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wrestlingisfake · 3 years

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The CM Punk Saga

It's almost time for AEW's "The First Dance" show, and everybody's still prefacing their hype with "if CM Punk isn't there it'll be a huge disaster, but..."

I'll be in the building. They could've booked CP Munk and I'd still be there. But obviously the Punk tease makes this special. If he's there, it'll be historic to witness the reaction in person. And hell, if he's not there, it'll be historic to witness the fiasco in person. I find that kind of funny--after all these years, it's not the man that sold me a ticket, it's the drama surrounding the man.

Punk had wrestling fans in the palm of his hand after the 2011 "pipebomb" promo, in which WWE allowed him to air his real grievances with the company to build tension for a world title match with John Cena. I get the impression WWE expected it to cast him as a whiny heel. But Punk tapped into the fans' frustrations with WWE, and they embraced him as someone who would fight to change what they resented about the company. He was "the voice of the voiceless."

The problem with that kind of role in WWE is that you can only "fight the power" as far as Vince McMahon lets you on his TV show, and then he'll book his side to win the argument. Within a couple of months a lot of the edge was taken off the storyline. Fans still wanted to believe in him as a rising force for change, but the product didn't reflect that. That dissonance came to a head at the 2014 Royal Rumble, which happened to be the day before Punk quit WWE.

In hindsight, Punk's departure had nothing to do with the fans' frustration with the Daniel Bryan vs. The Authority storyline. But at the time nobody knew what Punk's problem was, and neither side was talking. So the two issues sort of got blended together--Bryan's crusade against kayfabe management and Punk's beef with the real thing. I'm sure a lot of fans figured, if Bryan wasn't going to defeat the Authority at Wrestlemania, then Punk was the logical alternative, and WWE must've screwed that up too. Unless...maybe it was all a work, a storyline to make things seem hopless for Punk and Bryan before slamming them into key Wrestlemania matches.

The buildup to the March 3, 2014, episode of Raw was surreal. Stop me if you've heard this one: The show was booked in Chicago, weeks away from a big pay-per-view, and CM Punk wasn't advertised, but it felt like the perfect opportunity for him to make a surprise return, so the live crowd was ready to go apeshit if he didn't appear. When he didn't appear, I think fandom truly started to accept that he was gone for good. But the saga shambled on.

When it was clear Punk wouldn't be fighting for their cause in WWE, fans nevertheless clung to him as a symbol of resistance. The "CM Punk" chant became a potent and controversial tool for disruption. If you just boo at the show, WWE can play that off like you're mad at the bad guys, but if you chant the name of the guy that walked out on their bullshit, there's no good way for the company to spin that.

A lot of people came to hate the Punk chants, but here's the thing: They mainly happen during an absolute dogshit Raw segment. If you listen to your audience and keep them entertained, then they're easier to control, and it's less of an issue. WWE instead prefers to control the audience by telling the them how to be entertained and refusing to listen if they dissent; the Punk chant puts the lie to that approach.

Punk's next move outside of WWE was a huge topic in 2014. Again, fans wanted to believe he'd continue to fight for them somehow. Remember, this was back when Global Force and Lucha Underground had just been announced, and before Impact had gotten thrown off Spike TV. It felt like it wouldn't take much for a serious alternative to WWE to emerge, and give Punk a way to quit WWE without quitting wrestling.

Months of silence led to increasingly wild speculation. A friend of Punk's wrote an editorial about how fans were hanging around outside his home waiting for him to throw out the trash. I'm pretty sure I know what they wanted to ask when they met him. His appearance on Colt Cabana's podcast and his UFC run helped clear the air, but not enough. Fans never gave up trying to find out when he'd come back to save pro wrestling. Punk's comments on the matter were rare, and never seemed to be enough to get people to leave him alone about it. He'd gone from wrestling's Che Guevara to wrestling's JD Salinger.

The rise of NXT and the ROH/New Japan alliance in the mid-2010s seemed to almost be enough to distract fans from their CM Punk fantasies. But then in 2018 Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks decided to run their own indie supercard, and picked Chicago as the location. You could almost hear the Punk in fans' heads saying, "At last, a non-WWE US show big enough to be worthy of my star power. This is what I have been waiting for!" Punk denied that he would be there; of course, to wrestling fans that just means he's swerving us and he will be there. And he wasn't there.

But this is the turning point in the story. I was at All In. I heard like one guy try to get a Punk chant going, more out of ironic self-awareness than anything. Nobody was into it. They'd have been glad to see Punk on the show, but they were there to see the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi, etc. That's probably when it hit me: Everyone had been waiting for Punk to lead the revolution, because they thought no one else could, but these guys had gone ahead and done it without him.

As All In led into AEW, speculation about Punk remained high. But then another funny thing happened, when Jon Moxley dramatically exited WWE in 2019. Moxley didn't immediately announce his future plans, and lots of people figured Moxley must be done with wrestling. The Punk saga had clearly taught fans to manage their expectations. Rumors about both Punk and Mox appearing at Double or Nothing were all over the place, but were generally dismissed as wishful thinking. Then, out of nowhere, Moxley ran in at the end of the show. Then he was announced for a run in New Japan. Fuck, I thought, who needs CM Punk?

And so, I've spent the past few years being over this whole thing. I'd given up trying to figure out CM Punk, or what it would take to bring him back to wrestling. I had a whole array of big names trying to play the part everyone wanted him to play, in a promotion that I thought would never exist without him. Let him enjoy his retirement, and I'll enjoy AEW. So of course he'd decide now is the time to come back. Allegedly.

I'm excited about the possibility of seeing Punk blow the roof off the United Center. It'd be fascinating to see some satisfying closure to this whole thing. And yet, I have no idea what CM Punk means to pro wrestling in 2021. What does "the voice of the voiceless" do in a company full of people listening to their audience? Will fans be into him when they realize he can't/won't be exactly like they remember him from seven years ago? At 42 years old, will he need to play a bitter old heel to stay relevant? How will fans respond when they realize this isn't the big comeback they always dreamed of?

It's those questions that are the real draw for me, regardless of whether The First Dance lives up to expectations. And it's strange to think that's the main attraction to Punk, as if we're talking about an Ultimate Warrior comeback or something. Seven years ago I just wanted him to return to wrestling so I could see him wrestle. Now I kinda just want to see if he looks totally different from the last time I saw his picture.

#aew #cm punk #the first dance

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mirkwoodshewolf · 4 years

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Wizard of Oz Queen x pre-teen reader Chap. 3; Meeting the handsome Scarecrow

*Author’s note*

And here we go with the first person to fully join on your quest, and who (with the help of some Wattpad users) on who helped me choose the role for the Scarecrow in this Queen style fic. So I hope you enjoy this part and until the next part comes out which will be very soon :)

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@ixchel-9275

@simonedk

@queensdivas

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

@platawnic

@queendeakyy

@kairosfreddie

@geek-and-proud

____________________________________________________________

Follow the yellow brick road. Follow the yellow brick road. Follow the…..oh great. Now instead of just one yellow brick road, as soon as we reached a cornfield, the yellow brick road now broke away into a fork-like path with two roads going left and right, and the last going straight on.

“Oh great. Now which way do we go?”

“Pardon me, that way is a very nice way.” A voice said. I turned around but saw no one. No one except a scarecrow that was pointing towards the road that went right.

He was—a strangely handsome scarecrow to say the least, I mean if I were a bit older I’d fall for his looks but right now my biggest concern was who had just spoke to me.

“Whose there? Show yourself!” it was then Toto started barking right up at the scarecrow. “Oh don’t be ridiculous Toto, scarecrows can’t talk.”

“Although that way looks just as nice too.” The voice said again. I looked back toward the scarecrow and saw that he was now pointing in the other direction. Wait what?!

“Wait a sec—wasn’t he just pointing the other direction?” I asked Toto who just looked up at me.

“But then again people do go both ways.” This time I saw for myself. The handsome scarecrow talked. He talked! And was now pointing in both directions with his arms crossed over him.

My mouth was gaped in shock. I walked up towards him and asked him.

“You! You did say something didn’t you!?” He shook his head as he bit his lip. He kept shaking his head till finally a wide, cheeky grin spread across his face and he nodded. “Are you doing that on purpose? Or can’t you make up your mind?”

“That’s just it, I can’t make up my mind. I don’t have a brain, only straw.” He said as he gestured to his long straw-like hair that fell past his shoulders.

“Then how can you talk if you don’t have a brain?” I asked him skeptically.

“I don’t know. But most people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t they?” he retorted back.

“Yes I suppose that’s true.” I walked up to him and I continued, “Well since we’re now talking to one another, introductions are in order.”

“Why yes, yes indeed.” He said with a bright smile.

“Good afternoon Mr. Scarecrow.”

“Good afternoon to you my dear.” He bowed his head. “How are you?” he asked me.

“Very well thank you, and you?”

“Oh sadly I am not doing very well at all.” He said glumly. “You see it’s quite impossible to be good when you’re stuck here all day and night with a pole shoved up your back.” He said as he dangled there along the wooden pole.

“Yeesh, that does sound uncomfortable.” I groaned. “Can’t you get yourself down?”

“Down? Well no you see I….” he tried to reach back but he couldn’t quite get his arms to reach all the way behind his back.

“Here, let me help you.” I said as I came around and got behind him.

“Ohh that’s very sweet of you. Thank you, thank you.” I felt around the pole but I couldn’t feel a string that usually holds a scarecrow up (or at least that’s how we hold ours up back home).

“Umm…..I uhh I’m afraid I don’t see a string or—”

“Now I’m not one for thinking much, but maybe if you just bend that nail in the back maybe I’ll slip off?” I looked at the pole and low and behold there was a large nail.

“I see it, you ready?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, 3, 2, 1.” I counted down before I bent the nail back and like a shot, the scarecrow exclaimed as he fell right off the pole and collapsed right on the ground, some hay falling right out of his shirt.

“Oops there goes some of me again!” he laughed as he picked up the ball of hay. I ran over to him and asked him worriedly.

“Doesn’t that hurt?”

“Oh no, no, no, no. I just keep picking it up and putting it back in again.” He said as he stuffed the hay back into his shirt. Like a newborn colt, his legs wobbled as he stood up. “Man it feels so good to be FREE!!” he suddenly spun and toppled over the fence and fell on the other side.

I shrieked and hopped over it and knelt down beside him. He quickly got on his hands and knees as he said to me in a strange overly excited tone.

“Did I scare you?”

“No, no. I just—thought you hurt yourself?”

“So that’s a no?” his tone quickly changed to a solemn one. I shook my head no and that’s when he sat down on his bum and stated glumly, “I didn’t think so.” A crow soon perched itself on the fence cawing. “Boo! Scat! Get out of here!”

The crow showed no sign of leaving as it now perched on top of the scarecrow’s head and picked off some of his hair before flying off. The scarecrow with a look of defeat blew a puff of air as he said.

“Yah see? I can’t even scare a crow. They come from miles around just to eat in my field and laugh in my face. God I’m such a failure. If only the farmer’s daughter didn’t wish for a handsome scarecrow then I’d show those crows a thing or two.”

“That’s why you want a brain. So that you can find a way to scare them off.” I answered softly. He nodded sadly.

“I’d even be better if I were made scary and brainless. That way one look at my face, and them crows could be flying for the hills.” He said as he pressed his chin to his fist.

“Well I don’t know about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…..it’s not necessarily the crows but just in this moment now. Had you been made with a scary face, I—don’t think I would even be brave enough to help you down.”

“You wouldn’t?” he asked as he looked at me curiously. I nodded.

“But just know that if you were my scarecrow back in Wales and they saw you walking and talking, the crows would be scared to pieces.”

“They would?” his tone spoke with excitement. I nodded. “Where’s Wales?”

“That’s where I live. And I want to get there so badly that I’m going all the way to Emerald city to get the Wizard of Oz to help me.”

“You’re gonna see the Great Oz!?” he said with wide eyes in shock. I nodded again. “Do you think that if I went with you, that he could get me a brain?”

“I couldn’t say. But even he didn’t, you’d be no better off than you are now.” He shrugged and bobbed his head muttering.

“That’s true, that is true.”

“But it’s best if you don’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ve got the Warlock of the West after me, and I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

“Oh that guy? Please. He’s about as frightening as a fruit fly. Plus he walks like he’s got a hump on his back.” I choked out a giggle. “Besides, I’m not afraid of anything!” he gloated. Before he suddenly shrunk down and looked around before leaning in close to me. “Well—Except a spark of fire.” He whispered.

“I don’t blame you.”

“But I’d crossover a thousand fire fields at the chance of getting a brain. Look,” he took my hand in both of his. “I won’t be any trouble to you because I don’t eat a thing. And I won’t try to manage things because I can’t think. Oh please oh please won’t you take me with you?”

With that puppy eyed look he was giving me how could I possibly say no?

“Okay. You can come along with me.” I said proudly. The scarecrow smiled widely and cheered as he hopped up.

“WOO-WHOO! WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE GREAT OZ!!” Once again he stumbled around but I managed to catch him in time before he fell over again.

“You’re not starting off so well though.”

“Oh don’t you worry I’ll try though. Really I will.”

“To Oz?”

“To Oz!” we then skipped on down the road straight ahead and wondered further down the yellow brick road. While we walked along the path, the scarecrow and I shared our life stories and I even told him of how I got to the land of Oz.

With each word I told, he listened intently and not once interrupted me with questions until the end of my tale.

The day went by and soon it was starting to get dark. So far the scarecrow and I hadn’t seen a single trace of a house or farm anywhere. As night finally fell upon the sky, I let out a quiet yawn.

“Maybe it’s best we make camp for the night (Y/n).”

“No, no it’s fine I can…..” I was interrupted by another yawn. The scarecrow looked at me with crossed arms and a ‘you were saying’ look. “Okay maybe I am getting a little tired.” He chuckled and guided me over to the open fields.

“Here, you can sleep right here.”

“But what about you?”

“Oh don’t you worry about me I’ll be fine. I’m a scarecrow, we don’t really sleep. Kinda a 24/7 job to always be on guard.” He found a patch of grass that had no visible trace of soil or dirt being shown. “Here we are, lay down here.” He helped me lay down and that’s when Toto came up and lay close beside me.

“Thank you scarecrow.”

“Don’t mention it. Here, take this too.” He then took out a bunch of hay out from his shirt and padded it together before laying it down in front of me.

“No, scarecrow I—”

“You helped me off that pole and believe me a cricked neck is nothing to look forward to when you wake.” I smiled up at him and rested my head on the pile of hay. The seed head of a few pieces of hay tickled my nose but after brushing it away I felt better. “If you get cold just let me know too, I can give you some more hay to keep you warm.”

“Thanks scarecrow, goodnight.”

“G’night (y/n). Sleep well.” He whispered softly as I felt his hand rest on my arm. Soon enough I fell fast asleep with the scarecrow guarding me all through the night.

My last thought was that he started to remind me of someone back home. But it wasn’t Auntie Em or Uncle Henry. It was like—darn it why can’t I remember his name? But even for the short amount of time when I met this man back home, he reminded me of the scarecrow.

Protective, kind hearted, loyal, always had a child-like excitement to him, and he might’ve been handsome too. I wish I could remember his name, then I could tell scarecrow about him and how probably him and the man back home could’ve been best friends with each other.

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allgoodmarks · 6 years

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ALL IN

The energy inside of the Sears Centre on September 1, 2018 was unlike anything I have ever experienced. The excitement was palpable. The halls echoed with anxious chatter and the occasional bellow of "SCU!". The merchandise table line stretched halfway around the arena. The door opened at 3:00ct and most everyone was bouncing in their seats by 4. We were ready to witness history that night.

When the lights dimmed, the crowd ignited. We were on our feet, we were screaming, cheering, chanting "All In, All In, All In!". Our expectations were high. They never fell an inch, and yet, they were surpassed magnificently.

Zero Hour

The audience was thrilled to see Cody and the Young Bucks at the start of the show. The three of them only had a spare 90 seconds, but they used the time to greet their fans, make some jokes, and give out free merchandise. A surprise appearance by Road Warrior Animal on his motorcycle hyped the crowd even more.

SoCal Uncensored vs. The Briscoes

The crowd was ready. No, we were more than ready. The enthusiastic chants of "SCU!" rocked the building as Scorpio Sky stood out in his red, white, and blue spangled robe and hat, and Frankie Kazarian showed his enthusiasm in black and gold Rocky trunks. The Briscoes stalked to the ring amongst a chorus of low boos. The audience was fantastic. They had their own part to play in this show, and they performed marvelously. They might have sold additional PPV subscriptions just by their enthusiasm. SCU and the Briscoes matched the crowd's energy with a great opening performance that was hard-hitting and entertaining.

Winners: SCU

Over Budget Battle Royal

This event featured a spectacular array of talent from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We were treated to a variety of great storylines all throughout the match. From Cheeseburger to Tommy Dreamer to Ethan Page to Jimmy Jacobs to Billy and Austin Gunn, there really was something for everyone in this match. Jordynne Grace stood out among the competitors, not only as the only female participant, but for a stellar performance. Her strength and skill were on full display, and the crowd erupted when we saw her face off against the Swolverine, Brian Cage. The crowd quickly got behind Marko Stunt and cheered him on against his much larger competition. Bully Ray was great playing the spoiler for so many participants and the climax between him and Chicago's favorite, Colt Cabana, was intense. The end of the match succeeded in being both expected and unexpected, as we all knew Flip Gordon would be a part of the show in some form or another. Still, his reveal brought the crowd to its feet with a deafening roar of celebration.

Winner: Flip Gordon

All In

MJF vs. Matt Cross

All In's first official match began with great heel action from MJF and clear audience support for Matt Cross. I had never had the privilege of seeing Cross perform live before, and everyone assured me I would be in for a spectacle. They were right! Cross is an athletic marvel. Watching him and MJF play off of one another was truly a delight.

Winner: Matt Cross

Christopher Daniels vs. Stephen Amell

Jerry Lynn entered the arena to cheers and a chant of "Jer-ry! Jer-ry!" This was a highly anticipated match with a great deal of uncertainty over how Stephen Amell would perform in only his third pro-wrestling match ever. He quieted his critics immediately with an impressive display of new skills. The audience responded with awe and respect for Amell's performance, but they were also solidly behind the veteran, Daniels. The longer the match stretched, the more tired Amell seemed to become, but he executed a wonderful Coast to Coast to an explosive cheer. To the audience's shock, Amell flew through the air and through a table at ringside. Of course, Jerry Lynn interfered in the match, much to the crowd's delight. Even with a loss, Stephen Amell impressed the audience with a great showing of potential.

Winner: Christopher Daniels

Tessa Blanchard vs. Chelsea Green vs. Madison Rayne vs. Britt Baker

A highly anticipated women's match that did not fail to impress. These four powerful and skilled women gave a performance that excelled on all fronts. Every woman had a solid fan base present. Green quickly became the crowd's favorite, having fun with a unique character. Blanchard dominated with her incredible strength, Rayne impressed with her athleticism, and Baker shone bright with great skill and passion. There was no slow or dull moment in this match. The audience cheered, clapped, and chanted throughout the duration, completely enthralled with these women's incredible performances. The first "This is awesome!" of the night rang throughout the building. The end came swiftly and unexpected, but the audience was ecstatic. A match that many people consider the show stealer ended in a wonderful show of respect between these incredibly skilled athletes.

Winner: Tessa Blanchard

Cody vs. Nick Aldis for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship

A great, historic match that began with the traditional walk to the ring surrounded by mentors and friends. Cody was accompanied by his family, Tommy Dreamer, Diamond Dallas Page, and even his dog, Pharaoh. As usual, Brandi Rhodes stood out with a gorgeous outfit, this one made of sheer fabric and sparkling like diamonds. The chant of "Cody! Cody! Cody!" pierced my ears and shook the arena. Nick Aldis surprised much of the audience with his entourage including Jeff Jarrett, Samuel Shaw, and Shawn Daivari. The crowd trembled with excitement. Even Earl Hebner as the referee was at a loss for words. Everyone was on their feet even before the match began. This promised to be a show-stealer and it did not disappoint.

The story of the match began early. Cody was the fan-favorite, the sentimental pick for the win. Aldis was the cold and calculated champion, ready to play spoiler to this fairy tale. The audience was shocked to see Hebner throw up the "X" to indicate injury to Cody early in the match. Everyone rose to their feet again, a concerned hush falling over the entire arena. When DDP ran to the ring, shortly followed by Daivari, the crowd perked up again, relieved that it was all part of the storyline. The sight of his own blood seemed to rejuvenate Cody and the match continued at a fast, exciting pace. Brandi took a huge bump when Aldis landed an elbow right in her back while she covered her husband with her own body. The match had several false finishes, but the pin came suddenly, and the audience leapt to its feet, as it had done so many times in this match.

The celebration began immediately, Cody and Brandi overcome with emotion, their fans shouting and screaming in elation. It was an amazing moment, seeing Cody hold the NWA Championship in the middle of the ring. Emotions ran high, tears flowed. It was a great moment for everyone, for Cody and his family and the fans watching around the world.

Winner: Cody, New NWW Worlds Heavyweight Champion

Joey Janela vs. Hangman Page in a Chicago Street Fight

No one envied Janela and Page with their task of following the incredible moment before them. Their match would have to be imaginative, exciting, and over the top. How would they, too, exceed expectations?

Penelope Ford, in a cute black and flower top, accompanied Janela that night. It did not take long for the Chicago Street Fight to explode to the outside of the ring, where Page introduced the first of many weapons in the match. The audience, still high from the previous combat, took a moment to settle in for this one, but the threat of violence from steel chairs, tables, ladders, and a literal cracker barrel from Cracker Barrel brought them back to their feet. Ford involved herself as well, displaying her incredible athleticism with Matrix-like dodge moves and a Stunner to Page. The audience erupted to see her dive off the top rope and hit him with a Cross-Body. The crowd responded with a "This is awesome!" chant. Excitement built as Janela set up two tables in the entranceway and Page Powerbombed him through them to chants of "Joey-killer". The crowd's anticipation grew with the introduction of two plastic garbage bags, one containing Page's cowboy boots. The sight of them threw Page into a panic and he Super-Kicked Ford. Page set up the climax of the match, revealing the phone he used to kill Joey Ryan, and then nearly killed Joey Janela with a Rite of Passage from the top of the ladder through a table.

Winner: Adam Page

But they weren't finished. The lights dimmed. The TV screen horrified the audience with a shot of Joey Ryan's corpse. And then he rose.

Adam Page stood, shocked, in the ring, as a parade of penises walked somberly to the stage. The audience watched in awe, some responding with a chant of "Holy dicks!". And then, in an eruption of color and cheers, Joey Ryan came. The audience responded gleefully at Adam Page's shocked expression as the man he thought was dead sauntered to the ring and then attacked him. Page's prone body was cradled and carried out in the soft arms of the phalluses, all while the audience chanted "Rest in penis". RIP.

Flip Gordon vs. Jay Lethal for the ROH World Championship

The audience was thrilled to welcome back Black Machismo, decked out in "Macho Man" Randy Savage's red and yellow gear. Lanny Poffo accompanied him, while Brandi Rhodes, changed from her earlier outfit to a army-esque body suit, stood by Flip Gordon. This match promised everything: nostalgia from Poffo, prestige from Jay Lethal as the ROH Champion, comedy from Black Machismo's antics, and a taste of the future of pro-wrestling from the young Flip Gordon. Chants for both Flip and Black Machismo rang through the arena, but much of the crowd was behind the underdog, Gordon. They had already seen one new champion crowned and they were hoping to see another. Poffo invoked the spirit of his brother by sending Lethal up to the top rope to deliver 3 Hail to the Kings. Gordon played along by "hulking up" and hitting his opponent with a Big Boot. The audience loved every moment of the story being told in the ring, believing that Gordon could upset the champion, but in the end, Lethal was victorious.

Winner: Jay Lethal, still ROH World Champion

The wonderful embrace of respect between Lethal and Gordon was interrupted by Bully Ray, who ran to the ring to attack them both. He even took Lanny Poffo down, further raising the ire of the crowd. Finally, Bully was stopped by Colt Cabana, who, with Lethal and Gordon, sent him through a table with a Shield-like Power Bomb, even accompanied by an "ooo-rah!" from the audience.

Penta El Zero vs. Kenny Omega

One of the most anticipated matches of the night did not disappoint. It was brutal and powerful, bringing the audience to its feet many times. A "holy shit" chant began even before the match. This was one of those rare encounters where many people didn't much care who won. They were here to see the performances of the athletes in the ring. If this match lasted the rest of the night, not many people would have complained. Penta brought his hard-hitting, impactful style to the quick and limber Omega. One of the loudest pops of the night came from Penta's package Power Bomb on the ring apron. People had to look away from the replay. The agility of both men were on full display, with flawless and graceful counters throughout the match keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The false finishes kept the intense tempo of the match and the hearts of the audience leaping in their chests. This was no one's least-favorite match of the night.

Winner: Kenny Omega

Another complete blackout indicated that the emotional ride was not yet complete. When the lights came back up, Kenny Omega was attacked by Penta, now with a Fozzy tattoo on his left arm. The audience jumped to their feet again, knowing that the masked man before them was actually Chris Jericho. He pulled off his Penta mask and gave Omega an ominous threat- that he would see him on the Jericho Cruise. The shocked audience was ecstatic, most having no idea that Y2J was even in the building. The entire arena was left buzzing.

Marty Scurll vs. Kazuchika Okada

Part of the double/triple main event, this match was anticipated excitedly for months. Could Scurll stand with the heavyweights, especially against the agile powerhouse Okada, the longest-reigning NWGP Champion of all time? The buzz around this match palpitated for weeks and when the time finally came... the crowd was absolutely exhausted. We were 4 hours into the most emotionally draining (in a good way!) show we had attended in a long time, with no intermission, no "low card" match to sneak out of for a moment. The crowd had stayed in their seats from the first bell because we couldn't bear to miss a moment. So when Scurll and Okada sauntered down the ramp, it was to an audience that was struggling to focus, despite the excitement.

Even though the chants may have been slightly subdued than previously in the night, they were forceful. The 11,000+ people in the building were split, half chanting for Scurll, half for Okada, some, like me, chanting for both. And the performers gave everything they had. Their effort rallied the crowd's attention back to the ring. It didn't matter how tired they were, the incredible action was too good to miss. Scurll moved with intelligence. He used mind games and fake-outs to lure Okada off guard. Meanwhile, the Rainmaker plowed forward with his strength and took advantage of his size and weight. Every false finish brought the crowd to its feet again. They wondered if Scurll would somehow manage to defeat his much larger opponent and prove he belongs with the heavyweights. Unfortunately for him, Okada's power was too much to overcome. Despite the Villain's loss, the crowd applauded and cheered for him in a well-deserved show of respect.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada

Rey Fenix, Bandido, and Rey Mysterio vs. Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi

All In's main event delivered a great deal in a small amount of time. We knew it would be a brief affair, seeing how quickly Marty Scurll and Kazuchika Okada cleared the ring after their match. This promised to be one of the fastest-paced, high-flying matches of the night. People couldn't blink for fear of missing a single moment. The anticipated match-up between Mysterio and Ibushi drew a chant of "Holy shit" even before they began. This spectacle did not disappoint. The match broke down only after a few minutes and the athletes' pure agility and skill were on full display. They executed so many innovative maneuvers that I couldn't even begin to describe them all, except for "amazing". How we wished the match could have gone on much longer.

Winner: Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi

The Pay Per View feed cut off in mid-sentence, but the show in the Sears Centre went on. The Young Bucks and Ibushi remained in the ring and called down their friends and family. Cody, Brandi, and Kenny Omega joined them, along with Papa and Mama Buck, Mrs. Matt, and the Buck children. The ring was full of beaming, ecstatic people. They stood before the 11,000+ people in the arena and showed great humility, thanking the audience for their support and contribution. Whenever one performer thanked another, that person in turn thanked everyone else. Emotions were the highest they had been all night. The crowd was assured that none of their favorite wrestlers were going anywhere, and they responded with a resounding chant of "All In 2! All In 2!"

No one can argue the success of All In. 11,263 people were in attendance that night, and many more watched the spectacle on TV. This was an experience unlike any other in recent memory. All In was a show produced by wrestlers who deeply love professional wrestling and who sincerely wanted to give their fans a new product to enjoy. Words cannot express how much the wrestling fans around the world appreciate their efforts. From the moment the idea was born, we watched for updates with bated breath, leaping on the chance to secure tickets to witness history. All In was everything we had hoped for and more. As a wrestling fan, the future is looking bright.

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keywestlou · 4 years

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KEY WEST.....CIGAR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

The world knows there was a time when Key West was the cigar capital of the world. Cuban cigars!

In 1900, the cigar business was booming. The average weekly cigar output was over 1.5 million. Big business! On this day in December 1900, the steamer Lampasas sailed for New York. Its cargo 1,846,000 cigars.

Cigar business no more. Except for the solitary old Cuban on the street hand rolling them for tourists.

The only remnants from the successful days gone by are some old factory buildings that have been converted to other uses. Like the Gato building on Simonton. Now a County office building. Also, the tiny Conch houses that were built by the cigar factory owners to house the immigrants who worked for them. Those houses today selling for $1 million plus.

The weather man was correct. Woke this morning to 65 degrees. The high today 68. Not even 70!

I turned the heat on when I woke.

A Key West life. Julia La Congo.

Julia died this day in 1930 at the age of 110. God bless her!

Julia initially was Queen of a tribe in Africa. She was captured by slavers and sold into slavery in Cuba. At some point, she was freed.

She came to Key West. Met her man and married. She and her husband operated a grocery store till World War I.

Guy deBoer ran a series of pictures in this morning’s KONK Life E-Blast. The subject the C. W. Colts Backyard Concert Series. Four band members. Three men and a woman. The woman the vocalist.

I never heard of the group before. Means nothing. There are so many vocal groups in Key West. Whatever, I will try to find out more about the group and let you know.

Many a movie has been filmed in Key West. Many the star that has made films here.

In December 1997, A Mast of Crows was filmed. Its star, Academy Award winning Cuba Gooding, Jr.

I have in Key West for 30 years. Sort of makes me a local.

Change and death are the two certainties in life. Key West has experienced change.

The Key West of 30 years ago is not the Key West of today.

Its change has been too fast and too dramatic. I doubt Key West will ever know another Jimmy Buffett and Cheeseburger in Paradise.

This morning’s Citizens’ Voice published a comment by a person I assume has been a Key Wester a long time. He said he agreed with the negative Key West articles which pop up on occasion.

He wrote, “Sadly, our city government and the TDC are marketing a false narrative of ‘paradise of a bygone day.’ Overpriced, dirty, and in no way what Buffett sang about.”

I agree with the comment, except for the “dirty” part. I don’t see it.

Key West has changed dramatically the past 5 years. Especially, the last 2. Primarily the TDC is responsible. A tourist organization. The group has done its job well in advertising and attracting tourists to Key West. Too well. Tourists arrive from all over the world.

There was a time when they came during the “season.” Like January to April. Summers dead. There was a saying a person could throw a bowling ball down Duval and not hit anyone.

Today, summers are almost as busy as season.

Sad. The Key West of yesterday will never return. A gem disappearing.

Trump is in London today. Participating in the NATO conference.

The past 2 years, he has knocked the hell out of NATO. Not this trip. I watched him on TV this morning. He is kumbaya. Loves most attendees. Speaks positively about things.

What a change! Part of a devious plan I suspect.

His selected foe this trip is France’s Macron. Macron has no fear of Trump. Stands up to him, where and when necessary.

Trump does not like that.

Last week, Macron was interviewed by the Economist Magazine. Macron commented about the “diminished state” of the NATO alliance. He said the same was occurring because of the “brain death of NATO due to lack of American support.”

Trump wasn’t going to stand for France knocking NATO. Trump the person who has been saying all sort of adverse things about NATO for almost 3 years.

Trump needed a scapegoat to beat up on. His way of doing things. He picked on Macron.

Trump decried Macron’s comments, said they were “very very nasty…..very disrespectful…..very insulting.”

Would you believe!

Respectfully, the man is a whore. A two faced one.

Trump also announced he was seriously considering new tariffs to be imposed on French imports. Like champagne, cheese, handbags, and porcelain. Trump is going to punish Macron for saying nasty things about NATO. I assume also Trump thought beating up on Macron would bring most of the other nations of NATO to Trump’s side. Our man! How can he be unaware most Europeans dislike him?

Trump does not understand human nature. You beat up people, you defecate on them, and they are going to retaliate. A don’t tread on me attitude.

French Finance Minister Bruno LeMaire said the Eurounion would strike back against the U.S. Trump made a mistake in thinking that there would be no retaliatory action. Even more, he failed to recognize that the Eurounion would retaliate.

The result would be a trans Atlantic trade war.

Trump needed more than his adverse comments re Macron as an excuse to impose these new tariffs on France. He found one.

France recently imposed digital services taxes. On U.S. companies such as Apple, Facebook, and Amazon. Done for no other reason than a business one.

Trump is using the digital tax imposition as the “real” reason he is going to be difficult with France.

Trump failed to do his homework once again. France is late to the game in taxing U.S. companies providing digital services. Austria, Italy and Turkey have been doing it for some time.

Trump was unaware and the word now is the U.S. may investigate Austria, Italy and Turkey for purposes of determining the appropriateness of such digital taxes.

Another example of Trump doing something without doing the necessary homework. Trump announced he would be imposing tariffs on Brazilian and Argentine steel and aluminum exports to the U.S.

It appears the tariffs could boomerang on American steel makers. They need semi-finished products exported by Brazil in order to operate their mills.

Some things are right and some things are wrong.

There is a saying that the child should not be made to pay for the sins of the father. I would adjust the statement a bit. A wife should not be made to pay for the sins of the husband.

First Lady Melania Trump recently spoke at an opioid awareness event at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. The event titled the B’More Youth Summit on Opioid Awareness.

She was booed when introduced, during her opening remarks, and sporadically during her talk. The boos were described as “resounding.”

The audience was comprised primarily of middle school and high school students.

The First Lady took the booming in stride. She said afterwards the U.S. is a free country and people have a right to express themselves.

Husband Donald tried to smooth things over by announcing he was donating one quarter of his $400,000 salary to combat the opioid crisis.

Tonight, my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. A half hour of me ranting and raving about what I like and don’t like, what I think is good and what I think is bad. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST…..CIGAR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD was originally published on Key West Lou

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bountyofbeads · 5 years

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For Andrew Luck, football had wrecked his body and stolen his joy

https://wapo.st/2Pe8UwS

Do you blame Andrew Luck for retiring from the game? I think the blame should fall on his coaches and team mates who should have done more to protect him. The NFL needs to do much more in protecting quarterbacks from injury. No one wants to live their entire lives suffering from injures and chronic pain just for playing a few years of football in the NFL. That's why fantasy football is doing so much better than the NFL

For Andrew Luck, football had wrecked his body and stolen his joy

By Jerry Brewer | Published August 25 at 6:44 AM ET | Washington Post | Posted August 25, 2019 2:55 PM ET |

For all of Andrew Luck’s emotion and tears, for all the shock over his bombshell retirement, he exited football in a rational and calculated manner. This was no impulsive act born of fleeting frustration. He knew it was time.

The superstar Indianapolis Colts quarterback had to say goodbye during an impromptu interview session with reporters late Saturday because the news leaked, and the sports world flipped end over end, and he could not stick with his original plan to save the stunning announcement for Sunday. But as he spoke, you sensed little spontaneity in his explanation.

He had known for more than a week. Even though he has been unable to play most of the preseason because of a strange injury to his left calf and ankle, he had mustered the pain tolerance to take the field before an Aug. 17 preseason game against Cleveland and make a few practice throws. Some considered it evidence that he might return soon. But for Luck, it was closure. As he grinned and threw spirals, he was quietly letting the game go.

“I was thinking, ‘This is the last time I’ll throw the ball at Lucas Oil Stadium in a Colts uniform,’” he admitted.

A week later, his decision became official. Luck called it a hard decision — “the hardest of my life,” he said — but it was also a clear one. He is only 29 years old, but football has wrecked his body and stolen his joy. Over the past four years, his injuries have been brutal and relentless: shoulder sprain, torn cartilage in the ribs, partially torn abdomen, lacerated kidney, concussion, torn labrum in his right shoulder and now the calf and ankle problem that hasn’t healed.

Luck has missed a season and a half of playing time because of injuries. He awoke one morning after a game and noticed blood in his urine. He lost the entire 2017 season because of a difficult recovery from shoulder surgery. But he returned in 2018, threw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns, led the Colts to the second round of the playoffs and won NFL comeback player of the year.

He was back, and so was Indianapolis, which felt it had put together a Super Bowl-caliber roster for this season. Then another injury made Luck reassess everything.

“For the last four years or so, I’ve been in this cycle of injury, pain, rehab — injury, pain rehab — and it’s been unceasing, unrelenting, both in-season and offseason,” Luck said Saturday night. “And I felt stuck in it, and the only way I see out is to no longer play football. It’s taken my joy of this game away.”

The delightful thing about Luck always had been his love for the sport. He graduated from Stanford with a degree in architectural design, and he could have been great in various jobs related to engineering (maybe he still will be). He didn’t play football out of necessity or simply because he was so good at it. He didn’t use the game as a way out of a tough life. He loved it, really loved it. He geeked out on football. He learned it from his father, Oliver, a former NFL quarterback, athletic director and accomplished business executive who now serves as the CEO and commissioner of the XFL. At Stanford, he helped Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw turn the football program into a powerhouse and became one of the greatest NFL quarterback prospects ever.

Luck, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft, proved worthy of the hype. He succeeded Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and took command in a manner that Aaron Rodgers, who followed Brett Favre magnificently in Green Bay, could appreciate. The Colts finished with an 11-5 record during each of Luck’s first three seasons and advanced to the AFC title game in 2015. Luck had a 53-33 record in 86 career starts and made four postseason appearances. He was on a Hall of Fame track. Given his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame, you figured he could play for 8-12 more seasons.

But from the beginning, the Colts may have asked too much of him. He amassed 627 pass attempts as a rookie in 2012, an average of 39.2 per game. He was sacked a league-high 41 times that year. For his career, Luck averaged 38.3 passes per game. He came back last season and threw a career-high 639 passes. He had come from a balanced system at Stanford with an intricate run game, and while it was apparent in college that Luck was capable of directing just about any offensive system, it’s rare for a team to put so much pressure on a quarterback so early in his NFL career. He won and thrived, but eventually, his body paid the price.

So now we must place Luck in his own category of ephemeral quarterbacking greatness. The NFL hasn’t seen anyone quite like him. He didn’t make it to his 30th birthday, which is three weeks away, but he still played long enough to amass 23,671 yards and 171 touchdowns. Through 86 starts, his production was on pace with some of the most prolific players in history at the position. His career feels like a flash, but it wasn’t. He was halfway to immortality.

We’ve seen legends leave too soon: Jim Brown, Barry Sanders. We’ve seen injuries and ailments cut brilliant careers short: Gale Sayers, Kenny Easley. Recently, we’ve seen a concerning cluster of great ones bow out shockingly: Luck joins linebacker Patrick Willis and receiver Calvin Johnson on a growing list. But despite advancements in brain research and the anecdotal evidence of football’s many debilitating effects, there are still 100 NFL players who plan on playing “until the wheels fall off” for every one athlete who seriously worries about the game shortening his career. And if you’re a quarterback — in a league that keeps adjusting the rules seemingly to keep quarterbacks healthy — you’re far more likely to fantasize about Tom Brady-esque longevity than to anticipate a premature ending.

Does Luck’s retirement represent a watershed moment for NFL players to be even more thoughtful about the dangers of the game? No, not necessarily. It will take about a dozen players on the level of Luck, Willis and Johnson to quit around the same time to spark a dramatic shift. Right now, we’re inching toward a moment, and perhaps Luck’s decision moves the conversation an entire foot. But currently there is no urgent desire from players to escape.

It’s a slow process to change the mentality. Nevertheless, teams would be wise to consider the situation dire. The NFL should feel desperate to improve the way it trains and cares for athletes and how it manages their workload. It should also increase the resources to help the players recover mentally from injuries. In their reactions to Luck, current and former players transition quickly from shock to understanding the physical and mental toll of grinding out a football career.

In the middle of a tweet about Luck on Saturday night, Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette said “ … man y’all don’t know much we put in for this sport.”

They put in so much that one of the game’s brightest young quarterbacks walked away from perhaps $250 million in future earnings when you factor in the remaining three years of his contract and at least one more mega-extension that likely would’ve been worth more than $40 million per season.

“I’ve been stuck in this process,” Luck said. “I haven’t been able to live the life I want to live. It’s taken the joy out of this game. After 2016 when I played in pain and wasn’t regularly able to practice, I made a vow I wouldn’t go down that path again. The only way forward is to remove myself from this cycle. I came to the proverbial fork in the road and made a vow if I ever did again, I would choose me, in a sense.”

That’s not a selfish choice. After all Luck has been through, it’s understandable. And wise.

Andrew Luck says boos ‘hurt,’ and Richard Sherman, J.J. Watt have his back

By Cindy Boren | Published August 25 at 10:48 AM ET | Washington Post | Posted August 25, 2019 3:25 PM ET |

Andrew Luck isn’t the first NFL player to retire at the height of his career. But, unlike Barry Sanders or Calvin Johnson or Rob Gronkowski, he was booed as he left the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for the final time Saturday night.

The news that he would retire before his 30th birthday had leaked during the fourth quarter of the Colts’ 27-17 loss to the Chicago Bears and Luck, the man tasked with replacing Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, admitted in an emotional and impromptu news conference afterward that it stung.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I heard the reaction,” Luck said. “It hurt. I’ll be honest, it hurt.”

It was part of a surreal scene, one that Luck and the Colts could not control. They’d planned for him to address teammates after the game, with a Sunday afternoon news conference following. But news leaked to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and immediately overtook the Saturday night game.

One fan in the stands removed his No. 12 jersey while others just looked stunned. It was an ugly response for a player who had given so much physically to play the sport, winning 53 regular season games and four playoff games along the way.

Richard Sherman, the San Francisco 49ers cornerback, called the fans’ reaction “disgraceful.”

“This is a very rough game,” he tweeted. “Most people who have not played at this level will never understand what we put our bodies through season after season. We don’t need the sympathy because this is what we signed up for but to ‘boo’ a man that battled for that city is disgraceful.”

For Sherman, it was especially personal because he and Luck had played together at Stanford. “Thank you Drew for everything you gave this game!” he added. “You are an amazing teammate and an even better friend. Wish you nothing but the best in your next endeavor. I know you will be even greater in your next chapter.”

J.J. Watt called the booing “sad” and added, “I hope at some point those fans understand and put themselves in his shoes. He didn’t do it just to do it. It’s an extremely difficult decision.”

It’s also one that Watt, who missed most of the 2016 and 2017 seasons with injuries, said he understands, saying injuries “can have the ability to suck the fun out of the game.”

“It takes an immense amount of courage, immense self-reflection and guts to do what he’s doing,” he told ESPN’s Ed Werder. “Nobody goes though what he goes through, the rehab and injuries. They see the game days. I respect the hell out of it.”

Luck’s enthusiastic style of play cost him physically, with injuries and what he called “a four-year injury cycle” leading him to Saturday night’s announcement. The No. 1 draft pick in 2012, he suffered a lacerated kidney, a partially torn abdominal muscle, at least one concussion, and a shoulder injury (a torn labrum) that sidelined him all of the 2017 season. He fought back and was the NFL’s comeback player of the year in 2018, but had not played in preseason because of a nagging calf/ankle injury.

“Any athlete in any sport that has had a major injury understands exactly where Andrew Luck is mentally,” Torrey Smith, the Carolina Panthers wide receiver, tweeted.

Leonard Fournette, the Jacksonville Jaguars running back, added: “Taking this time sending my prayers to Andrew luck man y’all don’t know how much we put in for this sport, yes it’s draining but than we love it so much at the same time...... #LoveLuck”

Dez Bryant, the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, called the booing “some disrespectful sick [expletive] on Twitter and added, “that’s not an easy decision to make. … I understand you 100% brotha … take your time … I wish you the best.”

Eric Ebron, the Colts tight end, tweeted a personal take: “Andrew Luck will be somebody I tell my kids about. The person & the player. Respect Andrew.”

Still, fans are going to remember the image of Luck standing with teammates and smiling during the game, not realizing that the news of his retirement had gotten out.

Bears tight end Trey Burton, who is recovering from sports hernia surgery, tweeted that he “was on the field when this happened. These fans are so sad for doing this. Y’all have no clue how injuries affect players. Not everyone recovers the same.”

One user criticized the timing of the news and Burton replied, “What if he didn’t know until now? What if [the] organization knew for a while and was hoping he would change his mind? Just because people don’t agree w timing still doesn’t mean they should disrespect him. ESPECIALLY after all he has done for them.”

Ryan Diem, a former Colts offensive lineman, called the reaction by fans and “keyboard cowboys” to be “downright disrespectful and mean spirited.”

“As a person that has been in his shoes, and had to make that decision to walk away from a game they love, and seen the long term effects the game on people close to them, I 100 percent support his decision and respect it. People that don’t understand need to recognize that we are paid entertainers,” he tweeted.

“I love and respect the passion for the game/city/home team, but when that game starts to affect your ability to function in the real world as a person, then it’s time. Obviously, the timing of this wasn’t great, but I truly believe he was doing everything he could to get back out there this season. The guy is beyond passionate about football, his teammates and the city of Indianapolis. You could see the heartache in his presser. Respect his decision, and quit the hate. He’s going to go on to do amazing things in this world."

Fans no doubt were disappointed at the timing, which arrived so close to the season opener, and unable to understand a player quitting in his prime with hundreds of millions of dollars most likely ahead of him. But with his 30th birthday looming Sept. 12, Luck has quit and owner Jim Irsay admitted that Luck had “spilled blood, sweat and tears” for the team. Of course, he also admitted that he doesn’t rule out Luck changing his mind. Neither does Luck, who said, “I can’t see the future, but I very clearly in my mind see that I won’t.”

Jacoby Brissett steps into Luck’s position and the Colts prepare for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Chargers in Los Angeles.

“For those people that booed tonight, it’s an emotional time and I understand that,” General Manager Chris Ballard said in the team’s news conference. “This young man had done a lot for the city of Indianapolis, and for the Indianapolis Colts. Nobody died. And we keep moving forward.”

#sports #arts and entertainment #entertainment #nfl news #nfl #nflfootball #nflprobowl #nflplayoffs #nflsunday #news #latest news #trending news #sports news #u.s. news

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viraljournalist · 5 years

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Luck retires, calls decision 'hardest of my life'

New Post has been published on https://viraljournalist.com/luck-retires-calls-decision-hardest-of-my-life/

Luck retires, calls decision 'hardest of my life'

INDIANAPOLIS — In a shocking development Saturday night, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck announced his retirement from the NFL, saying constant injuries have taken away his love for the game.

Luck, who turns 30 on Sept. 12, had met with Colts owner Jim Irsay earlier to tell him of the decision.

The Colts played their third preseason game Saturday night in Indianapolis against the Chicago Bears. Luck already had been ruled out of the game due to an ankle injury, but he was seen on the sideline, laughing and conversing with teammates.

2 Related

After the game, Luck announced the retirement decision during an impromptu, 25-minute news conference. He said an official announcement wasn’t planned until Sunday afternoon, but he changed course once news broke during the preseason game.

“I’ve been stuck in this process,” Luck said, stopping several times to gather his emotions. “I haven’t been able to live the life I want to live. It’s taken the joy out of this game … the only way forward for me is to remove myself from football.

“This is not an easy decision. It’s the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me.”

Luck’s early retirement ends what started as a promising career for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft, chosen to replace Peyton Manning. Luck led the Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, including back-to-back AFC South titles and the AFC Championship Game in 2014.

But his career took a bad turn when he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 3 of the 2015 season. He ended up missing 26 games — including the entire 2017 season — due to shoulder, kidney and rib injuries. It was during the 2017 season while out that Luck questioned whether he would be able to continue his career.

But Luck returned in a big way last season.

It was supposed to be just a regular Saturday night in the preseason. But then Andrew Luck announced his retirement, sending shock waves across the league. A look at how some of the QBs whose teams played Saturday night reacted to the news: Deshaun Watson: “It was mind-blowing. It was something that of course caught everyone off guard. But, hey, he can control his own future. He’s a great player. He’s a great quarterback. One of the top five quarterbacks in the league. And he’s doing it for the right reasons. For himself.” Drew Brees: “I think I’m probably like everybody else. A bit surprised and stunned, too. We heard it when we were on the sideline, actually — somebody had gotten wind of it during the game. Listen, Andrew’s a friend. I’ll exchange text messages with him from time to time. So I’ll be reaching out to him to check on him.” Dak Prescott: “I mean helluva player, helluva player. Helluva guy the little bit I know of him being able to talk to him before a game and sharing a little bit of things. … So respect his decision, wish him the best. Just know that he was one of my favorite players to watch around the league and learn little things from. Hate to see a great player like that leave the game, but like I said, don’t know the details, don’t want to speak on that. I’m not entitled to an opinion on that.” Patrick Mahomes: “Knowing Andrew, he’s a great football player, but he’s also a great human being. I haven’t seen the full [scope] of the news, but I know he’s going to make the right decision for himself and his family.”

He threw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year and lead the Colts back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season, showing he remained one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

But injury hit Luck again earlier this year when he suffered a calf strain that kept him out of the team’s offseason activities and minicamp. Luck took part in only three days of training camp — none as a full participant — before it was announced that he was shutting it down because he had difficulty moving in the pocket.

“I’m in pain; I’m still in pain,” he said. “It’s been four years of this pain, rehab cycle. It’s a myriad of issues — calf strain, posterior ankle impingement, high ankle sprain. Part of my journey going forward will be figuring out how to feel better.”

Luck told reporters Saturday night that he first started thinking about retirement two weeks ago, and general manager Chris Ballard said the sides started discussing the potential decision early last week.

“It was Monday,” Ballard said. “We all sat down and had a talk and continued through the week. Emotional talks on our parts. Not any negative emotional talks. Just some real honest talks. But did not get a sense. I watched Andrew go through the shoulder, his routine and how he rehabbed and worked through things. He was going through the same process all the way from when he walked in the building. He came in Monday and started working through this.”

It’s stunning news for a Colts team that went to the second round of the playoffs last season and that, in the eyes of many, had a Super Bowl-caliber roster in 2019.

“It’s very difficult,” Luck said. “I love this team, I love my teammates.”

Luck finishes his career with 2,000 completions, 3,290 attempts, 23,671 yards, 171 touchdowns and 83 interceptions. But some Colts fans seemed to forget those numbers, instead booing him as he walked off the field following Saturday’s game.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hear it,” Luck said of the boos. “Yeah, it hurt.”

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Colts fans react with a wide range of emotions after Andrew Luck’s retirement becomes public, including boos for Luck as he leaves the field.

Now, the Colts will turn to Jacoby Brissett, the 26-year-old quarterback acquired from the New England Patriots in 2017.

With Luck dealing with a variety of injuries in 2017, Brissett started 15 games for Indy, throwing for 3,098 yards, with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Colts posted a 4-11 record in Brissett’s 15 starts, and he ranked 27th out of 30 qualified quarterbacks with a 43.3 Total QBR and 30th out of 32 qualified QBs with a 58.8% completion percentage.

171: Career passing TDs, the most of any player not to play a game after his 30th birthday. 86: Number of games he played in the NFL out of a possible 112 (he missed 16 in 2017 due to shoulder; 1 in ’16 due to concussion; 7 in ’15 due to kidney; 2 in ’15 due to shoulder) 39: TD passes last season, most by any QB in NFL history after not playing previous season 33: Wins in his first three seasons, tied for the second most by a QB in their first three seasons during the Super Bowl era (Russell Wilson 36; Dan Marino and Matt Ryan 33) 19.6: Average fantasy points since entering league in 2012, third-most PPG among QBs during that span 3: Luck’s ranks in Colts’ all-time history in pass yards (23,671), pass TDs (171), completions (2,000) and QB wins (53) —ESPN Stats & Information

But Luck, Ballard, Irsay and coach Frank Reich all threw their support behind Brissett with the regular season two weeks away.

“We’ve got a good football team. This is a good football team,” Ballard said. “We are young. We are good on both fronts. We have some good skill players. And a good young quarterback. We are not going to ask Jacoby Brissett to be Andrew Luck. Andrew Luck was a unique, unique player. But Jacoby Brissett is a winning football player in this league and, I think you heard what Andrew said, Jacoby Brissett is a rare, rare leader. He is. He’s a rare human being, man. That locker room loves Jacoby Brissett.”

Sportsbooks reacted quickly to the Luck news, taking the point spread on the Colts’ Week 1 road game at the Chargers off the board and lengthening Indianapolis’ odds to win the Super Bowl, the AFC and the AFC South.

The Colts had been four-point underdogs to the Chargers. Caesars Sportsbook moved Indianapolis’ Super Bowl odds from 12-1 to 30-1, its AFC odds from 7-1 to 15-1, and its AFC South odds from -135 to +210.

But that mattered little to the Colts on a franchise-changing night.

“We have nothing but gratitude and thankfulness for the blood, sweat and tears he spilled as No. 12,” Irsay said. “Part of our heart is broken tonight. We know we must go forward.”

Information from ESPN’s David Purdum and Adam Schefter was used in this report.

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