*This blog post was started on April 16, 2023.
It is funny. As I typed that time disclaimer, the number pad on my new HP laptop was not used. I guess that I have played around with my Chromebook enough that I do not need the extra inches. If only the ladies would agree to that.
Resisting cheap humor like that can be tough. I am confident in my equipment, but have to swing at softballs. Lets get off away from my joys of using double entendres. We are here for wrestling chatter that have been lacking from my writing since the new Reign of Terror had started.
Try and focus Russ. Quit being impressed by having a PC with speed to optimize your Spotify playlists. But mentioning Spotify, their Spotify for Podcasters product (formerly Anchor) has been working out fairly well. You have to be careful with the Apple app (nearly over wrote...well I did...one of my episodes, but was quick to restore it), but quality is there and easier to connect to other podcast apps.
That should be enough of me bullshitting about my life without mentioning much of it. Anyhow, I need something to fill in the space of my podcast blogs, so best save it for then. But speaking of podcasts, it was "Wednesday Worldwide" on The Ringer Network (also a Spotify product), that put further emphasis on a need to write this blog.
For my sanity sake, and to coincide with the upcoming WWE Draft, they may be better served to break up The Ringer Wrestling Show feed. There is only one must listen to podcast, "The Masked Man Show". As long as Peter Rosenberg is hosting "Cheap Heat" instead of Stat Guy Greg, that show is solely for WWE shilling. It is bad enough that The Ringer give Ariel Helwani a platform. But, to the Wednesday crew, I can appreciate their hot takes on the other shows' hot takes. Of course, if their take about Roman Reign's was correct, I would not constantly allow my 2Do app on my iPhone to keep the reminder to write this blog.
On "Cheap Heat", weeks before WrestleMania 39 (perhaps even before the Elimination Chamber), Bryan Diperstein made the comment that the length of Roman's reign does not matter. Since Brock Lesnar held the Universal Title for over 500 days to spite CM Punk (Who deserved it, but that was not Vince McMahon's place.), I whole heartedly agree.
As a kid who grew up on Hulkamania, I can see the counter argument, but that reign also made professional wrestling what it is today or, at the very least, put it in a position to be that. Once the one day title reigns became a thing, WWE titles are just props.
I think we all know that Triple H (hopefully just him) wants the 1000-day reign, but when you have a part-time champion (like Lesnar was), we should all know that the legitimacy of the title is fake. Sadly, the least appreciated team of The Ringer dropped the ball and challenged the reasonable to create their own hot take.
The problem with this blog will be that his reign is still continuing. It should not be surprising since Cody Rhodes, the man who tried to usurp WWE's reign on the business, lost on the grandest stage of them all. I really need to pay for NJPW pay-per-views to help them reinstate Wrestle Kingdom as that stage.
Again, WWE decides to just tell the Disgruntled Wrestling fans to shag off. Because of this, I am not afraid to declare these champions regardless if they have built the resumes greater that Stamford's product.
The Current Disgruntled Real Champions of Professional Wresting (As of April 16, 2023)
The 103rd Unified Disgruntled's Real Men's World Champion
AEW World Champion:
MJF - Maxwell Jacob Friedman
His reign started on Jan. 4, 2023 when Switchblade Jay White was defeated by Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
The problems with ranking MJF's title reign above Reigns was he lacks the big televised wars. His feud with Punk was great, but when it came to winning the title, we knew he would walk away from his first challenger Ricky Starks in what I think was an under-booked affair.
Nobody expected him to lose without at least one pay-per-view defense. We were all frustrated that it was going to be Bryan Danielson because what good would the championship do for the challenger. But, the feud was brilliantly booked and his 65-minute iron match was awesome. More importantly, none of Reigns's defenses can match it.
The 50th Disgruntled's Real Women's World Champion
Raw Women's Champion: Bianca Belair
Her reign began on September 4, 2022. She was awarded it from AEW World Champion Thunder Rosa vacating her title.
We are definitely in the "Belair Wins LOL" era, but there is no one that is as athletically gifted as she is in the ring. Her WrestleMania matches (I have not seen 39) were or close to the best that the shows had to offer. The problem is that her story has no adversity. As long as she is champ, the Raw Women's division lacks interest (unless they do something great with the tag team titles).
If they are working towards Rhea Rhipley as her next Mania opponent (Bayley needs to leave WWE because she deserved a Mania angle with Belair.), we should have another banger, provided she is not the champion.
The 48th Modern Poser Champion
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns
His second reign began on August 30, 2020, winning it from Bray Wyatt.
The length of his reign is only there to cover up the fact that as a performer, he does not really work. I would say creative deserves the credit for interesting television (not interesting enough for me to dedicate time to it), not his in ring ability. If he did not have Paul Heyman, he would not be worth anything.
The 152nd Real World Tag Team Champions
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
Their reign began on April 1, 2023 when they defeated The Bloodline: Jimmy and Jey Uso.
I really want to put FTR in this spot, but the means a Gunns title reign. They are nowhere ready for that.
It would be easy to declare Zayn and Owens the Unified Gnarly Men's Doubles Champions, but that would ignore their history of breaking into the business together. They are essentially brothers, so they are a true team, not two guys holding the straps.
The 159th OCHO: The Secondary Champion
Ring of Honor World Television Champion: Samo Joe
His third reign began on April 25, 2022. He was awarded it from AEW TNT Champion Scorpio Sky.
He is coming up on a year. It is a pity that he will probably never get to another Real World Championship, but his existence as champion keeps ROH relevant. He might get back there once Eddie Kingston dethrone Claudio Castagnoli. It would be great to give Mark Briscoe win this belt in his rematch.
The 166th Unified Gnarly Men's Doubles Champions: GHC Tag Team Champions: Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba
Their reign began when they defeated Takashi Sugiura and Satoshi Kojima on February 12, 2023.
Kitamiya has held the GHC Tag Team Title with four other partners, thus a good hand to support other talent.
The 167th Unified Gnarly Men's Doubles Champions: Impact World Tag Team Champions: Ace Austin and Chris Bey
They were awarded the championship on April 16, 2023, when Kitamiyan and Inaba lost their GHC championship to Takashi Sugiura.
Austin and Bey defeated the Motor City Machine Guns to gain the title. That will put you ahead of most team 6 out of 7 days a week.
It is about midnight on April 16th, and it feels like a very productive day. I got to see "John Wick: Chapter 4", got my parents tech needs resolved, and wrote a blog. This shows me that I have no excuse when it comes to writing blogs.
So, anime next week? Or, how about a movie podcast? If you want to record one with me, send an email to russthebus07@gmail.com with a movie, director, actor, or theme. Just try to focus on sub 100-minute movies to fry up a slice of gold.
