Tag: wol saturday
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Wrestling Observer Live: Thank you, Edge
WWE Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back this week. An emotional ending to SmackDown as Edge beats Sheamus in what Edge says is his last match in Toronto. Is it his last match ever? We talk about that and his legacy. Plus, the arraignment of Cash Wheeler puts a spotlight on more…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Talent and TV time
It’s Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley. Once again, a ton of wrestling this weekend. We try to cover it all in this extra-long show. That includes an outstanding match between Rocky Romero and Mascara Dorada in Arena Mexico,, SmackDown, Rampage, Stardom, NXT Great American Bash preview, and more. There’s been talk this week about…
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Wrestling Observer Live: How much wrestling is too much?
AEW It’s a new edition of Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with a very tired Jim Valley who stayed up all night watching the first night of the NJPW G1 Climax. Some expected outcomes along with a few surprises. We’ll run that down. The G1 press conference is more like playing “Make Me Laugh” as the…
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Wrestling Observer Live: What would you do with LA Knight?
WWE Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back discussing last night’s SmackDown, which had a red-hot New York City crowd at Madison Square Garden. We talk to someone who was there live. He tells us what made this crowd so different compared to other crowds from even just a few years earlier. Plus,…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Why do we need so many record-setting title reigns?
WWE Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back for a busy Memorial Day weekend. We dive into the big pile of wrestling this weekend: Stardom Flashing Champions, Impact Under Siege, New Japan Best of the Super Juniors, GCW Lifestyle, NXT Battleground, AEW Double or Nothing, AEW Collision, and, of course, WWE Night of…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Can Cody maintain his WrestleMania momentum?
Get ready for WrestleMania 39 with Jim Valley. WWE Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back for WrestleMania weekend. WWE has a lot of momentum heading into this weekend, but there are questions: Will Cody Rhodes maintain his popularity or will we see fans’ reaction to him change like it did in AEW?…
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Wrestling Observer Live: WWE for sale, AEW in Portland & Seattle thoughts
Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back from Portland, Oregon — the home of Friday night’s AEW Rampage and Battle of the Belts. Jim gives his thoughts on AEW live in Portland on Friday and AEW Dynamite in Seattle on Wednesday: The Acclaimed, Jade Cargill, Darby Allin, Jeff Jarrett, Kip Sabian, Teal Piper,…
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Wrestling Observer Live: The golden age of wrestling commentary
Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley is back with a new episode that was recorded ahead of Crown Jewel. Everyone talks about great wrestlers and matches, but what about the quality and professionalism of the people calling those matches? When you think about it, we are truly living in a golden age of wrestling commentators.…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Sami has all of us feeling very ‘Ucey’
Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back with a new episode. An unforgettable segment on Friday Night SmackDown: Sami Zayn was so funny that Jey Uso struggled and struggled not to break character on live TV. Another time, another talent, it could have ruined the moment. Instead, this was great. Classic stuff. On…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Did Vince screw Vince?
Did Vince screw Vince? That’s the question on this edition of Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley. Plus, more thoughts on Vince McMahon retiring from WWE. Is the retirement real? Will it be permanent? Why does Jim expect relatively few changes in the WWE presentation even if Vince is gone? Then, in preparation for The…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Capital Collision preview, Judgment Day go full #becauseofthefans
Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back with a preview of tonight’s NJPW Capital Collision pay-per-view. Plus, The Judgment Day go three-for-three in turning #becauseofthefans. Will fans boo a real Marine like Lacey Evans? How’s Sami Zayn doing in WWE? And more. Actually, no. That’s pretty much the whole show. I just said…
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WOL: Who’s to blame for WrestleMania Rehash?
Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back with a rundown of WWE SmackDown and AEW Rampage, along with a preview of Saturday’s Impact Under Siege event. Who’s to blame for WWE WrestleMania Rehash…er…Backlash? Also, we now know all of the participants for AEW’s Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Tammy Sytch has been arrested,…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Weekend shows, The Legend of Wheeler Yuta, more
WOL Saturday with Jim Valley is back with lots of wrestling to talk about: WWE SmackDown, AEW Rampage, AEW Battle of the Belts, and NJPW Windy City Riot. Plus, Should RKBro break up? The Legend of Wheeler Yuta, the hero’s quest, the connection between pro wrestling and video games, and what drives me crazy about…
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Wrestling Observer Live: Jim Valley returns, talks WWE HOF, WM night one, ROH, more
After nearly two years, Jim Valley returns to host Wrestling Observer Live. Jim gives his thoughts on the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, including The Undertaker’s Ted (or Dead) Talk, Sharmell dazzling, and touching moments with the families of Vader and Shad Gaspard. Plus, 2005 is back as Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal face off…
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WOL Saturday: Why Jim thinks The Bellas are perfect for the WWE HOF
On SmackDown it was announced that The Bellas are the latest inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame. Some fans are upset and I don’t know why. The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame has real criteria, voting by experts, and ballot percentages that must be met before a candidate can be inducted. For WWE, a company that…
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WOL Saturday: WWE and its emotional investment problem
It’s Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley. Continuing from Friday’s WOL, I go more in depth on my strong theory that WWE has a big problem with emotional investment, fan engagement, and converting its audience to spend more money on the product. WWE has capital, corporate relationships, TV contracts, heritage, and many other assets.…
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WOL Saturday: SmackDown, Lacey Evans, ‘because of the fans’
Wrestling Observer Live is back live on Saturday with Jim Valley. SmackDown overnight ratings were at the highest point since November. Someone on Twitter expected me to be upset. I have no idea why. I talk about why I want wrestling to succeed regardless of whether or not the product appeals to my personal tastes. I…
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WOL Saturday: Stardom, WK14, Jim’s story of beating death four times
It’s the last Saturday WOL of 2019 and before Jim Valley flies to Tokyo for Wrestle Kingdom 14 and all the Observer’s coverage. My thoughts on situations making news in Stardom: the retirements of both Hazuki and Kagetsu and the fan reaction to the women’s dark match at WK14. Aubrey Edwards did more than just blaze a trail for female referees…
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WOL Saturday: PCO, 2019 comebacks, Seth Rollins’ heel turn
It’s time for another Saturday edition of Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley. PCO was perhaps the most inspirational story of 2018. A year later, the story climax of him winning the ROH title from Rush at Final Battle 2019 should have been longer and should have told a beautiful story of overcoming the odds.…
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WOL Saturday: Daniel Bryan, the ’90s, SmackDown
It’s the Saturday edition of Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley. SmackDown started with a possible kidnapping and ended with Roman Reigns being force-fed dog food. Ever since SmackDown moved to Fox, it feels like it has gotten a lot less serious. Maybe even childlike. If it’s going to go that far, there is only…