name: Mark Henry. No Salmon Suit but a big pop for the World's Strongest Man, he'll be appearing on the Next Dynamite on Friday, the card will also have the Inevitable Bullrope Match, the Bucks will take on Death Triangle (PAC and Penta), Cody and Lee Johnson will face QT and Ogogo - where Ogogo will likely get his win back without Cody taking a fall - and Baker will have a Championship Ceremony. Two weeks from now as well Jungle Boy will get his title match.

Stadium Stampede: Inner Circle [Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz] def. The Pinnacle [MJF, Wardlow, Shawn Spears & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) w/Tully Blanchard] (pinfall on Spears by Guevara via 630) MJF enters first in a white limo dressed for a street fight, cutting a promo on the camera that the Inner Circle should be scared because it's the end of the line. Judas hits though and the Inner Circle are seen abseiling down the Jacksonville arena Scoreboard - showing the Inner Circle logo, Jericho still in his arm cast as coherent Judas-ing is heard from the crowd. MJF is noticeably alone though as IC charge him, he flees to his limo, but there's a reason MJF was alone, the rest of the Pinnacle fly in on truck to ambush the Inner Circle, going for their obvious parallels. Sammy and Spears start in the ring as the camera struggles to keep up, Hager was gonna stick Wardlow's head in an oil drum fire as Santana gets thrown into a barricade wall. Guevara hits the cutter and boots Wardlow on the outside, this distracts him enough for Spears to roll away from the Shooting Star Press and hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Sammy. Sheepishly, MJF slithers out the limo but Jericho has been waiting for him behind the car as they tee off on one another. As the tag teams climb the bleachers Jericho opens the boot to try and shut MJF in there, Jericho's cast is unraveling though as MJF knocks him away and grabs a fire extinguisher from the boot, blinding Jericho before running away. Jericho catches up as MJF asks to talk things out, punching MJF into a trash can, MJF retorts by throwing coffee in Jericho's face then hitting him with an old telephone (surprised the stadium still has those) while MJF makes a 'sorry can't come to the phone right now' joke. Raking the eyes MJF turns to face the camera, but Jericho then screams through a megaphone point blank at MJF to disorient him and sandwiches him with catering trays, he throws MJF towards a table but MJF slides under it, so Jericho crushes him in between it and whacks him with a Wet Floor sign. After another bin attack they run into another room which I guess had Jacksonville Jaguars staff (they said one was the coach), because they throw him some Pigskins to chuck at MJF, as well as a laptop. MJF rakes the eyes but misses the helmet shot, Jericho gets a roller chair and charges MJF out the door, over the rail and into a conveniently placed catering table. MJF goes for the arm but Jericho hits MJF with a flip of the white board, stalking MJF as he crawls away before charging him out the door. In the back room, Wardlow and Hager are throwing some MMA style punches, Wardlow catches a kick and throws Hager into some boxes, then shuts him an the freezer room, Hager though stops the door from shutting and kicks Wardlow away only for Wardlow to weaponize those big oil cartons, Wardlow sets up the F-5000 but Wardlow escapes and they both charge into the freezer room, a gruesome sight of a vertically bisected pig was not appreciated. Wardlow grabs an icicle like a shiv but Hager hits an Uranage onto a trolley of boxes before hitting his back with a plastic tray as they leave the freezer. Hager knocks Wardlow back with his strikes but hits a giant locker which Wardlow throws into him - the locker has a literal dent in it too - groggy, Hager talks shit but gets socked by Wardlow's punch, Hager throws up the middle finger so Wardlow gets a knee to the gut, Hager didn't hear no bell though and flips off Wardlow some more, leading to Wardlow spearing him through a gimmicked wall into the kitchen. Over to Sammy and he's searching for Spears, he hears a noise and the lights go dark, in the middle is Spears, the Chair Man, in the Chair Room. The brawl falls in Sammy's favour due to his speed and ability to use the chairs as a launch pad, but Spears pokes the eye and boots him off a chair to regain momentum. He tries to throw Sammy into a wall but Sammy pops the crowd by backflipping off the wall, kicking Spears and then kipping up it was ridiculous. Knee strike off a Forklift

then a dropkick through the Forklift's cockpit, he tries for the crossbody though and gets caught, Lawn Darted into a metal screen as Tony reminisces about Kevin Nash almost murdering Rey Mysterio. Seeing some tools Spears is spoiled for choice, he doesn't like the bolt cutters and grabs the chair, nonchalantly strutting until Sammy just bullets himself into a knee strike. They end up into the construction warehouse with a chekov's ladder, Guevara is hit onto the same Scissor Lift that he had the Infamous Matt Hardy match with as Spears looks for wires, Sammy though leaps out and chokes Spears with his own wires, prone, Sammy sees how tall those shelves are and sets Spears up, he climbs to the top but Spears rolls away, Sammy jumps down parkour style but runs into chekov's ladder. Spears then brandishes handcuffs and locks him against the shelving, giving him the finger and walking away. As Sammy struggles though he notices some bolt cutters. We move to the bar with that notorious brand 'Vodka' having bottles on the table. Santana and Ortiz are approaching FTR and Tully who are having a casual drink, Santana breaks a glass over some innocent bystanders while FTR throw away Jake St. Patrick and friend, all coming together to one table, where Tully sets out 4 glasses of the Vodka Brand. Seems this is our Hangman/Hager segment as they down the Vodka, the DJ stops though as we zoom in - It's Konnan! - the table flips and the brawl commences. Our first ever cover of the night comes when Ortiz hits Harwood with a tray for 2, before choking him with the same tray, Tully comes in with a pipe to blindside Ortiz but Konnan stops him and gets hit in the gut by Ortiz. Santana comes to group up on the horseman, Santana hitting him on the head with a plastic dinner knife, but FTR jump the duo; Santana is whipping Wheeler with his belt but Harwood is hitting Ortiz with a bin, Santana dives at Wheeler for two as Harwood and Ortiz are engaging in fisticuffs, Ortiz gets the upper hand and hammers him with a traditional wrestling trash can, Wheeler though comes in and throws bottles at Ortiz from afar, he's tackled by Santana which triggers the elevator which they sprawl into. Back to Wardlow and Hager and the War Dog is stalking Hager, Hager dodges a wooden tray being thrown on him and evades Wardlow with those buoy things before getting Wardlow with a punch, he's thrown into the famous golf kart though as they set up on the roof, Wardlow looks to powerbomb him but Hager low blows him, chokeslamming him through a bunkhouse. In the VIP area Jericho and MJF still brawl, MJF wrenches Jericho's injured arm but the veteran kicks him away, MJF hurts his own hand by punching a cut-out of Shahid Khan, which Jericho then weaponizes and pats on the head, MJF then swings a door into Jericho's face and increases pressure on the arm, Jericho though repays the favour and staples a thank you card onto MJF's head. A superman punch sets them up on the table and MJF hits a piledriver for 2, he grabs the hammer and aims for the arm but Jericho hits him with a mini-bin, he opens a cabinet to brandish his baseball bat and ping it on MJF's head, neck and stomach. MJF then goes through the glass of a door busting him open. Back to Spears and he's looking for Tully, but he's found the Inner Circle's 'motorcycle club' (that's a thing?) and gets chased down by them, exiting into the Trades Office. MJF is dragged to the rafters of Daily's Place, going through the crowd as MJF is atomic dropped into the railing. MJF though attacks the arm with the railing and removes the cast entirely, looking to throw Jericho off the rafters, Jericho escapes and hits MJF with a heavy spotlight, then Powerbomb through a box. Spears is arriving in Daily's Place too, he looks to his side and it's waiting for him: this time, Sammy's at the wheel of the Golf Kart and gets all of Spears with it. Sammy and Spears enter the ring - Sammy with a chair - but Spears lifts him up, Sammy escapes and hits an Enzugiri, gestures the audience but gets wiped out mid-launch with a chair shot! 1, 2,

No. Spears picks up his favoured weapon again, but Sammy gives him the middle finger, Spears cracks Sammy with the chair, 1, 2, No! Spears is absolutely perplexed how that didn't work, so he prepares the corner spot he did on the Pinnacle's debut. Dragging Sammy over is labored but it gives Sammy time to lift him for the GTH, now Spears is in position for the Chair stomp and gets it - although not as impressively - 630! 1, 2, 3! The rest of the Inner Circle come down to celebrate, embracing Sammy - who was responsible for losing Blood & Guts remember - as the crowd sing along to Judas. Pyro goes off as the Inner Circle do their usual middle finger. The music stops but the chanting keeps going, and our final image is the crowd finishing Judas with the Inner Circle.

Well that was as entertaining as the last, I do have minor qualms like how FTR just kinda disappeared, you'd think they'd come back given that we last saw them in the elevator, I think it would've been much more satisfying for MJF to have taken the pin as well. Sammy getting the win was absolutely correct in story but booking consistently does wrong by Spears taking the fall, he's already considered the weak link of the Pinnacle so taking the fall doesn't do anything to disprove that. At the very least though the Inner Circle send the fans home happy.

Conclusion My god, what a show. From the moment Deeb/Riho's match started to when Stadium Stampede ended it was one hell of a wrestling show, one of the best PPVs of the year for sure. AEW delivered in spades having at least two 5-Star matches in my opinion, in a rating I would give this 9.7 out of 10. Why not 10? Well, there were some minor tarnishes from the bloating of promo packages with the Buy In - the only reason you should have 1 match on a pre-show is if it's a big Battle Royale, the Buy In should be treated like Rampage, 1 hour of wrestling and build up to the PPV - since we could've fit at least 2 more 10-15 minute matches in there, Lio Rush's uneventful Joker entry in the CBR and Cody beating Ogogo after withstanding several of Ogogo's punches because patriotism. But frankly those are my only major complaints, otherwise it was a pulsating and emphatic show, even surprising us with a Jungle Boy win and Mark Henry joining as a Coach and Analyst. The Era of DMD begins, the Elite and the Inner Circle live on, Hangman gets back his spot, and Sting turned back the clock, what more can you ask for?

Absolutely All Elite.

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