Jim Cornette on Ricky Starks' Comments About The Concept Of The Four Pillars In AEW
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- Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
- From Episode 298 of the Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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I'm just imagining Ricky Starks running around the Greek Parthenon going "FUCK YOU PILLARS!"
That would be a fun vignette next time he feuds with one of them.
The pillar concept was ridiculous from the outset. The Smackdown Six were named by the fans and insiders because they were the absolute best on the roster and put on consistent bangers every week. The Four Pillars had done nothing when they were crowned, and only MJF has even lived up to it.
It’s better to ask why someone doesn’t have a statue, than why they do
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
The term was ripped straight from All Japan Pro Wrestling without understanding what gave it meaning. It was a moniker bestowed onto four of the best talents in AJPW based on how pivotal they were to the company's success and growth. Tony Khan really expects people to believe that AEW couldn't stand as a company without Darby Allen or Sammy Guevara or fucking Jungle Boy? MJF is the only person with that label who's absence would unquestionably do them harm.
Even with MJF, it's not like he's been setting the world on fire when you look at the TV ratings (a lot of times his segment loses viewers) and show attendance. Not sure how he could be considered a pillar when he's been a flop champion.
@@KermitTheFrogHere You are correct about the ratings. I don’t think we can put it on him though. The shows numbers have been stagnant/slowly declining since the beginning regardless of who has the belt. MJF has been put into terrible angles. It’s a shame that Tony insists on booking this program
Starks was the only one that could hang with MJF both in the ring and on the mic. Such a shame that he’s overlooked
Would love to see a eddie Kingston and mjf fued. Shit AEW needs to sign Enzo he needs someone who is on his level or near it on the mic
Not overlooked. Just wasted. They notice Ricky Starks, they just don't know how to and/or want to use Ricky Starks
@@Iamlegend0824Enzo & Cass as a mid card Tag Team in AEW would be great since they were fun in WWE. Loved their routine they'd do before a match.
And Kingston vs MJF? YES! Eddie Kingston as the everyman underdog who went from rags to riches facing off against the maniacal, rich, evil scumbag in MJF would be such a great feud. Both guys can make you feel and believe. That feud has always been an obvious one to have and I can't believe it hasn't happened yet.
I agree with you but also Darby and he's somebody who else can hang with MJF except I feel like they bury him like they did Ricky start because they don't want both of them to be like famous because the only people they want famous is jungle boy they're trying so hard to make jungle boys star yet they don't realize that Ricky starts as one of the best am I pointing to each one of my favorites out of the young guys
@@SpiralPoliFemboyI love to see him work CM Punk maybe that will help him out in some way
It's so sad, because just hearing Starks normally talk just screams charisma, something you just can't really teach someone. And it's sad because i feel Starks is really being wasted, his clock is ticking too, i hope he won't get failed more before it's too late.
He just had a great match with Jay white
He is just a year older than mjf. No clock is ticking.
@@TheTalk23 Ricky starks is actually 33
@@TheTalk23Check yo facts
@@smarkslowplay3512 I get it. I made a mistake. We all do.
Starks cut a better promo here than most of AEW's main guys 😂😂😂. He just oozes charisma and is so easy to root for. Yet Tony won't give him a chance. Its criminal what's been done with him since the MJF match.
I really like Ricky Starks. He should be the one getting the Pockets push, but ya know, Tony..
He'll due fine in WWE, they'll pick him up for sure. Tony has had lightning in a bottle like a dozen times, and only gotten it right once (MJF). And MJF had to force him to do the right thing by refusing to do anything else, if lore is to be believed. I actually do think MJF just said "fuck you, I'll come back when you let me do what you know is right" and sat out for months.
There's tons of people who should be getting the Pockets push instead of Pockets: Hobbs, Hook, Darby, Miro, Wardlow, Samoa Joe, Jay Lethal. Take your pick.
@@virgilhawkins7368 But now that puke is back, there can be only one, him, or he'll walk out.
@@virgilhawkins7368 not hook or Darby. Everyone else, I can agree with
Starks is a special talent, he has more charisma than all the pillars besides Max, and he can work I'm hoping he'll be on Collision after Jay and Juice were there, coz you just know JB is already in the Bucks lockeroom making sure he's off TV for weeks
Honestly jungle boy is a favorite of the Young Bucks they try to push him make him a star because he's one of his friends
@@it_punkkid7298 yet the talentless worthless kid, just like his EVP friends, will never amount to Anything at all in the wrestling business.
@@it_punkkid7298 couldn't agree more, no wrestler refusing publicly to learn how to do promos and doesn't want to listen to vets should be pushed on national television
For a second there, I was thinking "Why would Jeremy Borash do that?"
@@Kancerru lol that's a name I haven't heard in a while, unfortunately.
Not even Christian could get Jungle Boy over, that speaks volumes.
I was rooting for Christian to murder his whole family 🤣 that is how unlikable Jumble Boi is
Starks’s short Feud with MJF was better than everything that happened with the 4 pillars feud
Starks is head and shoulders above both Sammy and Jungle Boy and can be argued over Darby as well
FACTS
Truly was.
He IS over Darby
Darby sucks
Jim laughing & repeating Ricky’s “shiiiit” 🤣
1 episode of Collision in & this is what I've learned:
1) The set is the coolest so far
2) The 2 man announce team is great
3) They still misuse JR. Let him call the damn matches, or not.
4) It felt like a PPV
5) Everyone on there LOOKED like a wrestler not a bag boy at Piggly Wiggly.
6) The fans (albeit Chicago fans but dammit they count!) LOVED Andrede El Idolo & you KNOW he wanted to put a banger on to shut Tony Khan up. The fact he did it with the least popular HoB member was a bonus because Buddy needed that match just as much as Andrede.
7) We don't know what Punk has in the tank, but he always has mic skills & he is going to claim to be the linear world champion & make MJF beat him for it. (Which proves MJF was working with him the whole time due to press conference references)
8) Samoa Joe may finally have a home which means RoH may have ONE of their titles featured.
9) Powerhouse Hobbs & Miro are going to be fantastic there but QT Marshall has to go.
10) Christian Cage gives us a strong heel & excellent mic work.
11) FTR holds the fort down
12) EVERYONE LOVES THE ACCLAIMED!
13) Even on this show the women just can't get it right & they have now successfully rushed Willow to a title over Mercedes Mone, rushed Sky Blue into the title picture & had her kick out of Storm Zero (wtf right?) & Are treating her like the Jungle Boy of the women's division. In reality Saraya, & Ruby Soho should get title runs swapping it between them & DMD, Hayter, & Shida for the next year in a holy war for that belt. Keep Tony AWAY from the women! Or the women away from Collision!
14) There still are no longer term stories built up yet & I don't see that changing. Are you hoping for a Bloodline type fued in AEW? Give it up. It's never going to happen. CM Punk's drama will be the best we get with FTR running interference until the Hardy Boyz win the tag titles.
15) Kayfabe is shamelessly dead. Luchasaurus had his thumb bitten off by Arn Anderson & didn't even have it TAPED up! He blatantly tried to chokeslam Wardlow & do other moves which exposed the perfect thumb to the TV audience. Had this been the 1980s not only would it have been taped but the announcers would have called the entire match around it, the wound would have slowed him, & it would have been a factor in the match & they would have sold the hell out of it. Had he exposed the business like he did - he would have been fired or SEVERELY PUNISHED.
Overall the show was an 8/10, but I still the same pattern & cracks that AEW always has. They know how to start hot. They just can't build on anything. I'll have to wait on the ratings etc but I'm afraid this show is going to be sabotaged by TK & early reports show that he already is.
Im only watching at this point because I feel I owe it to myself to watch the 5* matches they do put on (usually the PPVs) & for historical reasons. I skipped the ECW & TNA eras. So I'm going to ride this one out. Lets all be fair. We knew those would fail too, but they gave us great moments. AEW does that too. Im here for it. Even if its not enough to stay in business. One day we will be nostalgic for AEW. Remember that when it's gone.
That was a spectacular promo by Starks burying the Pillar concept
The pillars would've been a okay concept if all were pushed to be at the same level by now. The reality is they weren't. Darby was the best contender to MJF, Sammy was being anchored to Jericho twice, and Jungle Boy was the weakest link. It was clear how mismatched this feud was.
Jungle Boy: The weakest link dressed as the missing link
Jericho is just ruining talent left and right in AEW...Sammy has "it" whether you see it or don't, dude is young, annoying as shit, a good talker, and is good in the ring. He's got the ability to be an insanely good heel, but the JAS and Jericho shit hold him back so much. Jericho has speedran his way to being the worst "legend" still active in the game, if you ask me. Dude just needs to let go, but why would he, when Tony is giving him $3m a year to fantasy book himself.
Sammy is chained to Jericho because he pisses off everyone when he flies solo.
@@actuallynotsteve Sammy is an unprofessional piece of shit and they keep sending him back to Jericho because he can't work on his own. It's a shame Andrade didn't take one for the team and break Sammy's pencil neck backstage
@tedbell6905 FACTS. Sammy left to his own devices self destructs
No lies detected. A pillar prevents things from collapsing. Jungle Boy and Sammy could retire tomorrow and AEW would not lose one cent of business.
Sammy's got something, he'll be great one day. Discount Mogwai though, nah.
Speak for yourself. Guevara is the only reason I'm watching AEW these days.
@@ogmundprime6534 lol no one gonna miss him
@@hiddendagger7291 I LITERALLY just told you that I will. Who is this "no one" you're talking about. 🤣
@@ogmundprime6534 I like Sammy, think he's not at his peak but I certainly don't fault anybody for liking him. He's a great heel. He just needs to be more hellish.
Ricky has mentally checked out of AEW, it’s been apparent for months now. I hope he gets booked better in WWE but I won’t get my hopes up.
Everything Ricky said is right. The 4 Pillars was a different concept in American wrestling when the company first started but the only one who feels like a main eventer is MJF. Sammy and Darby could've gotten there if not for inconsistent booking. Ricky's star potential was obvious from the first time I saw him on NWA Powerrr and he could potentially reach MJF's level.
I feel like Darby & Sammy get in their own ways. They both come across as stubborn individuals. JBoy is still a shmuck.
The fact someone like Jungle Boy gets more of a push than Stark's is a crime in itself
And they called Mick Foley a glorified stuntman.
Darby: Hold my skateboard.
Flair is the only one that called him that then after they had a match two years later. Flair changed his opinion after the SS match.
I didn’t know Ricky till about 4 months ago. I thought he was goofy… but now I like this guy. Great intro. Solid matches. You got my attention.
So what Jim is telling us "don't put the cart before the horse" lol
The problem with the storyline to me is that Jungle Boy and Sammy should not be in it. They are brutal on the mic. If your gonna do Pillars I would have done MJF, Hobbs, Allin and Wardlow but I agree with Jim, Starks and company
Starks is far far better than darby ... Remember his promo battle with mjf ... It was great ...
Jungle Boy, Darby and Sammy are all the complete shits. I’d never pay to watch those three
Sammy could’ve been he was getting Dom Mysterio level heat when he dumped his ex wife and then he went back being goofy for Jericho
Starks was featured in such a better manner in the NWA. Comes in as one of several performers, not especially seasoned or noted and through sheer talent and charisma captured people's interests, to the point they are putting the tv title on his and featuring him in Powerrr. if you want to talk pillars, then you could call him one of the pre-Pandemic NWA pillars. Such a difference in approach between Tony Khan and the people in his ear and Billy Corgan. Unfortunately, the Pandemic took away the momentum and some of the key figures and the NWA has struggled, ever since.
Starks is the LA Knight of AEW. He could be over like grover and on every week, but Tony's Adderall ran out and he's too busy letting the Hardy Boys and the Bucks tell him what to do. He's dropped the ball so many times. The Acclaimed, Wardlow, MJF (until he forced TK to play ball), FTR, the list is endless.
The fans are screaming, telling him what they want, and Tony is like "nah, look a new shiny toy! It'll only cost me $300k for 3 years, and I can do a lights-out debut!"
I remember seeing Ricky in NWA, and thinking to myself how talented he was. It blows my mind that AEW did everything they could to kill his momentum once he got super over with the crowd. It feels like Starks and the Acclaimed were victims of their own success. Management wanted to push other talents so they decided to find a way to disregard both of them. It's pretty dumb when you think about it in hindsight.
WWE does it too. Ever hear of a guy named LA Knight?
Wardlow as well
@@christian6455 ponytail wardlow wat a time
Dude, we didn't need hindsight at all to realize that.
I'm waiting for Ricky to inevitably shatter into pieces like the T-1000 whenever he gets to show up again on Dynamite.
@@wilcee238You mean the guy everybody thinks is gonna win Money in the Bank?
Can’t wait to see what they think about LUCHASAURUS getting a singles title win before Jungle Jack Perry 😅
Other than having a famous dad and a hot girlfriend, what exactly has Jungle Jabroni done to ever deserve to be in the same conversation as MJF or even Darby Allin?
Just looked it up, Jungle Boy punching above his weight in dating as well. You know what, good for him. But that doesn't make him a compelling character. But I salute the dude for getting paid and laid with Anna Jay.
Hell even Sammy is miles ahead of Jungle Jack
Be friends with the Evp‘s.
Adam page, John silver, orange, Cassidy and Fuego Del sol.
Organically the most featured people in the beginning of the company
The 4 Pillows.
- Jim Ross
LMAO
Starks is one of the many in AEW I feel like would be better off in WWE. Starks, Wardlow, Hobbs, and Jade Cargill. All of them would be better off in WWE.
They wouldn't it's only certain amount of spots everyone is not going to be a megastar just cuz they sign to wwe
Jade Cargill? Seriously? 😂😂😂
I'll put Jamie Hayter over Jane Goldberg 😂😂😂
@nielcarpon5548 Yea seriously. If we're talking about Jades deficiencies as a in ring performer then that could be straightened out with time at the performance center. What I'm talking about overall is what the WWE can do with her from a marketing standpoint. A 5'11, muscular but feminine, black woman, with a unique look, that's athletic, and appeals to the black demographic could have a very lucrative career in WWE. The marketing machine from Endeavor and just the way WWE does business in general could make a lot of money off of Jade Cargill. Star ratings and workrate don't mean shit. We're talking about star power and marketability. Jade Cargill has more of that than Hayter, Statlander, or any other broad in AEW. If she were in WWE she would be doing movies 5 years from now. She's a star and that star would only grow in a company that actually knows what it's doing.
Jade would’ve needed one year in nxt to have genuine competition and training. Hell, she coulda been the new Eva Marie with strength at least.
@@nielcarpnava Jade Cargill is so entertaining
The idea of the 4 pillars are a joke. Jungle boy is a personality vacuum, darby has his fans but damn I'm scared that man will get hurt. Mjf is great, sammy..... well, if he stops trying to kill himself, sticks to being a heel, he has potential.
Aew for real needs to stop pushing them so hard, we have cage, lee, swerve, Jay white.... omg the roster is amazing, use em!
Swerve, Jay, Juice, Starks ans Hobbs are above Darby, Sammy and Jacky in every way
None of those guys are pillars. Even MJF has fallen off from what he was, he is losing ratings almost every time he is on TV.
Facts
They were right with MJF. Darby is an upper midcard guy at the moment, but could be used at a main event level with someone like MJF. Starks is about the same. Sammy is about two steps behind those two, but a decent midcard heel (or should be). And Jungle Jackoff is rotten.
Now I like Starks twice as much, lol.
Ii don't think that they realized that the Pillar concept came from an MJF promo over a year ago. The idea coming from one guy Starks was talking about was in reference to MJF. 😂
It's an All Japan gimmick. It doesn't work here.
Ricky Starks is Not Small Enough in Physique to be one of the 4 Pillars of AEW
Lol.
He's still small for as tall as he is.
He's smaller than MJF. Take out MJF and I'd agree.
@@MahkyVmedia1 He’s taller so I’d say it evens out. You can tell Ricky lifts.
😂
“Name one colosseum that you know that’s famous”
There’s the Colosseum for one. Pretty big in Rome.
But do you know it’s official name?
Name one colosseum that aew has sold out on the backs of the pillars I think is what he meant
@@Hilversumborn I looked on Wikipedia, but I still can’t guess. What is it?
@@AFCole-uu3rv The Flavian Amphitheater
This 4 pillar of AEW thing was started by a guy on RUclips with a channel called Tranquelo club who does videos on AEW. That's it, that's what this story is based off of.
I remember thinking when they broke him and Hobbs up “well, I hope they do something with these guys then”.
I was new to watching AEW at the time.
2:31 Jim's little "haha....sheeit"💀
Satchmo Guerrero is either a great jazz musician or beisbol player
They cut out the part where Starks took a shot at MJF directly
They also forgot to mention that the Pillar concept came from an MJF promo.
If starks starts getting beat by daddy Mac MAC daddy or other job guys then we will know he got heat for saying this.
Ricky is better than 3 of the 4. And he’s going to be a great upper mid carder in WWE.
Starks vs Rollins
Starks vs Nakamura
Starks vs Gunther
Starks vs Styles
Starks vs cody
Endless possibilities
@@chroniclesofnigeria1358 Theory, Balor, Priest, Waller.
Agreed, I'm actually looking forward to it. He'll be a great IC champion with the threat of top card in a few years.
Starks makes a Better US Champ then Theory .We need to trade Theory for Starks
Ricky is still being punished for being at the Royal Rumble
The entire pillars thing really highlights one of AEW's biggest problems.
They just DO shit that they've seen or heard about in the past without knowing how or why the thing they are copying occurred. They don't know, or understand, the organic reason the OG 4 pillars became that. They just go "Wow, that sounds cool, let's do that."
Misawa. Kawada. Kobashi. Jungle Boy.
Truly the 4 pillars of Heaven.
When the 4 pillars your counting on barely pass 600 lbs between them it's a very unstable house.
if the pillars were up to me it would be
1. MJF
2. Darby Allin
3. Ricky Starks
4. Konosuke Takeshita
Maybe "young lions" would have been a better choice?
2:29 Sheeit
Who is your 4 pillars?
MJF
Starks
Hangman
Wardlow
its mind blowing to me that this guy is not in the main event scene but jungle boy is. he shouldve had a much longer fued with mjf
To be fair, the "4 pillars" *from the beginning* WAS set up to be "the future" of the company, since [I think] at the time Tony had coined that phrase to counter the "all you do is hire other people's talent" accusations.
Was it a good idea? yeah. Different name? Probably should've...
But then Tony went and hired other people's talent anyway.
@@dhenderson1810 I never said that he DIDN'T hurt the 4 pillars gimmick by doing so...yeah, not the best booker at all.
@@dhenderson1810 lol, you can't even read. It's about time Bray Wyatt came back, so Cornette could tear him a second one and send all you dumb kids away crying.
He should jump ship to WWE. As long as Cody is one of the top guys in that company Starks won't have to worry about getting lost in the shuffle.
I am surprised Tony didn't make pockets a pillar
Can’t wait for the Pockets/MJF Wrestlemania VI title for title showdown.
The 4 pillars was always a stupid idea, especially during AEW's first couple of years. But nah, Tony had to rush into playing out his little New Japan fantasy booking.
To be honest Starks should have been in match not Jack Perry but i feel mjf and starks should have continued their rivalry
If we’re talking actual pillars its Jericho, Moxley, Mjf and the elite. I know most people who watch cornette despise 3/4 of the people I just mentioned, but thats a fact. They were the 4 biggest/best acts the company had and who the company was build around from its inception to now.
I don’t mind the idea, but the execution is severely lacking. I haven’t watched any wrestling during the pandemic so I’m no expert about aew, but the all japan pillars were regularly working with one another be it in singles or tag matches iron sharping iron etc. I don’t think you can apply that to the three midcarders +mjf. The all japan guys were all equal to some extent, but Mjf has exceeded the other three to such a degree I just can’t take it seriously that they are supposed to be rivals, when one guy has been booked so much stronger and more prominently thsn the rest.
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 well said brotha cause he could've brought up color as well frfr
I can't wait to hear the aew collision review on cm punk
More like "The Prop and The Three Dwarves".
Starks is right, they got that moniker because Tiny likes Japanese wrestling and wanted something like "The Four Pillars Of Heaven" in AJPW for his own promotion. Except Misawa, Kawada, Kobashi, and Taue had done stuff that took Japanese wrestling to a different level than before. AEW's "Four Pillars" were just four guys on the roster of a new company that the moneymark owner liked at the time. They did absolutely nothing with it until Tiny needed a "theme" for his championship challenger tournament. It never actually meant anything.
I'm sure Tiny would have his own random "modern Four Horsemen" too - if he could get away with it. Maybe that could anger Marty Lunde back into the real Arn Anderson for a minute? Probably not.
Damn the drive through is about to hit 300. Another milestone for the cult of cornette.
Ricky Starks is clearly being punished for going to see Cody at the Rumble. But in a cruel twist its probably better for his career to get paid a bit, not get another broken neck from one of these goofs and then head to WWE cause Eicky Starks is too good for this.
For sure - lots of wrestlers are being very clever by getting paid to do nothing with Tony, and will do good shit in WWE when their contracts run out.
I'd want to be able to walk too.
@@actuallynotsteve nobody ever mentions that Hangman page is the guy who broke Ricky's neck, didn't apologize, and then was rewarded the world title 6 months later. What a joke of a company.
Hol’ up gang.. Tupac & the Ultimate Warrior share the same birthday witch is June 16th
Starks’ new gimmick should be “The Pillar Killer”. He should feud with the 2 mid ones for roughly 2-3 months each. A longer serious feud with Darby Allin. Winning each feud he then goes on to defeat MJF at Double or Nothing 2024. Have the faces in locker room celebrate his win with him in the Ring. Noticeable omission being Darby Allin.
This allows Jungle Jack and Sammy to either sink or swim. This allows Darby to make a slow burn toward a heel turn. As he is now obsessed with a material object other than his board. The world title. This allows MJF time off or ability to leave when his contract is up. This allows CM Punk if he’s there to have a heel turn and feud with Starks all summer for the title. Seeing as he’s a face the chase might be more interesting. I’d bring MJF back to win the title at Full Gear. Nice six month reign.
Done right you now have 3 Pillars and Punk. You also have MJF-Starks III in your back pocket down the line. (All Out 20??).
This has also set the stage for a big new monster face to have people to run through. Cause AEW is missing a legit big guy.
The Four Pillars of AEW would be a better concept if they were a heel stable claiming to be the best wrestlers in the company, but I guess that's why AEW has The Elite...
And this is why Ricky Starks is one of the best yey underutilized talents on that roster
The 4 Pillars concept shouldnt have broke out so early in the company. MJF is the only drawing pillar and Darby could be one if booked properly
MJF and Punk are the only real pillars in AEW. Remove Punk and the Pillars should be MJF, Ricky Starks, Wardlow (for potential) and Powerhouse Hobbs
Not quite, Cornette. Starks referred to MJF as the guy who cut the promo naming three guys as the four pillars along with himself. He dismissed the idea of them ALL being such a thing, challenging anyone to show him the numbers for segments where the supposed pillars are on TV. MJF was most definitely included in that critique. He didnt exclude Max for living up to it, he challenged the idea and names selected altogether.
2:29 That shiiit from Starks at the end 😂
"Name one coliseum that's famous!"
Uhhh...The Coliseum?
Starks put it so correctly. Such a mark idea brought into storyline
MJF is the only “pillar”. The other 3 are kinda low to mid card anywhere else in the world from Mexico to Japan & everywhere in between…
They should call them MJF, Larry, Curly and Moe.
MJF & Starks just reminds me of Stone Cold & The Rock two stars who have tons of charisma and very entertaining
I was impressed by Starks when Cody brought him in and when he went down with the neck injury his work on commentary was just as good. He is probably going to WWE when he gets a chance because it is clear he is not in Tony's plans.
The ricky starks fued should've lasted longer the fans were so behind him
Their pillars are sand. I get more info about AEW from this channel. Don't they used Paul Wight on the main announcing teams. So instead of Tazz or Big Show explaining pro wrestling they still use, a masked bank robber. To each their own
Somebody get Darby a samwich!! Thanks guys.
LMAO I love this comment
I absolutely agree with Starks. Let's see the ratings and the merch sales.
These guys was given a title before putting in any work. Now only two guys seem main event ready. That's why things should always be merit based.
The 4 pillars of AEW in 2023 are:
MJF
CM Punk
The Acclaimed
FTR
Tell me when Im telling lies! Half the draws are tag teams. Thats INSANE!
You wanna go a step further down the ranks.
Bryan Danielson (Id have him higher if he acted like it but he is a solid #5 & puts on the best match on any given night & is a better heel)
Samoa Joe
Powerhouse Hobbs (gotta lose QTV)
Wardlow
Ricky Starks
Hook
Brit Baker DMD
Jamie Hayter
Miro (still has it)
Daniel Garcia (when allowed to wrestle but thats been nearly totally wasted.
Adam Cole
THE MID CARD OF ALMOST WANNABES RIGHT BELOW THOSE GUYS &/OR POSSIBLE DRAWS IF DONE RIGHT
Takeshita
Bandito
Wheeler Yuta (if he adds 15 lbs of muscle & a tan & a little better promo but he is better than Jungle Boy by A LOT!)
The RoH Champion Claudio (he has been silenced too much)
House of Black (They have made the Trios Titles watchable)
Scorpio Sky (heeeeeee's back!)
Andrede el Idelo (also can go upon returning)
The Gunns
The Hardy Boyz
Keith Lee
Swerve Strickland
Dustin (The Natural) Rhodes (give the man an RoH title run Unforgiven style if he loses he has to retire much like Flair's final run with the IC title & then running up to HBK/WrestleMania)
Toni Storm
Ruby Soho
Saraya
Shida
Kris Statlander
Jade Cargill
Sammy Guevara
Darby Allin
Chris Jericho (Im still giving him a shot if we can separate him from the dirty EVPs - his RoH run was solid) he needs orders to keep it in the ring with no gimmicks.
Everyone below this line is just jobbers or hasnt shown they can hang. I may be missing a few people or there are a few people in limbo that I haven't mentioned like Daunte Martin. He can go, is hurt, but never has a storyline anyway, & is trapped in lower midcard hell. Tony Nese, Ethan Page, The Undisputed Elite, etc all need proper pushes.
The very bottom is the EVPs, the Elite, Hangman Page, & their buddies. Jungle Boy (WHO SHOULD BE FAR AWAY FROM HOOK AT ALL TIMES), & anyone else they have hired or suggested get a push. Period especially Orange Cassidy & all his best friends too. Jon Moxley is a lost cause at this point but maybe can be a mid carder like Jericho & help push kids to the International Title if he will also keep it in the ring.
I say place them all on Rampage or RoH if they must stay. Lets see how well they can draw then. Thet should enjoy the challenge. Orange Cassidy should say "Whatever" am I right?
Free agents Im signing: Tessa Blanchard, Deanna Purrazo, Matt Cardona, & ANYONE I can get from NXT (especially the woman's division). I don't see Noam Daor being a star in WWE. He would be perfect in AEW.
Can you believe LA Knight was hanging out there & no one did anything about it?
Aldis is out there now... Will Tony Khan do something about it?
three musketeers of NJPW, 4 pillars of AJPW, smackdown six > 4 pillars of AEW
I wish Brian actually played more of that bit because he actually talked about MJF, who coined the term in the first place.
Ricky Starks is way better than Jungle Boy, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara. That's why he could match with MJF in terms of charisma and skills. Too bad he got over on his own so Tony decided to book him to oblivion.
The real pillars should be MJF, Darby, Starks, and Wardlow or Hobbs. If Starks, Wardlow, or Hobbs were considered pillars they might have better booking or whatever. I know they're over 30 but so what?
Damn. People talking about the Smackdown 6 got me thinking. AEW doesn't even have that even if you don't split them up. They don't even have 6 male wrestlers that you can just book a match with and get consistent bangers every week.
MJF: Doesn't wrestle off PPV, CM Punk: Injury prone, Starks: Not pushed to the point of being in the main event, Jericho: Wrestles under water, Omega: Only wrestles well in NJW, Danielson: Why? Why they do him like that?, FTR: Tag team and beaten in every singles match!
Guys like Lethal, Somoa Joe, ect. Are in the same boat as Starks for not being pushed or being beaten to the point that it would be currently hard to book them in that "tune in to see" spot!
If they started today! They could have MJF, Lethal, Starks, Omega, and Danielson at least putting on good consistent matches with CM Punk sliding in there for supplemental matches if he doesn't get injured.
Outside of pure mat skills. CM Punk, Eddie Kingston, MJF and Starks could actually carry the program if we can divide talent up around them and form a faction out of the 4 so that they can stay health for big matches and we don't have idiots on the mic pushing the feuds. So company wise. I think CM Punk, Eddie Kingston, MJF and Starks would be the 4 pillars for making money. But they don't have a Smackdown 6, they gotta build that from the ground up.
If Ricky Starks doesn't win the Owen Hart cup or at least gets a concrete push during it I will be livid. No expectations with TKs booking though.
I'd agree, but Tony buried Wardlow - who could be a HUGE star - to a pretend dinosaur, as the first-ever match on his new show. That made all the hope I had for Collision long-term just evaporate in to steam. It was a fun show, but what the fuck? Why is that TNT title a hot potato?
Working a 4 piller concept, 2 years after established the idea ?
Thanks for saying it Ricky 😊
Starks just got over to me is he like that on the wrestling program
I think the fans should have a say in these 4 pillars…my votes go to Ricky Starks, Sammy Guevara, Wardlow, Britt Baker…I don’t mention MJF cause he’s above being a pillar he’s the landlord of the property the pillars stand on
It's sort of like how you can't give yourself an authentic nickname that sticks. For it to be legit, others willingly have to dub you with a new moniker, and you have to accept it.
Starks cut a half-decent promo one time, and AEW marks think he's the future. I'm sure he's a nice enough dude in real life, but "we have Ricky Martin at home" isn't going to make you the next Dwayne Johnson.
Again I need a heel faction composing of MJF, Starks, Ego, and Sabian(British Villain)
Regardless, Jungle Boy isn’t a pillar.
I need a Satchmo Guerrero shirt ASAP 😂
Seeing as how Ricky can develop storylines through matches and speaking segments I do wonder how he would do in WWE. AEW should have been elevating his status with well written storylines. I don't see why they insist on backing those other 3 "pillars" who have either questionable backgrounds or have socializing problems. How are they not seeing that they have better options?
MJF is the only good performer out of the 4 and he doesn’t even draw! This 4 pillars nonsense is a failure
Nobody draws anymore. Most people stopped watching wrestling and aren't ever coming back. Nobody is coming back just to watch 1 guy if everything else sucks.
Yea That Concept Always Been Stupid Asf 😭😭😭😭
Only Punk and Starks that I can remember ever stood toe to toe with MJF in both ring and mic and outshined him at least once.
Starks is as good as Darby, and better than Sammy and Jungle Boy, not as good as MJF but who is. He deserves to be in there as much as those guys