Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 1d

the AJ vs Cena match would be destroyed by all the worst people online for not having any story beyond doing cool moves if it was anywhere but WWE, but since it was in WWE it was a "love letter to pro wrestling" in the company that hates the history of pro wrestling the most

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 2d

Looks good to me?

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 3d

Haha, too be honest it looks like I may have gotten my wish there.

Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 3d

Trim that story down.

Bill @ucsu94.bsky.social · 3d

In honor of spooky month, share a four-word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:

Do more with less.

Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · 3d

In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand:

I'm today's main character

bsky.app/profile/kevi...

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 5d

I wrote about Cena's final year, the mistakes with his heel turn, and how WWE bungled a golden opportunity to make something memorable

Voices of Wrestling @voicesofwrestling.com · 5d

"John Cena's final year in WWE has been marked by a lack of passion from Cena and creative deficiencies."

The latest from @jessecollings.bsky.social

www.voicesofwrestling.com/2025/10/10/t...

The Failure of John Cena's Retirement Tour

John Cena's final year in WWE has been marked by a lack of passion from Cena and creative deficiencies.

www.voicesofwrestling.com

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Reposted by Jesse Collings

Voices of Wrestling @voicesofwrestling.com · 6d

Author Ian Douglass joins @jessecollings.bsky.social on The Gentlemen's Wrestling Podcast to discuss the historical lack of Black inductees into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

www.voicesofwrestling.com/2025/10/09/g...

Gentlemen's Wrestling Podcast #121: Where Are All The Black Wrestlers In The WON Hall of Fame?

Author Ian Douglass joins the show to discuss the historical lack of Black inductees into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

www.voicesofwrestling.com

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 6d

New podcast is up. Author and historian Ian Douglass joins the show to talk about the historic lack of Black inductees and candidates in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. A great discussion where everyone will hopefully learn a lot: redcircle.com/shows/d51cb2...

Gentlemen's Wrestling Podcast #121: Where Are All The Black Wrestlers In The WON Hall of Fame?

Listen to Voices of Wrestling Podcast Network on RedCircle

redcircle.com

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 8d

God bless Tomohiro Ishii #AEWDynamite

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 12d

It was really good--I managed to go to one of the four theaters in the world showing it in Paramount VistaVision like it was 1956 which was really cool.

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 12d

I am not joking, these are the last four movies I've watched lol

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 14d

Great thread-- we need more of this kind of analysis in wrestling because its clear that some of the performers are putting in this kind of effort to tell a story.

Mik @mik.hunts.monster · 14d

I love in-ring storytelling, and last night we saw a mini-masterpiece taking place.

From the moment the bell rings Joe is raging, and who can blame him. This team cost him his chance at the championship TWICE. They've now taken two of his partners out of action.

#AEW
#AEWDynamite

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 14d

Just in time for WON Hall of Fame season--another PPV main event for Samoa Joe

All Elite Wrestling @allelitewrestling.com · 14d

#AEWWrestleDream
8pm ET/5pm PT
Saturday, 10/18

AEW World Title
@hangmanpage.bsky.social vs Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe says Hangman has never beaten him, + Hangman’s never been greater than Joe.
Hangman says he respects
Samoa Joe, but if he crosses the line, Hangman’s willing to ruin Joe’s life.

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 14d

Some people think he might actually turn on Hangman tonight to set up a singles feud over the title.

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 14d

Always a good reflection of Samoa Joe now that we are in Hall of Fame season. Between this match and his feud with Kurt Angle, Joe went toe-to-toe with two of the most acclaimed wrestlers of his era and looked on the same level.

One of the best wrestlers EVER

Trevor Dame @trevordame.bsky.social · 14d

@MayorMGF Reminded me it's the 20 year anniversary for Joe vs. Kobashi. To this day still once of the craziest atmospheres I've ever seen. The rare dream match that lived up to the weeks of hype I listened to while waiting for the DVD.

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Reposted by Jesse Collings

Voices of Wrestling @voicesofwrestling.com · 15d

Celebrate @aewontv.bsky.social's sixth anniversary with a look back at the 12 best TV matches of the year.

It’s the 2025 Dynamite Dozen presented by @suitwilliams.bsky.social!

www.voicesofwrestling.com/2025/10/01/d...

Dynamite Dozen 2025: The 12 Best Matches of AEW's Sixth Year

Celebrate AEW’s sixth anniversary with a look back at the 12 best TV matches of the year. It’s the 2025 Dynamite Dozen!

www.voicesofwrestling.com

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 15d

Found out today Dave Meltzer has given 80 matches this year a rating of 4.75 or higher, including 14 matches over five stars and 18 matches five flat. I know Daveflation is real but that is a wild statistic

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 17d

God damn it

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 17d

The Takahashi vs Marufuji match was the perfect match for the show--professionally done but lacking any interest or greater substance.

Zombie Warren Hayes (spooky) @mrwarrenhayes.show · 17d

NJPW Destruction in Kobe wss... Good but flat? 🤼

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 18d

New pod is out now on all feeds. Annual Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame show with Adam Berger--we talk about CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Moxley and others who have built their case over the past year, plus newcomers like Sabu, Mercedes and Jesse Ventura.

Voices of Wrestling @voicesofwrestling.com · 18d

Gentlemen's Wrestling Podcast #120: Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame 2025

On the latest edition of the GWP, host Jesse Collings is joined by Voices of Wrestling contributor Adam Berger to discuss the 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. They discuss how candidates like CM Punk, Cody Rhodes and Jon Moxley have impacted their cases over the past year, go over new candidates on the ballot such as Mercedes Mone and Sabu, and talk about a very interesting Japan category with no clear-cut favorites to get elected.

www.youtube.com

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 19d

It's great booking, but that will largely be ignored when people talk about TK as a booker, because we are too focused on complaining about MJF angles or the ROH TV champion losing on TV, or there not being any "stories."

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 19d

This sets her up AS CHAMPION for a fresh babyface run that can elevate her to a new level of stardom in the eyes of the fans, something the company has clearly been planning on for some time.

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 19d

This has to do with booking rather than business--but I was thinking about what a tidy bit of booking the entire Statlander arc has been, building up the Deathriders alignment, then giving her the title, and then the swerve with her turning down the Deathriders.

Boo-rylad 🎃🎃🎃 @thebarrylad.bsky.social · 20d

The business successes of AEW are so under-celebrated because discussion about them as a company is usually centred on which GIF of a spot is annoying people this week or are they bleeding too much. Even with their current ticket selling slump, which is bad!

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 20d

I can't believe this is still a talking point days later (well I can believe it, given the fanbase in question, but still). Even the hardcore WWE fans I saw talking about the show thought it was pretty average. The irony being nobody would know of the review if WWE fans were not blasting it out.

David Bixenspan @davidbix.bsky.social · 20d

"[P]eople within WWE were openly wondering why the sports and entertainment network would want the 'online stigma' of a negative review for what they considered a 'fairly ordinary' or 'fairly standard' WWE event."

Maybe insipid, baby-brained, no-contact WWE-style wrestling is just bad, actually?

There Were People In WWE Reportedly "Stunned" By ESPN's "C" Grade For Wrestlepalooza

The inaugural WWE Wrestlepalooza premium live event was a major business milestone for the company, but it was not a critical success in the eyes of their new broadcast partner, ESPN, and that has rep...

wrestlingnews.co

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Reposted by Jesse Collings

Jason Ounpraseuth @jasonoun.bsky.social · 22d

I wrote about Kris Statlander's title win, the varied reactions to it and the balance of immense fan expectations. #AEW jasons-belated-takes.ghost.io/aew-kris-sta...

AEW, Kris Statlander And Fan Expectation

AEW moves ahead after a well-received All Out pay-per-view, but what's seemingly a trend, the promotion's identity was called to attention. The focus of this post is the reactions to Kris Statlander'...

jasons-belated-takes.ghost.io

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Jesse Collings @jessecollings.bsky.social · 22d

I've said this many times, but THE broad, dividing line between wrestling fans is the group of fans who hear about something they've never heard of and are curious and want to learn more--and fans who hear something new and immediately feel threatened that people may enjoy something they don't know.

TAPE @tapemachines.bsky.social · 22d

The fan on whom the decades of WWE propaganda worked as designed is easy to spot by lack of curiosity and immediate anger. Someone saying, "Mistico is wrestler of the year" does not spur them to think, "really? what should I see?" or anything of the sort. just immediate tantrum to defend Cody Rhodes

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