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Happy Beginning of Dracula Day

I know, I know, May 3rd, but better late than never, eh?

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Next time a pro wrestler wants to become an actor I think instead of making them do licensed superhero shit we should just revive the old genre where they play Hercules or somebody like that, inexplicably brought to the present to fight Dracula or Space Nazis or cyborg ninjas or Godzilla or something

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Forgotten shows

Vaguely aware of a show from 1987. Anyone else remember the Real Adventures of Sherlock Jones and Proctor Watson?

Sherlock Holmes creates a freakish clone puppet and it gets sealed inside an attic.

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if you haven't seen She (1983), then you really should. It's a hoot.

Teaches us a lesson. Sometimes you have to fight a Frankenstein.

they used the same photo (model?) of this nuked city in Sledge Hammer! that they use in Beneath the Planet of the Apes

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it's a hoot. Also the basis for a short lived tv series with Barry Boswick.

rather curious if you've seen the 1979 flick Foul Play?

I haven't but I just looked it up and now I am intrigued...

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As a kid, I was really upset that Bill Watterson wouldn't license Calvin & Hobbes so I could have plushies or so there would be a Saturday morning cartoon. Now, I realize his resistance is the reason we don't have a Calvin & Hobbes DreamWorks movie starring Chris Pratt.

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Wrestling lookback: Ring of Honor

Admittedly not the biggest fan of ROH, but I was rather impressed by Tony Khan buying it. Doesn't seem to have done all that much with it. Kind of surprised he didn't make it AEW's NXT, but here's a brief run down of the ROH champs of 2024.

ROH World title: Eddie Kingston, who helped make this part of the Triple Crown and carried the title until April when Mark Briscoe became the man. Chris Jericho became champ in October and still has it as of today. Five years ago I would have thrilled at Jericho being ROH champ. Now? Eh, I suppose he deserves a victory lap but I would have prefered another title.

ROH World Television title: Kyle Fletcher held the belt until June, when Atlantis, Jr. became champ. Brian Cage took the gold and I'm disappointed he didn't do more. Guy has some skills. Komander beat him in December and saw the new year as champ. Not a bad choice, could go for the world title at some point.

ROH Pure title: An interesting belt and rules regarding it. Wheeler Yuta had the gold until July, when Lee Moriarty reigns to this day. Good choice. I'll say he keeps it for most of the year.

ROH World Tag Team title: The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Tavern and Mike Bennett) held it for most of 2024 until the Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara) snagged the win. Rhodes is a decent grappler but I can see his path winding down. Still, going out as a tag champ could be worse.

ROH World Six-Man Tag Team titles: Not many promotions have a six man tag match. Had some drama in '24, as the ROH and AEW SIx-Man tag team belt unified (which makes sense. Cuts down on the ROH belt in AEW) but split again. Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona) kicked off as champs, but quickly lost them to the Bullet Club Gold. When they unified the belts, they changed it to the Bang Bang Club (Jay White, Austin and Colton Gunn). Still not crazy about that name though. Later that July the Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes, Marshall and Ross Von Erich) took the gold, making Dustin Rhodes a two-time champ. Good for him.

ROH Women's World title: Athena has been champ since 2022. Either they have a crazy amount of faith or Khan forgot he owns this belt. Could go either way.

ROH Women's World Televison title: 2024 saw the debut of a new belt. Might have put this in AEW myself, but still, a women's midcard belt could be interesting. Billie Starkz was the first champ, but Red Velvet took the gold in July. We'll see how this plays out.

and that's it for the wrestling lookback for 2024. Not sure if ROH will be in the usual rotation or if it will be a rotating slot. Lot of promotions around the world, you know?

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Golden Age Super Villain Origin: Bill Finger thinks of a new gimmick.

Silver Age Super Villain Origin: Stan Lee thinks of a novel super power.

80s Super Villain Origin: Chris Claremont had a very specific fetish…

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Wrestling lookback: Smackdown

Now we have the last WWE show to be on the USA Network.

Undisputed WWE title (WWE and Universal titles): Roman Reigns held over from 2023, but Cody had his Wrestlemania moment and has been the champ since April. Good for him. I disagreed with quite a few of Cody's booking but he's been a decent champ. I say he stays champ at least until Summerslam

WWE Women's title: Iyo Sky started the year with the gold, but Bayley took it at Wrestlemania and did dang little with it. Nia Jax saw the rest of the year as champ.

Not the biggest fan of Ms. Jax but 2025 did begin with her losing the title, so no tears there.

WWE United States title: At long last, our national nightmare is over and Jake Paul is no longer champ. Our national nightmare continues as Paul now seems to think his calling is to be a WWE star full time. God help us.

LA Knight should had ridden that win right to the main event but he didn't. Shinsuke Nakamura end the year as champ. Let's see if this time will be different.

So, 2024 saw Smackdown get some new titles.

WWE Tag Team title: At Wrestlemania, we saw the Tag Team belts split. The Judgement Day saw their WWE Tag Team titles go to A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller), but #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) took them later that summer. The Bloodline (Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu) won them a month later. The debuting Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelly and Chris Sabin) who lost it back to #DIY. Lot of trading and hotshotting, hopes are a bit low.

WWE United States Women's title: Like the Women's IC, Smackdown's midcard gets a new belt. Chelsea Green is the first ever champ. She's done good in other promotions. Curious to see how she handles the gold here. I'd say Isla Dawn takes the gold at some point.

WWE Women's Tag Team titles: Katana Chance and Kayden Carter started the year out before dropping to faves the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). Bianca Belair and Jade Cargil took the gold and technically are champs today, but they dropped it to the Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) who in turn lost it back to Belair and Cargil, sort of. I saw sort of as tragically Ms. Cargil got inured and they let Naomi sub. Not sure why couldn't make her an official part of the team, but why not?

Personally I say the team breaks up formerly this year.

And we end things for the WWE with the WWE Women's Speed title. Candice LeRae won the tournament. Not much to say other than good luck.

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congrats!

It's my 9 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

I want a Bratz corvette and I want a Dua Lipa CD and I want to get my ears pierced at Claire's and I want my enemies smited and I want an iPhone 16 and I want a mini fridge for my bedroom and I want a Wicked Loungefly and I want a....

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Wrestling lookback: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Because that's a name that's synonymous with success!

TNA World Heavyweight title: Alex Shelly turned out to be the last Impact Wrestling champ, as he lost it 13 days into January to Moose. Nic Nemeth won the gold in July at Slammiversay. Rather surprised by Nemeth. Spent years going nowhere fast in WWE, leaves to win every single belt in any other promotion. I'll say he goes after the NWA or ROH belts next.

Predictions for 2025: I'll say Moose, maybe Matt Hardy

TNA X Division title: Chris Sabin proved an old standby but in February we saw Mustafa Ali actually do something in a wrestling ring, which was nice. He kept the gold until July, losing it to Mike Bailey. Zachary Wentz was an unexpected candidate in August. Bailey won it back a month later, so a bit pointless. Moose has been the champ since October, although there are now rumors of them dropping the title. Given this is TNA, that's a reasonable fear.

Predictions for 2025: Assuming they kept the belt, I think Ali wins it one more time.

TNA Knockouts title: Trinity saw the change from Impact to TNA but dropped to Jordynne Grace, who kept it most of the year before losing it to Masha Slamovich in October. While I'd prefer Grace to stay within reach of the gold, Slamovich is a decent ham and egger.

TNA World Tag Team titles: Decent showing this year. ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) kept the gold until March, with a 2nd reign in July. The System (Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards) were the other champs this year. The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) finished up the year. Not bad, and Matt can still go, but how many 2nd chances is Jeff on?

Predictions for 2025: ABC and the System

TNA Knockouts World Tag Team titles: MK Ultra (KIller Kelly and Masha Slamovich) and Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat) were the main stars of the division this year, with Spitfire still holding the belts as of this writing. Decay (Rosemary and Havoc) had the belts for only a month before MK Ultra won them back but dropped them to Spitfire, who in turn lost to the Malisha (Alisha Edwards and Masha Slamovich). Spitfire seems to be building up to major players, at until they split them up for no reason.

Predictions: Masha Slamovich gets another go, probably with another tag team partner

And we end this lookback with not one oddball title, but two. First is the TNA Digital title and the Canadian International Heavyweight title.

The former had Tommy Dreamer wearing it, who then quickly lost it to Crazzy Steve. He had a decent run but the Laredo Kid snagged it in April. AJ Francis won it in May, but lost it at Slammiversary to PCO. Since both titles were on the line, PCO is now a duel champ.

Speaking of the second title, the Canadian International Heavyweight is a real title. It used to be the main title for Luttte Internationale before it shut down in 1987. AJ Francis (in kayfabe at least) bought the rights to the title, then promptly loses it a month later to a former pirate and Quebecer.

I mean, PCO's done a fair amount of things. Bit baffled why they're putting the gold on him. Thanking him for his years of service? I say they split the titles this year.

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Wrestling Lookback: All Elite Wrestling

Quite a year for AEW. Not necessarily the best year, but better than the NWA, right?

AEW World title: Samoa Joe kicked the year off but he didn't have the impact I had hoped for. Swerve Strickland took the belt, but again, not the sizzle. Bryan Danielson had it long enough to maybe not be considered a transitional champ but all told disappointing. Jon Moxley's had the belt since October and yeah, nothing he's done comes to mind. Moxley is a good wrestler but is he doing anything with the belt?

Predictions: MJF, maybe Orange Cassidy

AEW Women's World title: "Timeless" Toni Storm held the belt for most of the year, but in a stunning swerve her student Mariah May betrayed her.

Predictions for 2025: Storm regains her glory. Or maybe Mercdes Mone.

AEW International title: Orange Cassidy kept the title until March, until Roderick Strong beat the casual champ. Will Ospreay and MJF traded it back and forth (with MJF renaming it the AEW American championship. Nice design too). Konosuke Takeshita's had the belt since WrestleDream but we'll see if this acts as a stepping stone or not.

Predictions for 2025: Strong mounts a comeback

AEW World Tag Team titles: Ricky Starks and Big Bill kicked off the year but yeah, like I said it last year they didn't make it to March. Sting and Darby Allin were ok but with Sting's retirement we had the Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) as a good stand by. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) have been champs since October (noticing a theme here). So far, ok.

Predictions for 2025: The Young Bucks have at least one more turn. Maybe Pac as well.

AEW World Trios title: Now this was surprising. Quite a few reigns in '24. The year kicked off with the Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens, Max Castor, and Billy Gunn) but they dropped it in the Spring to the Bullet Club/Bang Bang Gang (Jay White, Austin and Coleten Gunn) in a soap opera worthy feud. The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch, and Nick Wayne) stepped up after the injury bug snagged White but the Blackpool Combat Club (Pac, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta) took the gold in a decent match. Not crazy about changing their names to Death Riders though.

Predictions: I think the Gunns will try again.

Now moving into the lower end of the card.

AEW TNT title: Christian Cage did a damn sneaky way of snagging the title from his old tag partner, but Adam Copeland would win it back in March. He might have really made the title his own before he busted his leg. Jack Perry proved a decent champ but Daniel Garica been wearing the gold since Full Gear.

Predictions for 2025: Garcia holds it for most of the year. If Copeland does return, either he'll try for this again or move on to the International.

AEW TBS title: Julia Hart held it until Dynasty in April but Willow Nightingale proved to only have it for a month before Mercedes Mone won it at Double or Nothing.

Predictions for 2025: I'm going with Ruby Riott taking the gold of Mone at some point.

AEW Continental title: Eddie Kingston wore the gold until March when Kazuchika Okada won the gold. Interesting title, as it can be defended in AEW, ROH, and New Japan.

And now, we end our AEW lookback with the FTW championship, which was formally retired September 25, 2024. Hook wore it into the year, but Chris Jericho was a surprise choice for champion and a rather long reign too. Hook won it back at August's All In but it would be announced a month later the belt would no longer be defended.

Ok, I guess? A championship for just one guy is interesting (shades of Ted DiBiase) but I supposed it's for the best.

FTW Championship: May 14, 1998 to September 25, 2024

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Wrestling Lookback: NXT edition

Man, has this show moved or what? USA to the CW, right when it seems everyone is dropping the CW.

NXT title: We kicked 2024 off with Ilja Dragunov who held it right up to Spring Breakin, when Trick Williams snagged it. Ethan Page was at best a placeholder when Williams won it back.

Predictions for 2025: I think Page wins it back.

NXT North American title

Dragon Lee was the champ before they moved him over to Speed. Oba Femi took the title quickly and held it for most of the year before dropping to Tony D'Angelo. Surprised at that but we'll see how it plays out.

Predictions for 2025: I say Femi wins it back.

NXT Women's title. Rather shocked at this one. Lyra Valkyria held it for most of '24 before finally dropping it to Roxanne Perez. Perez seems to be a rising star in NXT but we'll just have to see

Predictions for 2025: I say Perez hold for most of '25.

NXT Tag Team titles: 2024 saw Tony D'Angelo and Channing Lorenzo holding the gold, before dropping it to Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin. Seriously, who saw that team coming? Nathan Frazier and Axiom took the titles before dropping them to Chase U (Andre Chase and Ridge Holland) but the University would prove to interim champs at best before Frazier and Axiom regained the titles.

Predictions: No idea. Probably another thrown together team.

NXT Women's North American title: 2024 saw the debut of a new title. A women's midcard championship? Interesting if nothing else. The first champ was Kelani Jordan, who kept the gold until October when Fallon Henley snagged the belt.

Predictions for 2025: I'm going to say Henley holds for most of the year. Becky Lynch might make a grab as she's never held this title before.

NXT Heritage Cup: Still surprised by this being defended like a belt. Noam Dar kicked off the year as the holder, but Charlie Dempsey and Tony D'Angelo spent most of the year trading it back and forth. Lexis King finally won it before the year ended.

No predictions as it seems to be going the same way as last year.

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sounds like fun.

Rules: without naming them, post a gif from ten of your favourite films, then tag people to do the same.

tagged by @voluptuarian

Tagging @susandsnell @maddie-grove @thedupshadove @femmefatalegoth @titleleaf and anyone else who wants to do this

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Wrestling lookback: Raw Edition

Trying to get back into the swing of things, so we'll look back at 2024.

For RAW, the main event title is still the World Heavyweight title. Seth Rollins finally lost it to Drew McIntyre, who then promptly lost it to Damien Priest (thanks to his Money in the Bank) but Gunther has been rocking the gold since SummerSlam.

and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Gunther has the skill in the ring, certainly but I have to admit I didn't think he'd be champ going into the new year.

Predictions for 2025: Sami Zayn

WWE Intercontinental title

Speaking of Gunther, the man rocked the IC belt well into '24 before finally losing it to Sami Zayn. Zayn's reign was a bit disappointing before he lost it to Bron Breakker, who lost it a month later to Jey Uso who then traded it back to Bron the next month. A bit pointless. I think Bron would have been better served if he had feuded with Uso rather than dropping the belt.

Predictions for 2025: I'm going with either Usos, maybe Dirty Dom

Women's World title

We started out strong with Rhea Ripley but injuries can be a cruel thing. Becky Lynch stepped up in a battle royal, but dropped it a month later to Liv Morgan. Honestly, could have just put it on Morgan, who has been killing it.

Predictions for 2025: I think Morgan and Ripley are going to be trading it back and forth for the year.

World Tag Team titles

So this year saw the Tag Team titles no longer be undisputed, with the world titles going to Raw.

2024 kicked off with the Judgement Day (Finn Balor and Damien Priest) holding both Raw and Smackdown tag belts but they lost the Raw tag to the Awesome Truth (Miz and R-Truth) who were adequate. Not great but not awful. The Judgement Day won them back, although this time the membership was Balor and JD McDonagh but they lost them in December to the War Raiders, Erik and Ivar. I was surprised but I don't see the War Raiders being champs for the long term.

Predictions for 2025: Judgement Day regains

Speed title

2024 saw the debut of a new show and a new title, the WWE Speed championship. Brings to mind the old television titles, in that it must be defended on WWE Speed and the matches must be under five minutes. I know this lookback is supposed to be Raw, but current champ Dragon Lee is a Raw wrestler so it's included here.

Ricochet was the inaugural champ, but he lost it to Andrade, who then lost it to our boy Dragon Lee. No mention of it on the main shows and my friends and I joked that we seem to be the only people who even know about WWE Speed.

Predictions for 2025: None. I think it will dance around the lower midcard before quietly being retired.

There's also a Women's IC title coming, but as of yet the champ hasn't been crowned yet. We'll save that for next year.

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Perfect!

George Sanders would have made a good Hans Gruber in 1940s Die Hard