I WANT TO BE THAT GUY'S FRIEND
EPISODE 305 of the SPANISH ANNOUNCE TABLE
Tim and Tom make some predictions for WWE Hell In A Cell, and cover the weekly topics of AEW Dynamite, NXT, WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown.
Tim and Tom can't figure out why Raw would draft Retribution in this clip from Episode 304 of The Spanish Announce Table - LOOK AT MY TEETH
Watch the full episode at: https://youtu.be/3poVNdM1ZTM
ThunderSlam
The Spanish Announce Table Podcast - Episode 296
Tim and Tom discuss WWE Thunderdome, SummerSlam, NXT Takeover XXX, a lack of AEW Dynamite, Renee Young quitting WWE, and a whole lot more!
TableNation Appreciation Night
The Spanish Announce Table Podcast
Episode 295
Tim and Tom discuss the passing of wrestling legend Kamala, the WWE Network adding 4 new promotions to it's lineup, RAW Underground, AEW Dynamite, NXT, and so much more in this episode where we appreciate the TableNation!
Dabba Kato
He grabbed another man by the penis in an underground fight!
Seth Rollins
The most brutal segment in pro wrestling this past week was the beating Dominick took, orchestrated by Seth Rollins alongside his disciple Murphy. Seth beat Dominick’s torso up so bad that afterward, Dominick’s chest and back were unrecognizable. What was really salt on an open wound was the laughing and sinister “Hello’s” from Seth directed at Dominick’s father Rey Mysterio.
The “Monday Night Messiah” is one of the top heels in all of pro wrestling. His promos each week sound more like sermons from a cult leader - both captivating and chilling. The dastardly tactics he employs to keep his power - from beating a teen or taking another man’s eye - have been sinister and maniacal.
Tully Blanchard
This week, Tully Blanchard reminded us all that you can’t call yourself the best if you don’t have the gold around your waist. His promo during this past week’s episode of AEW Dynamite was great! He gave a reality check to both the Young Bucks and FTR that you can pat yourself on the back as much as you want, but your praise means nothing if you are not winning big time championship matches. I thought that his promo was so good it sparked the much-needed heel turn by FTR as the team gave a spike pile driver to Ricky Morton. Tully has been waiting in the shadows alongside Shawn Spears for far too long. It is time for Tully to give a slap in the face to the rest of the AEW roster.
Mia Yim
You know that you have had one hell of a day at work when you have to make two trips to the ER and compete in a match. That is exactly what Mia did on NXT this week. She accompanied Keith Lee - who was injured at the hands of a fireball to the face courtesy of Karrion Kross - to the ER, returned to the WWE Performance Center to win her match-up against Indi Hartwell, and headed back to the ER to be with Lee. I guess it’s all in a day’s work for the superstars of WWE, but it should be noted that Mia Yim is a “down since day one ‘ish” supporter of her man.
Ric Flair
I am not sure there has ever been a more genuine pro wrestler than Ric Flair. He is a man that truly lives his gimmicks and over the course of his legendary career he has given some of the best promos the world has ever seen. On Monday Night Raw he added another fantastic promo to his long list as he addressed Randy Orton. He allowed not only Orton but the viewer a “peak behind the curtain” and shared all his insecurities and hopes. It was passionate and riveting. I found myself forgetting that I was watching a television show as I was consumed by the emotional state of the “Nature Boy”. After this promo, Flair was essentially written off Raw as he was punted in the head by the “Apex Predator.” If this is the last time we see Ric Flair in a storyline he went out on top with a great segment to close the show!
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
Be Baywatch Nights
The Spanish Announce Table Podcast
Episode 294
Tim and Tom have a super fun episode where they discuss RAW Underground, The Fiend attacking Alexa Bliss, AEW Dynamite, NXT, Pat Mcafee, and so much more.
They also discuss the upcoming, highly anticipated, Black Wrestlers Matter card on August 22nd in Des Moines with the exciting young tag team Alpha Omega! (Camaro Jackson and Kenny Alfonso)
Check out the Black Wrestlers Matter Website for more info on how you can watch this historic show, celebrating black professional wrestling, for only $10 on IPPV!
Chad Gable
I will not call him “Shorty G.” It is a stupid nickname and it is beneath such a talent to reduce him to a gimmick about being short. The reason Gable made my top 5 for this week is that he was given a new direction in an apparent heel turn. On Friday Night Smackdown he joined forces with Baron Corbin to take out Matt Riddle in a 2 on 1 attack. I am excited to see WWE treat Gable as an adult and not as a Saturday morning cartoon character from the 1990’s. Chad Gable has proven with his in-ring style and Olympic background that he can have a great match with anyone on the roster. He should also do really well on the mic as a heel which will allow him to air out his frustrations to the WWE universe.
Darby Allin
Darby Allin could be the best selling babyface in AEW. When he is on the receiving end of a powerful move, he throws his body in such a way that you can’t help but feel bad for the poor guy. To me, Allin is the 2020 version of Jeff Hardy. He has the uniqueness that draws you in and he has the underlying anger that makes you want to keep your distance. I have enjoyed Darby from the start of his AEW run and this week his match with Jon Moxley was one of his best to date. From his “coffin drop” to the paint on his face, Darby Allin is proving he is a talent that AEW can build around for years to come.
Best Friends
Whether it is their entrance to the ring in Sue’s van, a backstage promo with Orange Cassidy, or the in-ring hug, when the Best Friends are on AEW Dynamite I am smiling from ear to ear. The tag team has the special ability to be charming and relatable while also being serious contenders for the tag team championships. This week on Dynamite we were able to see all of the best elements of the Best Friends. Their win over Santana and Ortiz proves that they are a team in the title hunt. After their van was vandalized post-match, we saw that they are two men that you don’t want to cross. Don’t mess with Trent’s mom, Sue. Best Friends have been a bright spot for AEW and I hope sooner rather than later we see them as the tag team champions.
Legado del Fantasma
It has been a VERY long time since I have cared about or even given two looks at 205 Live. That has changed now that Legado del Fantasma rule the division with an iron fist. I have been entertained with the narrative they have pushed as the saviors of Lucha libre culture. Their attack on Fandango and Tyler Breeze was chilling and unsettling. The way the group laid out Breeze and Fandango was violent and the visual of the two laid on top of each other was great. The segment was capped off with a warning from the champion Santos Escobar to Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, another top talent in the 205 Live division. The ruthlessness of Legado del Fantasma is a breath of fresh air for what has been a struggling division.
Sonya Deville
Since the breakup of Fire & Desire, Sonya Deville has done her best work in WWE. She has been the breakout star with her heel work against Mandy Rose. This week she took her attacks to a new level by beating up her former best friend while Rose was getting ready for her date with Otis. Not only did Sonya beat Mandy’s head in she humiliated her by cutting off a chunk of her hair. Sonya has been incredible in this feud with passionate promos and memorable segments. She has been proving week in and week out that she is a badass woman who can stand on her own and she does not need to be in anyone’s shadow.
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
Sasha Banks and Bayley
The first spot is more of a legacy entry, to give credit to both Sasha Banks and Bayley as they have been the backbone of WWE programming during the Coronavirus era. They have taken a devastating situation and flourished with above-average heel work. Over the course of a couple of months they have gone from a nice feature on Friday nights to one of the best stories in all of pro wrestling. Now that they have all the gold as the tag champs and champions of both Raw and Smackdown the real fun starts. Will they be a black cloud over the women’s division and reign with fury? Will they become jealous of each other and self-implode? Only time will tell and with the advancement of their storyline I am excited to watch their future as the 2020 version of the “Two-Women Power Trip.”
MJF
The highlight from this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite was the promo that MJF cut on Jon Moxley as he challenged Moxley for the AEW Heavyweight Championship. In an election year, MJF played off of political themes with an American flag, podium, and what looks to be a new group of “supporters.” At times, his promo felt like he was running for office instead of challenging for the title. As usual, the promo from MJF was filled with numerous classic punchlines directed at the champ. My favorite line from this promo was, “a world champion shouldn’t cosplay as a certain wrestler. And that is a stone-cold fact.” This was obviously drawing attention to criticism of Jon Moxley as a wanna-be “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. I am hopeful this feud prompts AEW to recognize the talent they have in MJF. I want AEW to start to build around him instead of leaving him as a secondary part of the show. As he reminded all of us, “my talent outweighs your tenure.”
Mr. Brodie Lee
Brodie Lee had his fingerprints all over this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The Dark Order had two different tag team matches, one of which saw Mr. Lee ringside to keep a watchful eye on his disciples. I have enjoyed seeing Brodie lean more into the cult-like leader instead of a cosplay Mr. McMahon. Brodie Lee is selling the Dark Order as a real threat to the destruction of AEW, particularly when he displays his vengeful nature if someone fails him or foils his plans. Additionally, the deceptive head games he’s playing with Colt Cabana show that he is just getting started on his reign of terror.
Warhorse
I have seen Warhorse a few different times in person on the independent circuit for various promotions and each time has been memorable. Warhorse is a Surfer Sting mixed with Road Warrior Hawk and glimpses of Ultimate Warrior if Ultimate Warrior could wrestle. Also, what does “Warhorse rules ass” even mean? I don’t know but it makes me giggle. Add all of this plus his intro from Justin Roberts, and Warhorse would be a welcomed addition to the AEW roster. By the way, how can a human weight 4,000 lbs. of raw heavy metal?
Dexter Lumis
Dexter Lumis is creepy. I could leave it at that, and you would totally know what I mean if you have ever seen him in NXT. Dexter has such an interesting ring presence and his backstage segments leave my skin crawling. This week he picked up a big win in a three-way match to earn his spot in the ladder match at NXT Takeover. I am very curious to see how his character and his offense will work at NXT Takeover. This a crucial match for him. An impressive showing could establish him as a real threat in the NXT universe.
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
Shelton Benjamin
Before this past Monday night, the last time Shelton Benjamin got a win on Raw it was against Super Crazy in 2006. To put that in perspective, the last time Shelton won, iPhones had not yet been invented. Now take a second and reflect on that. That is wild to fathom, right? Not only did Benjamin make history with his win but he also became the only man in WWE history to win the Intercontinental, United States, Raw Tag-Team, and the 24/7 title. With all his landmark accomplishments, Shelton makes my top 5 for the week!
Bray Wyatt
The Swamp match against Braun Strowman was a fun distraction and welcomed change to an otherwise below-average pay-per-view at Extreme Rules. While it did not live up to the standard set by other cinematic matches like the Boneyard match or the Firefly Fun House match, it was a good effort. I applaud the chances Bray takes with his promos and his matches. He understands that to stand out you must do things differently than everyone else and must do them at a level that others are not willing to go to. Even when Bray misses on a creative idea he is still a highlight of the current WWE product. Whether it is as the “Fiend,” a cult leader, or as a host of a children’s TV show I am a huge fan of the many faces of Bray Wyatt.
The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows)
The Good Brothers, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, made a huge impact (pun intended) on the world of pro wrestling and that impact is what lands them on my top 5 this week. First, they confirmed they were taking their talents to Impact Wrestling in a fun promo posted on Twitter. Then they made their voices heard, and as most others do after getting released from the WWE, they did a “shoot” interview. Both Anderson and Gallows took aim at Paul Heyman for being a “liar” and tore down other parts of the broken product from WWE. To cap off the eventful weekend they made their much-anticipated debut at Slammiversary. The “ball” is now in their court and they have the opportunity in Impact to back up what they have been saying all along – that they are “the best tag team in the world.”
Eddie Kingston
To be completely transparent Eddie Kingston is my current favorite independent pro wrestler. Now that you know that, let me state that even though I may be biased, his appearance on AEW Dynamite was incredible! At the very start of Dynamite Eddie made the first segment and open challenge feel important. He delivered a believable and captivating promo, running down both Cody and Arn Anderson. When he got his opportunity to wrestle Cody, he made the most out of what he was given. It was a great hardcore match that felt main-event-level even though it opened Dynamite. Post-match saw a groundswell of support for the “Mad King”, as #SignEddieKingston was trending on Twitter. Eddie Kingston is awesome, and I think he would do a lot of great things if AEW were to take a chance on him and make him a part of the full-time roster.
Bronson Reed
It has long seemed that Bronson Reed was liked by NXT, though he has not had a firm spot on the card. This week’s episode of NXT saw Bronson get a huge chance to establish himself as a main star on the roster. He shared the ring in a three-way match with established stars Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong. Reed was impressive, with offensive abilities that seamlessly complemented those of his competitors.. This was a HUGE win for “Aus-zailla.” Next up for the “Thic Boy” is his first NXT Takeover match, a ladder match for the vacant North American championship. If Bronson Reed can perform as well as he did with his last opportunity the sky is the limit for the ambassador of “Australian Strong Style.”
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
Sonny Kiss
Sonny Kiss was thrust into the spotlight as the opening match of the special event Fight for the Fallen this past Wednesday night. On top of that, it was Kiss’ first opportunity to capture the TNT championship from Cody. Although it was ultimately a losing effort, Kiss showed great promise with an exciting offense and a high level of athleticism. The “Concrete Rose” showed a flair for the dramatics with a memorable entrance complete with the Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders dancing Sonny into the ring. This was a great showing for Sonny Kiss and I am very excited to see Sonny given more opportunities on Dynamite.
Cody
When Cody issued his open challenge to anyone in pro wrestling for an opportunity at the TNT championship I instantly thought of John Cena’s similar challenge years before in WWE for the United States championship. To be honest, I really thought this was going to be a fun gimmick to get new talent over until a real challenger could emerge and strip the championship from Cody. While that has definitely been part of the story, one thing I did not expect and something I have been pleasantly surprised by is what this open challenge is doing to Cody. The executive of AEW (and let’s be real, the face of the company) has been doing a great job representing not only himself but also the company. Now after several weeks of defending the championship, we are starting to see cracks in the armor. During his match with Sonny Kiss, there were several moments where Cody’s frustration got the best of him and if it wasn’t for his coach, “The “Enforcer” Arn Anderson, things could have gone sideways for the champion very quickly. Cody has consistently been one of my favorite parts of AEW and I am very interested to see if this pace will crack Cody or make him a stronger TNT champion.
Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho is the best all-around talent in pro wrestling today! What can Jericho not do right now in AEW? Sit in and be the best color commentator in pro wrestling? Check. Lead the best heel stable in pro wrestling? Check. Get over new stars such as Pineapple Pete and Orange Cassidy? Check. Quite simply Jericho has been hitting home runs with every opportunity given to him in AEW. When the “Demo God” is advertised you need to stop what you are doing and watch as each week his segments get better and better.
Randy Orton
The two best gimmicks in the long career of Randy Orton have been the “Legend Killer” and the “voices in my head.” Fast forward to 2020 and after a 15 plus year career in WWE, Orton has managed to become the best heel in pro wrestling by combining the best parts of his two most famous gimmicks. The promo he cut last week on Raw was incredible! It was convincing, chilling, and borderline psychotic. The list he gave in his promo was a shortlist of WWE legends with the likes of Edge, Christian, and Big Show. Where the promo really got interesting is when he mentioned Ric Flair at the end giving some possible foreshadowing of the fate of the friendship between the “Apex Predator” and the two-time WWE Hall of Famer. Orton has an unsanctioned match for next week against the Big Show and I expect him to punt Show just as he did Edge and Christian. After his program with Big Show, I expect Orton to set his sights on the Universal title and hopefully have an outstanding feud with the current champion, Drew McIntyre.
Timothy Thatcher
I am not exactly sure what “it” is in pro wrestling, but Timothy Thatcher has “it.” He is a throwback to the days of Harley Race and Terry Funk. He has such a brutal ground attack and while he kicks your ass, he has a look on his face as if he is still not satisfied running his elbow through your eye socket. Thatcher instantly made a name for himself in NXT when he beat Matt Riddle in the awesome NXT Pit Match. Since then Thatcher has been a terror to anyone who steps into the ring with him. I really enjoy seeing this miserable man take out his frustrations on the NXT roster. I hope to see more of a push and a new rival to challenge the powerhouse that is Timothy Thatcher.
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
Orange Cassidy
Even though it was a losing effort Orange Cassidy came out of his match with Chris Jericho looking like a star!Going into his match as the main event in week 2 of AEW Fyter Fest there were a lot of questions surrounding the “king of Sloth Style.”
Would he able to break out as a singles star?
What would a match look like as his style was pitted against the veteran Y2J?
And, would the casual fan take his gimmick seriously in a main event spot?
All of these questions and more were answered!
Cassidy came across as a babyface you could get behind.
There were also so many moments in the match that gave you hope that he could pull off the massive upset.
I am very excited to see what is next for Freshly Squeezed and as of this writing the sky is the limit for Orange Cassidy!
KEITH LEE
In my opinion, the standout moment from both the “Great American Bash” and Fyter Fest” was the victory by Keith Lee in his “Winner Takes All” match against Adam Cole.There has been a ton of buzz around Lee going all the way back to his face-to-face showdown with Brock Lesnar during the Royal Rumble match in January.
Although I was not overly impressed by the match Lee had against Cole, it showed that NXT has faith in the “Limitless” one as he became the first ever dual champion in NXT, holding both the North American and NXT Heavyweight champ.
This is a very unique spot to be in and I am very confident that week in and week out Keith Lee can deliver as “the man” in NXT.
TAZ
When Brock Lesnar lost his title at WrestleMania and disappeared into the night so did Paul Heyman.With Heyman’s departure, one of the best promos in pro wrestling today disappeared from weekly television.
No one was quite sure who could fill the void left by Heyman but rest assured if the last two weeks are any indication, Taz is the man for the job.
Working as the manger for Brian Cage, Taz has grabbed the microphone and cut fire promo after fire promo.
In his wake has been AEW champ Jon Moxley, the WWE COVID-19 testing protocols, and anyone else who thinks to step to either Brian Cage or Taz himself.
This has been a breath of fresh air to see such a miserable badass cut down anyone in his way. Taz’s promos have quickly turned into must-see TV.
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
COLT CABANA
In what I think is the most interesting storyline in AEW, Colt Cabana along with the Dark Order, picked up the victory over SCU at Fyter Fest.
Cabana is in an interesting spot where he could either keep his babyface persona or dig into the "Cult Cabana" darker side of his character.
This story has a slow build and I'm very interested to see how it plays out for good ol' BOOM BOOM.
Karrion Kross
Seeing Kross lurk in the shadows as Keith Lee celebrated his title victory was a creepy visual.
This also served as a fun cliff hanger for the end of the Great American Bash.
Complete destruction of all of his opponents so far lands Kross on my top five list.
Kross has a fun in-ring style and eye-catching entrance.
He is the NXT Boogeyman and if he sets his sights on the NXT Championship it could be long few months for Keith Lee.
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
We had some matches and some really good storytelling in the ring. Now let’s get started on the Top 5.
BUDDY MURPHY
Buddy Murphy has been outstanding so far in his role in this “Whodunit?” angle that involves Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, and Erik Rowan.He also did great in his first matchup against “The Big Dog.” He lost the match but definitely held his own against the WWE poster boy.
Hopefully, this angle will propel Murphy into a storyline that is worthwhile because early indications seem to show Buddy as a star in WWE.
SASHA BANKS
Does blue hair make you evil? I am not sure. However, it was a fantastic heel turn from Sasha Banks this past week on Raw as she beat up former friends Natalya Neidhart and Becky Lynch.I expect big things from Sasha Banks, as I feel she is more of a natural heel than a babyface.
Her run in NXT as a heel is what made her such a big star in the first place. If she can call back to those tactics she used back then, we could be seeing a new main event star as the face of the Women’s Division on RAW.
ANDRADE
Beating Rey Mysterio two consecutive times in a row is a big deal no matter who you are in WWE.Andrade is an interesting story to me so far on the main roster in WWE. It is obvious he can wrestle a great match with anyone (see his match with Johnny Gargano at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn.
It is seriously one of the best matches of all time, but so far he has been in “neutral” in terms of a story people can get behind.
Perhaps destroying the legend of Rey Mysterio is just what Andrade needs to be a top heel.
THE BEST FRIENDS
I am still not 100% sure on how I feel about the Best Friends. On the one hand, it is a little bit too corny for me to like but then, on the other hand, they have these little mannerisms that make me a fan.This week on the Youtube series of “The Road To All Out” the Best Friends were profiled and slap my knee caps and call me “Calvin” if I was not entertained.
There was nothing over the top or memorable but by the time their interview was over I really wanted them to become the first AEW tag team champions. If you haven’t seen episode five yet I would highly recommend it.
JORDAN MYLES
Jordan Myles is an athlete who has the look you want for a future champion in NXT. He looks great getting off the bus and has a move set that goes viral on Twitter.This week he won the NXT Breakout Tournament beating Cameron Grimes. I would expect this tournament victory could lead to a title shot in NXT very soon.
Myles was a great choice to win this NXT tournament as he will for sure be the next breakout star.
Emily’s Tepid Take of the Week: Isn’t calling Asuka the Empress of Tomorrow the same as saying she’s never the Empress of Today? Like, maybe she’ll get to it later, but probably not? She’s just touting the fact she will never be queen. Forever loser.?
So that's it! The definitive, undisputed, Top 5 wrestling personalities of the industry for this week!
Let me know what you thought! Do you agree with my list?
Share your thoughts on Twitter using #TweetTheTable, and don't forget to click some of the scrolling links in the article, it really helps us out!
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