***Lily***
We all just stare at it for a while, waiting to see what it does. The first person to make a move is Wabbajack, inching his way closer towards it. As he gets close, he pokes it. As he does, I could swear it makes a squeaking sound.
He gasps as he picks it up. At that moment, I notice that the tail stays close to the ball of fluff, kinda flying around it. Maybe it has a set distance? He then proceeds to squeeze it a couple more times as it squeaks. “This is amazing!” He yells, squeezing it some more.
Eventually, it spins around to face him. It opens its mouth and out comes a tongue flying out like a frog and connects to Wabbajacks face. The rest of the body then comes flying towards his head as it bites his head, knocking over Wabbajacks hat.
I hear a muffled, “Aww. I was having fun. Oh well, got to admit though, it’s feisty.”
“It seems to be a Umoya Vulpes Uhane.” I hear to my right. I turn to see Mogsten looking into a book. “Fascinating! This seems to be the only other time that there has Ever been a recorded sighting of one. There is almost next to no information on its capabilities here.” He adds. He then slams the book shut as he exclaims, “I’ll pay whatever you want for him!”
I then hear more muffled noises say, “Wow! This guy must be really rare for Mogsten to offer anything. Still, first, Lily, how do you feel?”
I look back at the ball of leathery fur that has Wabbajack’s head in its mouth. I feel… something. I put my finger to my chin as I say, “I don’t quite know what I feel right now honestly.”
Wabbajack continues to try and speak as he says muffled again, “Well, familiars are rare, and the experience is different from person to person. Just don’t try to rush it and things should make sense I imagine. What do you want to name this fella?”
I don’t know honestly. But, first things first, “Could you get it off your head now? It’s hard to hear what your saying.” I say.
“Wait, Wabbajack has been talking?” Mogsten asks.
“Well, yeah. Haven’t you heard him?” I ask.
Mogsten looks at me funny and then back at the ball of fur. He then walks over to it and kicks Wabbajacks foot out from underneath him, knocking him down on his back. He then goes up to the fox ball and whispers into its ear. For some reason, as clear as day, I hear, “Can you hear me whispering Lily? Nod if you do.”
So, I nod.
“Fascinating!” He says. He then snaps his fingers as Gourdsten hands him a notepad and a pen. As soon as they are in his hands, he starts writing down some stuff. He stops to look at the fox ball and holds up the notepad to it. “Anything?” he asks.
“What?” I yell back.
He then shrugs and goes back to writing notes.
“Can I get back up now?” Wabbajack says, still muffled.
I rub my temple, wishing that the fox ball would just get off his head.
Just as I think that, it hops off and starts to walk towards me. Well, waddle may be a more accurate word. Or, whatever it is called for how gators walk. It then stops in front of me and tilts its head. Its tail then connects to the body and, as it does, the body stretches out, taking a noodle like shape. It then flies up and wraps its body around my neck! It yawns, and I think I hear it snore. Funny, like it is now, it’s kinda like a scarf. Although the breathing I feel from it adds to the soothing effect as well.
“Spectacular!” I hear Mogsten exclaim. I look towards him to see him fervently taking notes. I also happen to see Wabbajack had gotten back up, put his hat back on, and was walking over here as well.
“I’m amazed. It looks like this was a success.” Wabbajack says.
“Of course! Who do you think I am? Some amateur?” Mogsten says, not taking his eyes off my living scarf.
Regardless, the leather belly provides a good grip while the fur is Extremely soft. I could see myself falling asleep as well if I wasn’t busy trying to process everything right now.
“Welp, it all worked out. You got a familiar and Mogsten is one of the few who successfully summoned it.” Wabbajack points out.
Mogsten shoots up as he realizes it too as he says, “Yes. YES! I DID! People will come from everywhere to see my wares and request my talent!” He then starts dancing along with Gourdsten.
“Although, you’ll have to up security if people keep requesting familiars.” Wabbajack mentions.
The dance slowly comes to a stop as that fact sinks in and Mogsten says, “Blast.” He then snaps his fingers as he says, “I can provide a questionnaire and a test, that people will have to pay for as well! Oh hohohohoho!” He laughs as he starts dancing again.
Wabbajack just shrugs and turns back to me. He asks, “Well, introduced you to about most of the important places that are around here, all that is left would be the furniture then. Unless there is anything else you can think of?”
As I start petting my living scarf, I try to think really hard if there is anything else I need to know. We got equipment, some magic books for me to study, my mark of sentience, a familiar, had a fight or two with Wabbajack, and met his family. I shrug and say, “No, I actually think that was it.”
He wipes his forehead as he says, “Thank goodness. I can’t tell you how crazy today has been.”
I can’t help but let out a chuckle as I say, “You think it’s been crazy for you? It’s been one new concept after another for me.”
He looks at me, chuckles, and says, “Fair enough. I almost forgot that All this must be new to you.” I had just gotten changed back when he then walks to the flap leading to the front as he says, “Well then, shall we get some furnishing?”
I nod and quickly chase after him. As we exit the store, I decide to ask Wabbajack some more questions as we peruse the bazaar for any good furniture being sold. I ask him an important question, at least to me anyways, “Why do you do this job? With your talents and skills, you could do whatever. And don’t try to sell me on that Monster of Monsters thing. Don’t you get tired of it?”
He stops, sighs, and tilts his hat down as he explains, “Well, if you really intend on traveling with me, then I guess you’ll have to know sooner or later. Let me ask You a question first however. Do you think nothing good could come from death?”
I look down as I answer, “Well, I mean, there is always another way, right?”
He responds with, “True, but I have learned why being a hero is as disastrous as the destruction they prevent. If I had to guess, Silkie probably told you about That, right?”
I quickly try to look away but realize, I immediately sold myself out.
“I thought so.” He says. He then follows up with, “There was a reason for that. There was a warlike nation growing in power. The reason for that is that none of the other nations were taking it seriously, so they pillaged and plundered as much as they like. Now, what is the best way to convince a nation’s leader that an “insignificant” threat is an actual one without them laughing at you?”
I look up and try to consider.
Before I can however, he continues, “I played the part of the nation about to destroy everything, and…assassinated… that infant. When the king and queen discovered their child killed by, what reports believed was one of those “barbarians”, they then took the threat Very seriously. They beefed up security and their guard. When the nation was invaded, instead of being wiped out, they defended themselves and crushed the opposition. I admit, it haunts me most nights. The crying, the sadness, then the stifling quiet. I hated it. But, they didn’t have the time for me to convince them conventionally. That is why I do these things, so others don’t have to. If they were defeated, then the warlike nation would have just steamrolled over everyone else. Now, tell me, what happens when a culture developed entirely around killing others runs out of things to kill?”
I ask him this time, “Is this a rhetorical question or do you want me to answer it this time?”
He shrugs and says, “Only if you want to try.”
I sigh and start thinking about it. “If a culture based on war ran out of people to fight… then they would try to look to improving their lives, right?”
He pats my head as he says, “You’re a genuinely good person. If that was how it worked, I would hopefully be out of a job. No, unfortunately. Nine point nine times out of ten, they just start killing each other. Point zero five percent scenario that they manage to start invading other dimensions. And the last of it, would hopefully improve their lot.”
“That’s so sad.” I mention.
“Welp, that is why I am around, I imagine. I wish I could save everyone but then, it becomes a cycle of dependency. If they can’t manage to take care of themselves, then when the rock holding it all up disappears, then things just go back to being as bad as they were before. Sometimes it winds up being worse than before. So, while I am impressed of true-blue heroes, I don’t envy them. That’s why I take orders from my boss. He promised me that, if I listen to him, he could help me protect entire dimensions. And the best options are sometimes the darkest ones. And who better to wander the darkness than someone who just about everyone hates already?” he asks while pointing to himself.
While he says that cheerfully, I swear I could sense a sadness to it as well. As I think that, my familiar floats over to Wabbajack and starts licking his face.
“He-e-ey. Easy there. Didn’t think I was that tasty.” He says as he tries to wave it off.
“Wolfie! Stop it!” I say without thinking.
It looks back, tilts its head, and floats back to being around my neck.
“Wolfie?” Wabbajack asks.
“Yeah… I guess. I guess that is what I decided to name it.” I say as I pet its fur.
I hear him chuckle. I respond with, “What?”
“Nothing.” He answers. He then waves forward as he asks, “Well then, shall we continue?”
I smile and walk forward. I then see him catch up immediately. When he does, Wolfie then starts wagging her tail, I think.
“What’s he so excited about?” Wabbajack asks.
“She. And I’m not sure.” I respond. I have a suspicion but, there are still too many variables to answer before I can start providing answers.
Wabbajack puts both his hands up defensively as he says, “My bad.
Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I tell him.
We finally reached the bazaar and start looking around. As I am looking around, Wabbajack smacks my back and says, “That guy looks promising.”
I look over in the direction that he points, and I see a turtle person wearing some very poofy-looking robes, puffing smoke from a long oboe-looking pipe. Behind him, is some sort of tube-like machine. Wabbajack walks over to him, so I follow shortly after him.
As soon as he goes up to him, Wabbajack asks, “Excuse me good sir, what would you be selling here?”
There is a pause, he then lets out some smoke, and finally says, “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” I ask.
Another pause and he responds with, “Yep.” He then let’s out some more smoke.
“But then, what is this stall here then?” I ask.
As there is Another pause, I realize that this must be their shtick. He then answers with, “Fabrication.”
“Fabrication? You actually got a permit for that?” Wabbajack asks.
One pause later, he answers, “Yep.”
I look to Wabbajack and ask, “What is Fabrication and, why is it such a big deal?”
“Fabrication is a SUPER advanced form of blacksmithy. As long as you have the materials, you can determine what gets crafted, how it gets crafted, and what it looks like. The only catch is that it depends on the materials. Don’t expect to get golden bricks from grass. That requires rewriting at the genetic level, which you would have to be a master alchemist for that. Even I don’t have the means for fabrication. Although, the alchemy stuff can be pretty fun once you get past all that boring stuff. Not to mention profitable.” Wabbajack explains.
“Wait. You can’t do Fabrication?!” I ask in astonishment.
“Well, I could if I had the materials and patience for it. The time it takes to be permitted to fabricate Anything takes an unrealistic amount of time. I made it about halfway through before even I lost my patience.” Wabbajack answers.
“Why did you stop halfway?” I ask.
“Staying in a classroom for half a millennium alone, being told the yes and no’s of fabrication tends to make a lot of people go mad.” He continues to explain.
Before I can express my disbelief, we hear a very slow laugh, followed by, “Wimp.” I look over to the turtle man in time for him to blow some more smoke.
“You got me their old timer.” I hear Wabbajack say.
“Wait, why does it take so long?” I ask.
“Fabrication is a very meticulous process. Possibly the most meticulous. Not to mention, as I am sure you can imagine, it would be Very profitable for whomever can pull it off. It’s one of the most closely watched professions in all of Spiritopia. Not to mention, if someone of dubious morality decided to fabricate items, chances are that a LOT of bad things would come of it. You have to really have to be discerning when you break into the business. But, if you manage to pull it off, you are held in VERY high regards. Almost untouchable.” Wabbajack explains.
I then hear another, “Yep.” And another puff of smoke.
I then look at the turtle man and ask, “Does that mean you could make us some furniture?”
There is a pause as he looks me up and down. After a while, he says, “Nope.”
I am shocked. I ask, “Why not?”
Pause, puff, and says, “Inexperienced.”
I tilt my head down as I say dejectedly, “Oh, I see.” Wolfie also lets out a sad “hmmm”
Wabbajack then asks himself, “What about me?”
He then looks him up and down as well. This time, he scratches his chin. After a while longer, he says, “Yep. But I’ll charge you more than usual.”
Before I can exclaim my disapproval, Wabbajack says, “Deal!”
As I look to him aggravated, I then hear the turtle man say, “What would you like?”
Wabbajack looks to me as he asks, “What would you like? I imagine some drawers with a vanity mirror, a better bed, some sort of entertainment, maybe even a closet?”
I exclaim, “Wait just one minute! Why would you willingly pay more than normal?”
“Like I said, it’s a profession held in high regard.” Wabbajack explains.
“That.” As the turtle man starts to say something as well. “That and your reputation as Mr. Happy. But, I do like to make my own judgements as well.” He continues as he then lets out another puff.
“There you go.” Wabbajack says, pointing towards the turtle man.
I sigh and say, “Still strikes me as unfair.”
The turtle man laughs again as he says, “Inexperienced.”
Wolfie lets out a growl.
“Easy now, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Let’s not get upset over the finer details.” Wabbajack responds with.
I let out another sigh as I say, “Alright, fine. All the things you mentioned sound good.” I then puff my face.
Wabbajack then lets out a laugh as he says, “Alright. Don’t worry, if you don’t like something about it, we could always come back and change it now that we know someone who can fabricate stuff.”
He then looks at the turtle man as he asks, “Before we talk business, may we exchange names? My name is Wabbajack.” He then puts his hat to his chest and offers a small bow.
Pause, puff, and he says, “Polite. My name is… hold on. Been a while.” He then scratches his chin. He then goes, “Oh! That’s right. Thomas is my name.”
“That’s a good name.” Wabbajack says.
“Flattery won’t lower the price lad.” Thomas says.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Wabbajack responds.
I then put my finger to my chin as I think and start seriously thinking about what I want my room to look like. I honestly want to start pumping ideas but, as I think about it, I don’t really know what I want everything to look like, let alone what it would look like together. Especially since it has become very apparent that my level of fashion sense is not quite up to snuff as I once thought it was.
As I am thinking all this, I hear a meat-ripping noise that snaps me back into reality. I look towards the sound and I see that Wabbajack had ripped his arm off at the shoulder and is now holding it towards Thomas. I naturally let out a scream.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!” I yell.
They both look at me and Wabbajack asks, as nonchalantly as ever, “What’s up?”
““What’s up?” You RIPPED your ARM OFF!” I point out.
He looks at the arm he’s holding out and points at it with the arm that he Should be missing as he asks, “This arm?”
I look back and forth and the realization must have been obvious as he then asks, “You forgot about me being able to regenerate, didn’t you?”
I blush as I say, “Yeah…”. I snap out of my embarrassment as I think to ask, “But, doesn’t that still hurt?”
He just shrugs as he asks, “Yeah, why wouldn’t it?”
“Why did you rip your arm off then?” I ask in response.
“Because, we will just simply come back when you understand what would work best for you want for your own room and style. But, for now, this would be the perfect opportunity to give you a device to access the same font of information I have access to And a means of travel if we ever get separated somehow.” He explains as Thomas takes his torn arm and examines it.
Before I can say anything else, we hear, “Five currency…”
Five currency? Just five or five million? It couldn’t be so cheap after he said he would charge more than normal, right?
Just as I think that, Wabbajack says, “Awesome, here you go.” As he hands him five of those matte dice.
“What happened to being more expensive?” I blurt out.
Thomas just shakes his head as he just says, “Inexperienced…” Again.
Wolfie lets out another small growl.
“Now, now. Calm down. Fabrication isn’t expensive by any means since the customer has to provide the materials themselves. So, Fabricators can’t honestly charge a lot since they aren’t doing a lot.” Wabbajack explains while Thomas throws the arm into his machine and starts hitting buttons.
“That makes sense” I think to myself.
Next thing I know, Thomas throws me this small calculator like device. I look down at it and, while it does have the shape of a calculator, the symbols on the buttons are fluctuating and where the screen is supposed to be is this oval like projector lens and on the front-facing side is this little bulb, like what you would see on a remote control.
The confusion on my face must have been apparent as Wabbajack says, “Don’t worry, just fiddle with it and sooner or later you’ll figure out how it works.” He then pats my shoulder.
He looks back over his shoulder and says “Thanks Thomas, we will definitely be coming back. Phenomenal work.” He then gives a thumbs up.
Thomas lets out a puff after giving us a smug smile.
Wolfie takes his scarf form and wraps around my neck as Wabbajack pulls me along by the arm, he asks, “So what next?”
I put the calculator to my head as I honestly try to process everything that’s happened. Not to mention all the studying and practice I have to do just to make everything feel normal. All I can think to say is, “Maybe… it would be best if we go back home?”
“Yeah, that sounds good honestly. It’s getting late and your body needs rest to process everything that’s happened. It must be… well, actually shoot. It IS a whole other world from what you are used to. Best to take it slow. Even though today hasn’t exactly gone smoothly. Yilimet should also be done with all his shopping as well.” He says, using air quotes around shopping.
I guess the air quotes are because Yilimet has been cooking for a household of people with no sense of taste for who knows how long now. As I let out an audible gulp loud enough to make Wabbajack laugh.
With how crazy today has been, I expected the walk back to that spot with the two guards to be even more eventful but, nothing. Everyone pretty much just kept their distance for the most part. I think most were also just heading home.
As we get there, I see Yilimet holding an unusual number of bags as he says, “Hey you two, you wouldn’t believe the news I heard! Someone managed to summon a familiar after all this time and it didn’t go on a murderous rampage. Crazy, right?”
“Crazy, sure. Let’s get home. I’m sure things are going to be a bit more interesting than usual from here on.” Wabbajack says as he cuts open a portal home.
Interesting? Beyond a shadow of a doubt. I can’t help but feel like that, even by his standards, there will be quite some exciting and fascinating adventures ahead of both of us. Just as we all walk through the portal home together, Yilimet asks, “Hey, where did that fox come from?”
[First] [Previous]

DM me if you are looking for a different link or if any become less than 25% off game

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• Into The Radius - Immersive environments and realistic mechanics, it's a haunting and immersive journey into the unknown. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/5817243991680545/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes - Award winning multiplayer game. Great for guest and parties. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2010043642376517/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Larcenauts - Dive into fast-paced multiplayer battles in this action-packed VR shooter. With a diverse cast of characters and dynamic gameplay, it's a competitive showdown. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3126295830741280/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Lucky's Tale - Join Lucky on a charming platforming adventure in this delightful VR game. With colorful worlds and lovable characters, it's a nostalgic journey for gamers of all ages. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3652037328256745/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Moss - Embark on an epic quest alongside a brave mouse named Quill in this enchanting VR adventure. With stunning visuals and immersive storytelling, it's a tale you won't soon forget. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/1654565391314903/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Moss: Book II - The sequel to the acclaimed VR adventure continues Quill's journey in a new and exciting chapter. With more puzzles, challenges, and mysteries to uncover, it's a must-play for fans of the original. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/4395292760584049/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Nano - Dive into the microscopic world of nanotechnology in this immersive VR experience. Explore the wonders of the nano realm and discover the incredible potential of this cutting-edge technology. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/5566073043488552/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Onward - Engage in intense military simulations and tactical warfare in this realistic VR shooter. With strategic gameplay and teamwork-focused mechanics, it's a must-play for fans of hardcore FPS games. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2677344882310094/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Paradiddle - Unleash your inner drummer and jam out to your favorite tunes in this innovative VR music game. With intuitive controls and endless creative possibilities, it's a rhythm game like no other. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/5719805344724551/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Pistol Whip - Top Rated. Free PCVR download after purchase. Combine rhythm and action in this electrifying VR shooter. With stylish visuals and intense gunplay, it's a cinematic experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2104963472963790/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Powerbeats VR - Get ready to sweat in this high-energy VR fitness game. With dynamic workouts and motivating music, it's the perfect way to stay active and have fun at the same time. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/4336749139724039/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Premium Bowling - Best Bowling Game. Lace up your bowling shoes and hit the lanes in this ultra-realistic VR bowling game. With accurate physics and immersive environments, it's like having your own personal bowling alley at home. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2773034772778845/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Puzzling Places - Best puzzle game. Put your puzzle-solving skills to the test in this relaxing VR experience. With beautiful landscapes and intricate designs, it's the perfect way to unwind and challenge your mind. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3931148300302917/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Real VR Fishing - Best Fishing VR Game. Free PCVR download after purchase. Cast your line and reel in the big ones in this serene and realistic VR fishing simulator. With beautiful environments and lifelike fish behavior, it's a peaceful getaway for anglers of all skill levels. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2582932495064035/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Red Matter 2 - Top Rated. Free PCVR download after purchase. Return to the mysterious world of Saturn's moon in this gripping VR adventure. With stunning visuals and mind-bending puzzles, it's a sci-fi experience that will leave you breathless. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3682089508520212/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Resident Evil 4 - Top Rated. Free PCVR download after purchase. Relive the horror classic in VR and face off against hordes of terrifying enemies in this immersive survival horror game. With revamped graphics and immersive gameplay, it's the ultimate Resident Evil experience. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2637179839719680/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Robo Recall: Unplugged - Jump into the chaos and unleash mayhem as a futuristic robot in this action-packed VR shooter. With fast-paced gameplay and explosive action, it's a wild ride from start to finish. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/1906871599408213/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• SUPERHOT VR - Amazing Game. Time moves only when you move in this innovative VR shooter. With stylish visuals and strategic gameplay, it's a unique twist on the FPS genre that will keep you on your toes. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/1921533091289407/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Sairento VR: Untethered - Top Rated. Become a cybernetic ninja and unleash acrobatic mayhem in this adrenaline-fueled VR action game. With dynamic combat and customizable abilities, it's a high-octane thrill ride through a neon-soaked cyberpunk world. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2299215130112875/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Smash Drums - A Must-have if you enjoy rockband-type games. Beat to the rhythm and smash your way through challenging drumming levels in this energetic VR music game. With catchy tunes and addictive gameplay, it's a drumming experience like no other https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3630025217090808/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Step into the Star Wars universe and embark on thrilling adventures in this immersive VR experience. With iconic characters and epic storylines, it's a must-play for fans of the galaxy far, far away. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3484270071659289/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Survival Nation - Fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic world filled with danger and uncertainty in this intense VR shooter. Realistic gunplay and challenging missionshttps://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/6198564290223186/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Swordsman - Channel your inner warrior and master the art of swordsmanship in this action-packed VR game. Precise combat mechanics and epic battles. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/4478419005520485/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Synth Riders - Groove to the beat and ride the rhythm in this electrifying VR music game. With vibrant visuals and intuitive gameplay, it's a dance party like no other. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2436558143118760/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Tennis Esports - BEST TENNIS GAME. Do you want to play VR Tennis? Look no further https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/4872542182873415/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• The Last Clockwinder - Award Winning. Embark on a magical journey through time in this enchanting VR puzzle adventure. With intricate mechanisms & charming visuals, it's a whimsical experience. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/4837365566303714/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners - Top Rated. Survive the zombie apocalypse and make tough choices in this gripping VR survival game. With immersive storytelling and intense combat, it's a harrowing journey through the world of The Walking Dead. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2897337400373711/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners 2 Retribution - Top Rated. Return to the post-apocalyptic world and continue your fight for survival in this thrilling VR sequel. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/5190288877703616/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Unplugged Air Guitar - If you like rockband/guitar hero type games then this will take your experience to the next level. Shred like a rockstar in this immersive VR air guitar simulator. With realistic guitar mechanics, hand tracking, and a killer soundtrack, it's a virtual jam session that will leave you feeling like a true rock legend. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/4714094898617280/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Ven VR Adventure - Top Rated! Embark on an epic quest through vibrant worlds and challenging obstacles in this exciting VR platformer. With colorful visuals and thrilling gameplay, it's an adventure you won't soon forget. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3327317663977182/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Vermillion - VR Painting - Best Painting Game. Unleash your creativity and paint in 3D space with this innovative VR art tool. With endless possibilities and intuitive controls, it's a digital canvas where your imagination can run wild. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/4900967296622279/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Virtual Desktop - If you plan on using PCVR then virtual Desktop is a must-have app. Makes games perform better optimize settings https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2017050365004772/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Walkabout Mini Golf - A Must-Have Game! Tee off and sink some putts in this charming VR mini-golf game. With creative courses and fun multiplayer modes, it's a hole-in-one for fans of the classic sport. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2462678267173943/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Warplanes: Battles over the Pacific - Take to the skies and engage in thrilling aerial combat in this action-packed VR flight simulator. Realistic planes and intense dogfights. BEST FLIGHT SIM series in meta quest store. https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3984056454948095/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Warplanes: WWI Fighters Amazing sequel. 10 out of 10 for both games https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3922378427824210/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Yupitergrad - Swing, climb, and soar through a space station in this gravity-defying adventure. Innovative locomotion mechanics and challenging puzzles One of the most creative puzzle games since Portal 2. Swinging is very easy to get the hang of and the puzzles can be challenging https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3622969487764448/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Zero Caliber: Reloaded - Intense ZOMBIE MODE, SINGLE PLAYER CAMPAIGN, CO-OP MODE, PvP GAME MODES, SURVIVAL MODE. MOD SUPPORT https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/3591949650852844/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral
• Zombieland: Headshot Fever - Top-rated and award-winning game. Never gets old https://www.oculus.com/appreferrals/JJtheoutlaw/2792447070854325/?utm_source=oculus&utm_location=2&utm_parent=frl&utm_medium=app_referral

Games:
Main games:

• Sonic the Hedgehog 1
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sonic the Hedgehog CD
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3
• Sonic the Hedgehog & Knuckles (has lock-on technology for 1, 2 & 3)
• Sonic X-treme
• Sonic Saturn
• Sonic Adventure
• Sonic Adventure 2
• Sonic Heroes
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) (has modified version which makes the game less frustrating, while keeping close to the source)
• Sonic Unleashed
• Sonic Advance
• Sonic Advance 2
• Sonic Advance 3
• Sonic Battle
• Sonic Rush
• Sonic Rush Adventure
• Sonic Colors
• Sonic Generations
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2
• Sonic Lost World
• Sonic Mania
• Sonic Forces
• Sonic Frontiers
• Sonic Superstars

Spin-offs:

• Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System)
• Sonic Spinball (both Mega Drive & Master System versions)
• Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (both Mega Drive & Master System versions)
• Sonic Drift
• Sonic Drift 2
• Sonic Chaos
• Sonic Triple Trouble
• Tails' Skypatrol
• Tails Adventure
• Sonic Labyrinth
• Sonic Blast
• Knuckles' Chaotix
• Sonic 3D Blast (both Mega Drive & Saturn versions)
• Sonic R (also has modified version which improves controls & character balancing and adds more tracks & characters)
• Sonic the Fighters
• Sonic Shuffle
• Shadow the Hedgehog (has modified version which makes the game less frustrating, while keeping close to the source)
• Sonic Pinball Party
• Sonic Rivals
• Sonic Rivals 2
• Sonic Riders
• Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
• Sonic Free Riders (controller version)
• Sonic and the Secret Ring
• Sonic and the Black Knight
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal
• Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (has modified version which makes the game less frustrating, while keeping close to the source)
• Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal
• Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice
• Team Sonic Racing
• Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
• Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
• All Sega Superstars games
• All SegaSonic games
• Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car
• All LCD games
• All mobile games by Hardlight
• Sonic Eraser

Beta versions & prototypes:

• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Nick Arcade Beta)
• Sonic Adventure 2: The Trial
• Sonic Heroes (E3 Build)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (XBLA Demo)

All games include all versions, with main being definitive, pre-order bonuses, betas, prototypes & DLCs as well as fixing all glitches. Game Gear versions of applicated Master System games included. You can also transfer your progress from every game starting from Mania.
Media
Comic

• Every single comic ever, including fleetway, archie & IDW

Video:

• All episodes of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (including pilot & Christmas Blast)
• All episodes of SatAM
• All episodes of Sonic Underground
• Both parts of Sonic OVA
• All episodes of Sonic X (both English & Japanese versions available)
• All episodes of Sonic Boom
• All episodes of Sonic Prime
• Sonic Movie 1, 2 & 3
• All cancelled projects
• All episodes of Knuckles series
• Various interviews
• Various game trailers (including for unreleased games)
• All Sonic shorts (from Sonic the Animation to Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings)
• All internet streams
• Sonic the Hedgehog (All trailers)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (All trailers)
• Everything from Sonic World

Misc.

• Sonic World from Sonic Jam
• Music library for every game
• Every concept, official art and every character bios
• Settings of Sonic 1, 2, 3, Knuckles & CD with changes from Origins
• All features from Sonic Origins Plus & Sonic Jam

Hello aspiring adventurers!
Make sure to enter the code after you buy the game and BEFORE you start up your subscription to get your rewards.
How to redeem:

1. Login to your FFXIV account on the Mogstation: https://sqex.to/msp
2. "Registration Codes" on the left-hand side menu
3. Click "Enter Recruitment Code" and enter the code: WYGAJVCF

What you'll get:
A) Friendship Circlet - Increases EXP earned by 20% when level 25 and below
B) Aetheryte Ticket x 99 - To teleport to different zones with no cost!
C) 10 Silver Chocobo Feathers - To trade in for high level gear (You can trade these at any Calamity Salvager NPC in Gridania, Limsa Lominsa or Ul'dah)
D) Ballroom Etiquette: Improper Greetings - It allows you to do "Fist Bump" emote! (/fistbump, /brofist)

Imagine this: Your business is growing, and with it, the number of customer inquiries. You're overwhelmed, your team is stretched thin, and customer satisfaction is slipping. This scenario is all too common, but there's a solution that can transform your customer service experience—Algomo Imagine this: Your business is growing, and with it, the number of customer inquiries. You're overwhelmed, your team is stretched thin, and customer satisfaction is slipping. This scenario is all too common, but there's a solution that can transform your customer service experience—Algomo.
Algomo is making waves in the industry with its advanced AI capabilities, designed to streamline customer support and enhance user satisfaction. In this article, I’ll delve into what makes Algomo reputable, how it addresses key pain points, and why it might be the perfect tool for your business.
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What Exactly is Algomo?

Algomo is a generative AI-powered platform that automates customer support through intelligent chatbots. Algomo integrates seamlessly with existing systems, providing rapid responses to customer inquiries, handling repetitive tasks, and escalating complex issues to human agents when necessary. With its multilingual capabilities, Algomo ensures smooth communication with customers worldwide, making it an ideal tool for businesses looking to scale their operations effectively.

Algomo Overview and History

Algomo was founded with the vision of revolutionizing customer service through AI innovation. The company’s journey began with the recognition of a growing need for efficient and scalable customer support solutions. The founders developed Algomo to automate routine tasks while preserving the human touch that customers value.
From its inception, Algomo has rapidly expanded, serving various industries like e-commerce, SaaS, and travel. The company stands for continuous improvement and dedication to providing exceptional customer experiences. Algomo’s mission is to empower businesses to deliver superior customer service, reduce operational costs, and foster growth through innovative AI technology.
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Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Automated Customer Support: Reduces response times and operational costs.
2. Multilingual Capabilities: Supports over 100 languages, ideal for global businesses.
3. Easy Integration: Compatible with tools like Slack, HubSpot, and Google Analytics.
4. High Resolution Rate: Achieves up to 85% resolution rate for customer inquiries.
5. Proactive Engagement: Recognizes keywords to provide timely interventions.
6. Data-Driven Insights: Gathers and analyzes customer data to improve service delivery.

Cons

1. Initial Setup Cost: May be high for small businesses.
2. Learning Curve: Some users may require time to adapt to the new system.
3. Dependence on Internet: Requires a stable internet connection for optimal performance.

Features

Did you know Algomo can do this? How could these features help you?

Rapid Automation

Algomo sets up a ChatGPT-powered bot in less than four minutes, allowing businesses to quickly automate customer support interactions. This feature is ideal for those needing immediate operational efficiency.
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Multilingual Support

Supporting over 100 languages, Algomo breaks down communication barriers, ensuring smooth interactions with a global customer base. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with diverse clientele.

High Resolution Rate

With an impressive resolution rate of 85%, Algomo effectively addresses and resolves customer inquiries. This ensures your customers receive timely and accurate responses, enhancing their overall experience.

Proactive Customer Engagement

Algomo recognizes keywords like "urgent" or "complaint," ensuring timely intervention and resolution. This feature helps manage potential issues before they escalate, maintaining high customer satisfaction levels.

Data-Driven Insights

Leveraging generative AI, Algomo gathers crucial customer information to facilitate personalized service delivery. These insights help understand customer preferences and improve service strategies.

Multichannel Interactions

Algomo supports interactions via SMS, email, web chat, and more, providing a consistent experience across all platforms. This ensures your customers can reach you through their preferred channels, enhancing their convenience.

Pricing

Overview

Algomo offers competitive pricing compared to the market average, providing significant value with its extensive features.
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Startup Plan ($9/Month)

• 100 Bot Conversations/Month
• 1 Chatbot
• 1 Live Chat Widget
• 1 Seat
• Unlimited Live Chat Conversations with Human Agents
• Reply from Email
• 100+ Languages Supported
• Live Chat Translation
• Shared Inbox to Manage Conversations with Human Agents
• Integration with Zapier, HubSpot

Pro Plan ($49/Month)

• 10,000 Bot Conversations/Month
• 2 Chatbots
• 2 Live Chat Widgets
• 3 Seats
• Advanced Analytics
• API Access
• Reply from Slack
• 60-Day Conversation History

Scale Plan ($499/Month)

• Unlimited Bot Conversations
• Unlimited Bots and Widgets
• Unlimited Seats
• Dedicated Priority Support
• White Glove Onboarding
• Custom Features
• Advanced Analytics
• API Access

Who’s Going to Love Algomo the Most?

E-commerce Platforms

Algomo personalizes product recommendations and provides real-time order updates, enhancing the shopping experience. E-commerce businesses can benefit from improved customer satisfaction and increased sales.

SaaS Companies

Algomo automates customer support, allowing the team to focus on growth and innovation. SaaS companies can efficiently handle customer inquiries, reducing the workload on support teams.

Travel and Hospitality

Algomo automatically resolves common traveler queries and integrates with GDS for instant quotes, enhancing customer satisfaction. Travel companies can provide timely assistance to travelers, improving their overall experience.
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Benefits of Using Algomo

Increased Efficiency: Algomo automates repetitive tasks, freeing up human agents for more complex issues.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Algomo provides quick, accurate responses, improving overall customer experience.
Cost Reduction: Algomo lowers operational costs by automating routine inquiries.
Scalability: Algomo easily handles increased customer interactions as your business grows.
Global Reach: Algomo's multilingual support ensures effective communication with international customers.
Proactive Engagement: Algomo identifies and addresses issues before they escalate, ensuring customer satisfaction.

Customer Support

Algomo offers responsive customer support through multiple channels, including email, chat, and phone. The support team is known for their prompt responses and expertise, ensuring any issues are quickly resolved. Additionally, Algomo provides comprehensive onboarding and training to help businesses get the most out of their platform. The customer support team is available 24/7, ensuring that your business operations run smoothly without any interruptions.

External Reviews and Ratings

Algomo has received positive reviews from various sources, with users praising its efficiency and ease of use. It boasts high ratings on platforms like G2 and Capterra, where customers highlight its robust features and excellent customer support. According to these reviews, Algomo's AI capabilities have significantly improved customer service operations for many businesses, making it a highly recommended tool.

Educational Resources and Community

Algomo provides a wealth of educational content, including blogs, video tutorials, and webinars. These resources help users understand how to maximize the platform's capabilities. The platform also has an active online community where users and content creators share tips, best practices, and insights, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This community support is invaluable for both new and experienced users looking to enhance their customer service strategies.

Conclusion

Algomo is a game-changer for businesses looking to enhance their customer service operations through AI. Its comprehensive features, ease of integration, and robust support make it a valuable addition to any customer service strategy. If you're ready to take your customer support to the next level, I highly recommend checking out Algomo.
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About 2 years ago I've posted a very similar text already. It didn't gain much traction, but that doesn't mean that it was or is in vain.
"Forget MOASS - we're here for the long term!!!" "GME / RC diluted the company and fucked us!" "They killed our efforts to lock the float!" "3 Years and DRS is still not working" "OPTIONS GOOD - OPTIONS BAD - DONT TALK ABOUT OPTIONS!!!" "MOASS will hurt the savings of innocent people!!"
These are just a very few of narratives we've seen being spread for months or even years. Sometimes blunt, sometimes more subtle. Sometimes by stupid bots, sometimes by accounts which have been used to post by regular human beings. And some of them, are even paid to do so and so i would, again, like to share some thoughts with those, who actually are paid to post FUD to see, why they are definitely on the wrong side of the game. Shills as most would say.
I do totally understand you. I really do. I mean: Come on - if some dude reached out to you and offered you up to a few hundred dollars just to post stuff on some online forum you're not really involved with - who wouldnt be at least thinking about it?Its quite tempting, isn't it? Sure, those higher numbers get offered mostly to more popular people within the sub - but still $20 can be a high amount of money if you're living in a more poor country in this world. You have family. Maybe kids. Life is hard and its quite easy money. Of course you did it.
So now you're here. Posting the stuff you get ordered to. Post fake DD. Insult and attack people. Try to scare them. Try to anchor prices targets. Try to get them to sell for some ridiculous low prices like $50, $300, $1000 and so on. You get new colleagues, new templates, new prepared posts and they put more and more and more money, time and effort into this whole campaign against us.
Maybe you've already wondered yourself about this whole thing. But if not - i would like to give you another point of view - one that could change your life forever.
Why did you get this job? Why do they pay you to do all of this?
Its quite simple. Its because we're right. They fucked up. They fucked up BIG TIME. And we know it. They know it. They are desperate. Now they are relying on the little guy - just like you - to fix this whole game that they've once rigged to win every single round of it. They've destroyed the life of hundreds of thousands, even millions of people so they could gain more money, more power while others suffer until their last breath. Now they pay you peanuts to do the dirty work for them so they can continue with their fuckery. Kind of ironic, isn't it? They need people like you - the ones they are shitting on, on a daily basis to fix their problem. They need you to fight us.
So why could this change your life? Its quite easy. Your job - the pure existence of it - is the proof that we all here are right. So why continue fighting us if you could join us? Why not buy a few shares and transform your whole life instead of insulting people and spreading wrong facts? You wanna be THAT guy? You truely want to be this way? Sure, you could say "why not both?" and continue your job and use the money to buy those shares. But that wouldn't be very wise of you - as you would attack the cause and your own goal for some peanutes. Ask yourself - if we were wrong and not important to them - why do they pay you? Are they stupid? Probably not. Actually i think that we're up against some of the smartest and also wealthiest people. But they still fucked up so big that they cannot return from the path they've chosen.
It's your choice. You - probably more than any of us - are the living proof that we're right. The messages you've got, the job you've done, the templates you've posted - its all there. Right before your very eyes.
Why be on the side of evil and corrupt people who did hurt you in the past one way or the other, for peanuts, if you can join the side of the people and probably earn millions?
Its your choice.

Expansion on the Horizon?
With the recent news of the National Basketball Association reaching a deal with the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), ESPN, and Amazon to produce NBA broadcasts in the United States beginning in the 2025-26 NBA season, there has also been talk of the NBA expanding when the new media rights deal kicks in. Adam Silver has mentioned interest in league expansion in the future with cities like Seattle and Las Vegas among the frontrunners for a future NBA franchise.
FRONTRUNNERS
Seattle
Seattle is a front runner to get a new NBA franchise, and are on the top of the list following the recent renovations completed at Climate Pledge Arena to house the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League. It has been a long time coming for Seattle and their SuperSonics, the original franchise had relocated to Oklahoma City prior to the start of the 2008-09 season, and an expansion team would be more than welcome in the Emerald City. With a population of over 4 million, Seattle is currently the largest city without a major NBA franchise and in doing so would become one of the many cities in the United States to house the Big Four major league teams in one city (NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL).
Las Vegas
A city that the big leagues have avoided for many years due to concerns about gambling, the Sin City has appeared to be a prime destination for major sports franchises in the city. Since 2017, Las Vegas has been home to the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League, and in 2020, became the capital of Raider Nation when the Oakland Raiders relocated to the city. With a metropolitan population of 2.227 million, they will next become home to the Oakland Athletics in 2028. There have been attempts in recent years to build a basketball resort that would house an NBA franchise but the recently built T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada is the best bet to become home to a major NBA team, and its mayor Beverly Goodman would love to see a team in the city. Potential names for the franchise include: Outlaws, Rattlers, Venom, Vipers, and Vultures.
GETTING THERE
Vancouver
It has been 23 years since the city lost the Vancouver Grizzlies of 1995-2001 to the city of Memphis. Vancouver has the third highest population in Canada. With a recent population boom in the city, and that number expected to go up, it makes sense that Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is in the conversation for an NBA franchise again. They have Rogers Arena which underwent renovations in the offseason last year, and are expected to continue through this offseason and the next, there is reason to believe the NBA will be going back to the city sooner rather than later. There are currently pitches on social media to bring a team back to the city but the price is high. Former NBA players Andre Igoudala, Evan Turner and JJ Redick all agree that the NBA should go to Vancouver. One problem that this creates is that the Vancouver NBA franchise would have to get a new name. Vancouver is currently home to a CEBL team in the Vancouver Bandits. Potential team names vary: Crows, Totems, Lumberjacks, and Brigade are all team names to consider.
Montreal
Montreal is no stranger to having two major league franchises in the city at the same time, seeing as the Montreal Expos played in the city from 1968-2004, and the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League, boasting 24 Stanley Cups in their franchise history. The city is the second most populous in all of Canada and there is growing interest in the sport among its population. The Bell Centre would quickly tie the United Center as the second largest arena with a capacity of 21,000, and have proven they are NBA ready. With the team having lost a second chance at the Expos, I feel like the city should focus their attention on a NBA franchise for their city. Potential team names include: Cougars, Marmots, Matrix, and Miracles. Like Vancouver, the city is currently home to a Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) team in the Montreal Alliance.
Kansas City
Currently home to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, as well as the Kansas City Royals of MLB, the city has an NBA (and NHL ready) arena in T-Mobile Center which has been sitting unused for the most part since the venue opened in 2007. The city has hosted the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament every year since 2010, and it has proven more than ready. Kansas City has a larger population than Milwaukee, OKC, New Orleans and Memphis which makes it a good fit for the city. The city was also previously home to the now Sacramento Kings, when the team played in Kansas City from 1972 to 1985 including games played in Omaha.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has had a storied history in the world of basketball, with the city hosting the Pipers/Condors of the old American Basketball Association from 1967-68, and 1969-1972, along with the Pittsburgh Phantoms, Rens, and IronMen at various points in the city’s history. Having three teams in the major four leagues (Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates), a Pittsburgh team would be a welcome addition to the city. Having a Pittsburgh team will help with a future rivalry between them and the existing Philadelphia 76ers. The team also has an arena ready for the NBA in PPG Paints Arena, which opened in 2010 for the Penguins. Any team name involving the five would be considered for the team in the future.
Louisville
Louisville is one of the largest markets in the United States without any of the big four major franchises. They have always been a city looking to lure major franchises from the NBA in but have not been successful. For that reason, I think they are a long shot, but they aren’t necessarily out of the race just yet. The city has hosted numerous college tournaments and has two NBA ready venues in KFC Yum! Center, opened in 2010, and at Freedom Hall, opened in 1956. Like Pittsburgh, the city was home to the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA, but ceased to exist in 1976 when they were left out of the merger between the ABA and NBA. I anticipate a revival of the Colonels name with a partnership from KFC and Yum! Brands.
LONGSHOT
San Diego-Tijuana
San Diego was previously home to the Rockets before they moved to Houston, the Los Angeles Clippers before they moved to the City of Angels following their relocation from Buffalo, New York, and the ABA’s San Diego Conquistadors/Sails. It is also the largest market after Seattle without any combination of the major leagues of sports in North America, following the relocation of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers in 2017, boasting a metro population of 5.6 million residents. It will be one of the last teams to get expansion franchises in the league as the San Diego Sports Arena is due for a major renovation that will see the NBA return to the city and make it appealing. Potential names include: Conquistadors, Sails, Fleet and more.
Mexico City
The only non Canadian or American city on the list, the city is currently home to an NBA G League team based in the city since 2022. Mexico City has two arenas ready to host basketball with the Mexico City Arena playing host to the team, having been opened in 2012. Having hosted NBA games in the past, the arena has a 22,300 capacity which would make it the largest venue in the National Basketball Association in the event of an expansion team arriving. I think this would be a long shot considering the alignment issues should the NBA go to 36 teams.
Conclusions: In the event expansion were to occur, Seattle and Las Vegas would be the two cities that would enter the league first. To account for the arrival of the two cities, the league would have to realign their divisions to account for the arriving teams and for future expansion teams coming into the league. I predict that they will move the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans to the Eastern Conference and they would be part of a new division in the realignment. Now the expansion would otherwise be west heavy thanks to the addition of Kansas City, Las Vegas, Mexico City Seattle, and Vancouver, with only one team in Montreal. The eastern conference is already loaded with teams and even I had a bit of trouble with the realignment, but below is what I have for a 36 team realignment.
Western Conference: Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Kansas City NBA team Las Vegas NBA team Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Mexico City NBA team Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Sacramento Kings San Antonio Spurs Seattle SuperSonics (II) Utah Jazz Vancouver NBA team
Eastern Conference: Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Charlotte Hornets Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat Milwaukee Bucks Montreal NBA team New Orleans Pelicans New York Knicks Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors Washington Wizards
Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors Las Vegas NBA team Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Sacramento Kings Seattle SuperSonics (II) Vancouver NBA team
West-Central Division: Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Houston Rockets Kansas City NBA team Mexico City NBA team Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs Utah Jazz
Mideastern Division: Atlanta Hawks Charlotte Hornets Indiana Pacers Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat New Orleans Pelicans Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers Washington Wizards
Metropolitan Division: Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Milwaukee Bucks Montreal NBA team New York Knicks Toronto Raptors

With thanks to all who helped create this guide!
This event will run from Tuesday, May 28 until 20:00 GMT on Friday, May 31; to participate you will need version 11.3.0 or later, at least 100 dragon power, and a high quality, stable internet connection.
Please keep event-specific questions and discussions in this thread; good luck and happy merging!
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Event Notes

• Early reports say timers are only showing the event as lasting 2 days instead of the usual 3; we’ve reached out to the devs for clarification on that and will post here as soon as we have more info
• It is possible to get the fast dragon first, but somewhat tricky.
• There are no Infinite Harvestable used as keys, and lower level items can safely be deleted if uncovered.
• WARNING: Many locks hold dead land that must be healed to earn the Event Quest rewards, and some have keys that cannot be replaced if accidentally merged or tapped too early.
  • The higher Autumn Trees in particular are causing problems for multiple players; levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 are all used as keys.
  • The Fallen Star lock is another potential trap point; there is dead land behind it and no way to get a replacement once it’s gone (but there is a spare L6 Pinkberry Autumn Tree hiding back there).
• This is the second outing of this new map for the Carnival theme; the first edition’s megathread has a lot of helpful player discussion in the comments section. Link

Elsewhere in the Game:

• A new player-vs-player mini-event called “Race Event” is out for beta-testing to a very small number of users. (Link 1), (Link 2), (Link 3)
• REMINDER: Before closing your game, or when moving from the event level to your camp, always exit to the World Map screen and pause there until everything’s fully loaded to trigger the game to save your progress.
• Popular Links:
  • Dens List
  • Friend Tag Exchange
  • 2024 Event Schedule — Now updated for June

 

FLOWER FESTIVAL CLOUD KEY MAP

 

CLOUD KEY LIST

^{Tap a key item to go to its wiki page for more info and hi-def images}

• L2 Life Flower (clear)
• L3 Dragon Tears
• L1 Lil' Autumn Tree Sprout
• L1 Destroyed Gaia Statue (dead land)
• L4 Bushy Autumn Tree
• L4 Elixir of Life
  • L5 Mystical Autumn Tree
• L8 Festive Parasol
• L6 Pinkberry Autumn Tree
  • L7 Fancy Autumn Tree
  • L2 Fallen Star (dead land)
• L5 Conjuring Spell
• L5 Wonderous Life Orb
• Tanzanite Mystery Nest
• Golden Capsule

 

EVENT-SPECIFIC CHAINS

• Point items: Carnival Objects
• Infinite Harvestables: Carnival Carts
• Consumable Harvestables: Carnival Masks
• Event Chests: Carnival Chests

 

EVENT QUESTS

• 1.1 Merge 5 of Anything — 150 times
• 1.2 Creat a Level 7 Point Item (Parade Drums) — 5 times
• 1.3 Harvest from a Level 3 Consumable Harvestable (Golden Jolly Mask) — 75 times
• 2.1 Harvest from a Twin Life Flower — 200 times
• 2.2 Harvest from Dead Plants — 75 times
• 2.3 Create a Life Orb of the Heavens — 3 times
• 3.1 Heal Land — 35 tiles
• 3.2 Have Healed Land — 350 tiles
• 3.3 Have Healed Land — 675 tiles
• 3.4 Heal All the Land

 

EVENT POINT REQUIREMENTS

• Prize 1: 3 pts (3 total)
• Prize 2: 22 (25)
• Prize 3: 235 (260)
• Prize 4: 420 (680)
• Prize 5: 640 (1,320)
• Prize 6: 960 (2,280)
• Prize 7: 4,470 (6,750)
• Prize 8: 5,400 (12,150)
• Prize 9: 6,570 (18,720)
• Prize 10: 11,230 (29,950)

 

FEATURED REWARDS

^{A = featured in Arcadia; S = Shiny capable; N = New}

• Main trophy breed: Samba (A)
• Secondary trophy breed: Magician (S)
• Tertiary breed: Wise
• Event Trophy Item: Royal Feather Mask
  • Spawned eggs: Jester (AS)
  • Tappable eggs: Samba (A)

 

RUSH REWARDS

^{Note: Rewards shown are for Event Portal Level 16}

• Legend (under 12 hours)
  • Main Breed: 20x nests, 5x L1, 5x L2, 3x L3, 3x L4
  • Secondary Breed: 20x nests, 5x L3, 3x L4
  • Tertiary Breed: 7x L2
  • 3x L4 Fruit Trees
• Champion (under 24 hours)
  • Main Breed 1: 11x nests, 6x L1, 5x L2, 3x L3
  • Secondary Breed: 9x nests, 2x L3, 1x L4
  • Tertiary Breed 3: 12x L2
  • 2x L4 Fruit Trees, 1x Super Egg Fragment
• Hero (under 36 hours)
  • Main Breed: 5x nests, 4x L1, 3x L2, 3x L3
  • Secondary Breed: 5x nests, 3x L3
  • 1x L4 Fruit Tree, 1x L2 Hill, 1x Super Egg Fragment

 

EVENT FAQs

• The Event Shop and Capsules appear after you’ve healed 30-70 tiles; after that a free Bronze Capsule can be collected every 3 hours.
• It takes 5 or 6 level 9 Life Orb of the Heavens to clear all the 5k+ land, depending on how much you heal by merging items off dead land.
• To collect both the full set of Points Prizes and any level of Rush Rewards, you will need to earn 29,950 points.
  • Reaching this amount requires 1x Level 9 points item, 1x L8 item, 2x L7 items, and 2x L6 items (or just aim for 2x L9 points items).
• There’s always enough material to merge by 3s when making Key items.
• Caves must be tapped to spawn a Zomblin; only one event Zomblin lives in each cave, and it turns into Stinky Cheese when killed.
• The Gold Capsule, Fallen Star, and Tanzanite Nest are hiding near the far edge of the map, on tiles requiring 50k energy to heal.
• Infinite Harvestables:
  • There are 9x Level 1, 3x L2, 1x L3, 2x L4, and 2x L5 Infinite Harvestables (Carnival Carts) on the map; you can delete one level 1 and one level 2 and still have enough to make a level 6, as long as you 5-merge whenever possible.
  • NOTE: There are no Infinite Harvestable used as keys, and lower level items can safely be deleted if uncovered.
• Consumable/Limited Harvestables:
  • Each 1x2 Golden Jolly Mask can be harvested 25 times; 75 total harvests are needed to complete Quest 1.3.
  • Each harvest of the big 2x2 Peacock Mask at the back of the map yields a 10% chance of spawning an extra Golden Jolly Mask.
  • Once all available Golden Jolly Mask and the Peacock Mask are gone, there is no way to get more.
• Strategy advice:
  • Spending money or gems is NEVER required to complete an event, nor is using an auto-clicker or other exploits.
  • The number and level of possible reward items is determined by your Event Portal level; working to raise that to its maximum of L16 is one of the best ways to boost your overall progress in the game
  • A good basic introduction to events is available here on the Fandom Wiki; there’s also some Wiki event guides and tips articles here and here, and a whole collection of general guides and tutorials here
  • Additional general event strategy advice (active vs passive or idle play, etc) can be found in the Community FAQ and in these threads: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, and Link 4.
  • For active players wanting more dragons, the Prism Flower method is a good option: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3. Note: this technique is only for active play; since only 2 dragons at a time will harvest when left on their own, having more will actually slow down idle harvesting.
  • A recently shared strategy using the Hills chain here can greatly increase Life Flower production, but it usually takes a few gems (maximum of 80, but less if you get some in capsules)
• Carnival event theme’s main wiki page.
• Previous Similar Events:
  • January 2024 - Flower Festival
  • February 2023 - Fun Fair
  • October 2022 - Fun Fair
  • July 2022 - Fun Fair
  • April 2022 - April Fools’ Day

 

EVENT TROUBLESHOOTING

If the event is not showing up correctly or if glitches are affecting your play:

1. Check that you meet the version and dragon power requirements.
2. Try hard-closing and then relaunching your game.
3. Try rebooting your device (ie, turn it completely off, then back on and allow it to fully boot up before relaunching the game). If you are on wifi and have access to the router, try rebooting that, too.
4. Try switching to a completely different internet source.
5. Try clearing your game’s cache (google for instructions for your specific phone type).
6. If you’re suddenly experiencing multiple issues like lagging or error messages (or if the event vanishes completely), close the game and try again after 2-3 hours. Events are internet-based, and sometimes issues with the servers can cause temporary problems — all we can do for that is to wait it out.
7. If none of the above helps, contact Gram Games Support through the in-game link or the Support Web Portal for help figuring out what’s wrong.

• NOTE: Cloud Save is still unreliable: according to the developer, it is not safe to be used and should be left turned off.
• NOTE: Saving your Progress: Make sure to save your progress by traveling to the World Map screen (and waiting there until everything’s fully loaded) regularly, and especially before closing your game.
• Glitch: Missing sell/delete option If your task bar is missing the option to delete dimension jars or other items, you can start with the standard troubleshooting methods; if those don’t trigger a fix, replaying a few levels or working in your camp for a while have reportedly helped.
• Glitch: Event level only shows clouds If your event screen shows only clouds instead of the map, check that you are zoomed all the way out. If you are and it still won’t show, try collecting one of the free Bronze Capsules (you may need to wait for the timer to count down).
• Glitch: Missing rewards/Game crashes after collecting rewards Exiting directly from the event level to your Camp can trigger a crash and loss of items; always exit to the World Map screen first — and pause there until everything’s fully loaded — to trigger the game to save your progress, then enter your Camp.

edits are on-going

Kurt Angle, often regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in history and with good reason. The man who won an Olympic gold medal with a broken neck came onto the scene in WWE between late 1999 and early 2000.
He went on to carve out an incredible career for himself, winning world titles the world over. Whether it was WWE, TNA or even NJPW - Angle made sure to leave an impact everywhere he went.
What if things were different though? What if Kurt Angle never debuted in the attitude era and instead, at the prime age of 32, Kurt Angle debuted in the wrestling world we know today?
Who would he cross paths with? Would he reach the same heights he did in his day? I intend to explore this topic and find out for myself.
Can The Wrestling Machine thrive in the Renaissance Era? Only time will tell...
The year is 2023 and Kurt Angle arrives on the scene, he's well known as is from his historic feat in 2021, when he won a gold medal with a broken neck at the Summer Olympics.
Many would expect Kurt to chase this success into something significant, but many are surprised and intrigued when it's made clear what his future goals are.
To transition into the world of sports entertainment and become a professional wrestler.
He spends his first year working the independent scene, making appearances in GCW specifically. There, he ends up having standout matches with the likes of Brian Cage and Powerhouse Hobbs who make special guest appearances to lock up with the hot commodity. He even has a half-decent match with Jake Hager, in a bout that seems like it could've been something special if Hager was about a decade younger and still The All American American.
By the time June 2024 rolls around, dirt sheets are speculating that most of the major professional wrestling companies are showing great interest in Kurt, but it's likely he will turn up in WWE due to their extensive track record transitioning athletes from various walks of life and countless different sports.
Imagine everyones surprise then, when Hiroshi Tanahashi announces NJPW has signed Kurt Angle, not to a full time contract but for a very exciting purpose indeed.
The G1 Climax.
Along with him in B Block are seven other supremely talented athletes, some of NJPW's finest along with a couple of freelancers from other promotions.
NJPW, G1 Climax 34 - Night 1, July 15, 2024:
Eddie Kingston vs Kurt Angle
[Kurt's first match of the G1 comes in the form of the Mad King, Eddie Kingston. Eddie's striking and submission based aggression pairs well with Kurt's grappling and limb targeting. Angle is able to rattle Eddie throughout the match with throws and suplexes, as well as his ability to outmaneuver Eddie's submission attempts.
The match comes to a close as Eddie comes out of the corner with a Uraken to a wobbly Angle. Kurt ducks and latches on for a German Suplex, maintaining waist control, a second German Suplex, yet again. Kurt pulls Kingston up to complete the trio, but Eddie hooks onto the top turnbuckle. Kurt shows his strength, suplexing Kingston as the padding goes flying.
Kurt tries for an Angle Slam, but Kingston finds his footing behind Kurt, and grips hold of the neck, cinching a bulldog choke. Kurt struggles up before marching towards the corner and diving downwards, thus driving Eddie skull first into the exposed turnbuckle.
An Angle Slam follows, and Kurt secures a win in his NJPW debut.]
Kurt Angle (2) def Eddie Kingston (0)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 3, July 18, 2024:
Jeff Cobb vs Kurt Angle
[Kurt's second match of the G1 proves to be a very interesting one indeed. Jeff Cobb, a former olympian himself, is perhaps one of the only wrestlers on the planet who can match Angle regarding his knowledge of suplexes, throws, power maneuvers and grapples.
The match begins to near the end as Cobb has Angle up top in a deadlift stalling superplex, Angle is able to land on his feet behind Cobb and German Suplex Cobb off the middle turnbuckle.
Angle looks for an Angle Slam, but Cobb lands on his feet and tries for Tour Of The Islands, but Kurt scrambles free and lands a German Suplex, maintains waist control, Cobb breaks free and steps behind Angle, German Suplex, Angle does the same thing, Cobb gets fed up and hits a German Suplex that lands Angle flat on his face as Cobb releases the waist.
Cobb signals for the end and looks for a standing moonsault, Kurt avoids and hits a throwing German Suplex of his own. Angle scales the turnbuckles, moonsault! At the ref's count of two, Cobb sits up with Angle in his arms. Tour Of The Islands connects! Near-fall!
Cobb gets Angle up on his shoulder, Angle escapes and locks on to the ankle, Jeff rolls forward and sends Angle into the corner. Angle steps backwards into the arms of Cobb, Tour Of The Isl- Angle on his feet! Angle Slam!
Kurt begins to scale the ropes and lands another moonsault. With that, Cobb finally stays down and Angle is able to outlast his counterpart.]
Kurt Angle (4) def Jeff Cobb (0)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 5, July 21, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Kushida
[Taking into consideration Kushida's rather successful MMA background, this matchup seems like a no brainer. Both men are grappling gods well regarded as being submission experts. It's on full display when they finally face off in the G1.
Kushida has been vocal about his displeasure competing only in the Junior division and when put in the premier tournament of NJPW's year, he's eager to prove he belongs in the main event scene.
The story told here is Angle's non stop assault on the legs and ankles of Kushida, and in return Kushida relentlessly damaging the arms and wrists of Angle.
Kushida, despite the quickly deteriorating bones in his legs, is leech like with how determined he is to stay attached to the arm of Kurt. Angle Slam? Denied and turned into a Kimura Lock. Ankle Lock? Kushida rolls forward driving Angle shoulder first into the steel post, and then Kimura Lock. German Suplex? That's what you think, it's actually a Kimura Lock.
As Kushida continuously dissects the arm, Angle begins getting increasingly desperate. He dunks Kushida into the turnbuckles harshly. Onto the apron. Into the barricade. Taking more and more drastic measures to free himself and becoming less and less successful.
Eventually Kurt is in agony and nothing seems to shake Kushida, he climbs to the top rope, hoping a drop from that height will force release. Kushida lets go without Kurt even having to drop only to reapply and look for an arm drag variation off the top.
As Kushida goes to drop, Kurt grips to the ropes and Kushida lands in a tree of woe position. Kurt grabs hold of the ears of Kushida, pulling him up slightly, before shoving him down and forcing him to collide with the turnbuckles.
He drags Kushida up to the top rope, clearly looking for something big, but Kushida goes back in with the Kimura, Kurt begins driving Kushida into the top of the steel post before actually picking Kushida up with his bad arm only and slamming Kushida into the metal.
Kurt positions himself for one last gasp effort to thwart the colorfast Kushida. Angle Slam from the top turnbuckle! An exhausted Angle crawls to cover, and is at last able to defeat Kushida.
The question quickly becomes though, as the referee is refused the chance to even raise the arm of Angle, how much damage was done?]
Kurt Angle (6) def Kushida (2)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 7, July 25, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Matt Riddle
[Four nights after having his arm near surgically dissected by Kushida, Angle locks up against another skilled fighter endowed with MMA experience.
Riddle gives the challenge Cobb gave being able to match Angle on power, while also giving the challenge Kushida did with limb targeting and joint manipulation.
Riddle, entering his first G1 has arguably his biggest opportunity since joining NJPW earlier in the year. He spends the duration of the match peppering Angle with strikes to the arm, salting with submissions.
As the match nears it's own climax, Angle goes for a high risk moonsault only for Riddle to avoid. A final flash knee follows from the ever opportunistic Riddle. Kurt is able to kick-out, inspiring Riddle to try for a RainTrigger. Kurt blocks with his arm to avoid getting struck in the face. He winces and Riddle capitalizes with rapid palm strikes to the chest before kicking Kurt into the ropes.
As Angle rebounds, Riddle goes under the arm and tries for a falling pele kick, Kurt catches the leg and gets an Ankle Lock. Riddle is able to get back to his free foot, so Angle hits a leg trapped German Suplex to discourage a comeback.
Kurt tries for an Angle Slam, but Riddle maneuvers into a pinning predicament, Kurt reverses the pressure pinning Riddle's shoulders. They go back and forth until Kurt traps Matt in a sleeper hold. Riddle fires up to his feet and begins snapping Kurt's elbow over his shoulder to escape.
Riddle gets Kurt up for Bro To Sleep, Angle catches the leg and clings with an Ankle Lock. Riddle gets back to his feet and lands a surprise roundhouse with his free foot. A V-Trigger to the shoulder follows, before Riddle gets Angle in Tombstone position. Angle slithers down, and like a snake, latches onto the ankle.
Riddle crumples under the unexpected pressure as Kurt gets a knee baankle lock hybrid applied. He wrenches away on the Achilles tendon, as Riddle writhes in pain.
Matt nearly gets to the ropes, but Angle is able to roll with him back into the center of the ring. Eventually, Riddle has to think of the big picture and consider the matches he still has left in the tournament, and he submits to Kurt Angle.
Kurt is able to conquer another worthy adversary and remains undefeated in the tournament, but his arm is clearly bothering him and that is shown as Kurt takes time to nurse the injury after the bout.]
Kurt Angle (8) def Matt Riddle (4)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 9, July 27, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Minoru Suzuki:
[It's more bad news for Angle, as his next foe is regarded as arguably one of the most sadistic pro wrestlers of all time. Suzuki, known for his methodical approach and willingness to lay in with strikes, has him salivating at the prospect of getting his hands on the already wounded Kurt.
Angle is donning circulation tape as he locks up with the Murder Grandpa. Suzuki wastes little time in tearing at the tape, exposing the flesh beneath. Digging his elbow into the shoulder blade, he continues his attack on Kurt.
Knee drops and stiff chops leave a stinging sensation rippling through the arm of Angle. Kurt wants to execute his power maneuvers, but a lack of grip prevents him as he begins losing strength and ability with every blow to the shoulder.
Suzuki tucks Kurt's fragmented arm behind him, connecting with Russian Leg Sweeps and suplexes, landing Angle's weight harshly onto his own arm.
Kurt begins mounting something of a comeback against the relentless Suzuki. He keeps his arm close to his body, but is able to surprise Minoru with his explosiveness. He knows he can't lift Suzuki, and so turns to the aerial side of his arsenal.
A swan dive off the apron has Suzuki reeling and Angle is able to follow up with a moonsault into the ring. Angle tries to strike with his feet, connecting with dropkicks and enziguris.
Suzuki weathers the storm, however, and positions Angle for a Gotch-Style Piledriver. Angle is able to grasp onto the leg and sink down, refusing to let Suzuki power him up.
Angle goes under, maintaining his leg control, and gets an Ankle Lock applied. He struggles to keep it in for as long as possible, but the strength in his arm isn't present. Suzuki is able to kick Angle off of him, and Kurt goes into desperation mode. A wounded animal faced with an angry Minoru Suzuki.
Angle goes for a risky strategy, considering his lack of practice in this department, but he decides to use a leg oriented submission, given that his arms are unable to grip for long. He is able to reverse a Gotch-Style into a triangle choke, tightening his legs vice grip around the neck and applying pressure to the carotid.
Angle tries his damnedest, withstanding even a deadlift powerbomb and continuing his choke, to maintain his attack on Suzuki. It pays off as slowly, but surely, Suzuki loses the ability to breathe and is forced to tap out to Kurt Angle.]
Kurt Angle (10) def Minoru Suzuki (2)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 11, Aug 1, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Shingo Takagi
[It's out of the frying pan and into the fire as Angle survives Suzuki, but is now faced with arguably more aggressive competition, in the form of Shingo Takagi.
Angle is on the defensive for most of the bout, wanting to keep his perfect record intact, and knowing the danger of letting Shingo get ahold of his arm.
This also means Angle is less assertive, however, and Shingo is more willing to take risks to do damage to Kurt. Takagi gives Angle a taste of his own medicine as he begins repeatedly suplexing Angle, multiple Germans, landing Kurt on his bad shoulder. He mixes in other variations as well, optimizing the damage he can do to the arm.
Takagi also drives Angle, shoulder first into the steel post. When Angle slumps down, Takagi closes in with a running knee strike, popping Angle's shoulder into the turnbuckle.
Shingo dominates the course of the match, letting Angle get in little offense. Angle stirs, sitting up as he tries to catch his bearings on the canvas. Shingo spots Angle in position for a PUMPING BOMBER, Angle ducks, Angle Slam, Shingo on his feet to avoid, Made In Japan! Angle locks to the waist and reverses with a roll-up, Shingo rolls backwards to kick out, Shingo behind Angle, gets him up, Last Of The Dragons!
Angle planted right on his bad shoulder with authority by Takagi. Shingo gets rewarded for his effort with a very close near fall. Shingo pulls Angle up by his hair, forearm, after forearm, after forearm. Angle spits in the face of Takagi, refusing to go quietly for The Dragon. Shingo wipes his face calmly, before running the ropes, PUMPING BOMBER.
With that, Takagi has handed Angle his first singles career loss, and overtaken him in the G1 rankings.]
Shingo Takagi (11) def Kurt Angle (10)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 13, Aug 5, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Zack Sabre Jr.
[Finally, we arrive at Kurt's final test of this grueling tournament. The tournament that has left him clutching his arm in peril every night, the tournament that has left him blistered and bruised in the biggest tests of his young career, but most importantly, the tournament that put him on the map.
Angle, well regarded as a fantastic submission worker and grappler, takes aim at arguably the greatest submission based wrestler of all time, Zack Sabre Jr.
Angle's Olympian background makes for an intriguing contrast against Zack's more strike heavy, frenzied submission approach. Sabre Jr., one of the most shark like opponents you could have, rips at the arm of Angle in various ways.
Bending the arm back as he stands on the fingers before stamping the elbow sideways, penalty kicks to the forearm, palm strikes to the shoulder blade, using every opportunity to hang the arm over the ropes before being forced to release.
Zack has Angle in a pool of pain as he ascends for a diving knee drop to the arm, Angle avoids, catching Zack in mid air with an Ankle Lock. Zack scrambles, and rolls forward, sending Angle out of the ring.
Sabre goes to the apron, and attempts a diving uppercut, Angle catches him and flips him forward before getting him up for a powerbomb. Zack quickly shifts into an arm triangle, tearing at the arm. Angle drops Zack onto the barricade to no avail, but a firm drop onto the apron forces Zack to let Angle go.
Sabre Jr. is positioned against the stairs and Kurt charges in, Zack slips into the ring and Angle collides with the steel stairs. Baseball slide by Zack follows before he guides Angle to the steel barricade. He pops Angle's arm through the bars and uses his feet on the other side to pull Angle further in, trying to pull Angle through the fence.
Zack gets cocky, standing atop the barricade as he keeps his paws on Angle. Angle sweeps the legs and Sabre takes a nasty spill on top of the steel. An impromptu Angle Slam into the barricade follows before Angle sends Sabre Jr. back in.
Angle climbs, looking to put the finishing touches on Sabre Jr. A Moonsault by Angle caught with a triangle! Sabre Jr. wraps his legs around the neck of Angle, strangling The Wrestling Machine. Kurt powers up Sabre with his last bit of strength. He collapses Zack into the turnbuckles, shifting the ring with the force.
Angle recovers and rips Zack out of the corner into an Ankle Lock. He knows he can't maintain good grip with his arm, so he cinches down into a knee bar. Zack struggles for a while before finally finding the bottom rope. Zack gets an arm triangle over the ropes for a few seconds, before connecting with a kick from the apron.
Sabre dives back in, but Angle blocks the slingshot with an Ankle Lock. Zack swiftly rolls forward, and as Angle tries to roll backwards, Zack pins him down. Angle rolls backwards anyway with Zack and gets a German Suplex. Angle sits up and lets out a roar, before Zack stands up and kicks him in the back of the head. Both men collapse as the playing field is evened.
Angle and Sabre Jr. find themselves crawling back up in opposite corners. The crowd breaks into a clap building up to both men meeting in the center of the ring, unloading with strikes. Zack goes cheap with a falling kick to the bad arm. Zack steps on the knee of Angle before maneuvering over him and onto his arm where he then rolls into a cross armbreaker.
Angle fires up, and twists away at the ankle to turn into an Ankle Lock. Sabre rolls forward and turns it back into a cross armbreaker. Angle rolls backwards and pops out, into an Ankle Lock. Sabre rolls Angle into the turnbuckles to break the cycle. Step-up knee strike by Zack, avoided by Angle, Angle hops to the bottom turnbuckle to greet Zack. Angle Slam from the middle turnbuckle!
Kurt desperately covers, but Zack kicks out, locking a Kimura as he does. Angle yelps out in agony, and tries to roll out of it. Zack stops Angle with a cross armbreaker, Angle powers Zack up, Zack clings to Kurt, connecting with a rana before mounting into a triangle choke.
No matter what Kurt does, Zack won't let go of the arm. Angle, the pain unbearable, the breath leaving his body at an alarming rate. As Zack tightens like a snake across the arm and neck of Angle, Kurt begins to fade and eventually, perhaps inevitably, passes out in the jaws of Zack Sabre Jr.
Kurt's G1 proves to be incredibly impressive as he is ranked third in his block, and his undeniable grit was on full display, as The Olympic Hero refused to tap out, opting to lose consciousness instead.]
Zack Sabre Jr. (13) def Kurt Angle (10)
It's not long after this that Kurt surprises by opting not to sign a full time contract with NJPW, drowning out the offers from AEW and WWE, and instead decides to visit a promotion that he feels oddly at home in. Total Nonstop Action.
TNA Victory Road 2024, Sep 21, 2024:
Jonathan Gresham (c) vs Kurt Angle, TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[Kurt, being the genetic freak that he is, catapults to the main event scene, especially given his matches in the G1 Climax boosting his resume. Gresham, having dethroned Moose a few months back, has been confidently seated as face of the company. Angle looks to challenge that throne.
Gresham and Angle have a heated contract signing prior to the event, with Angle, in response to being called a rookie stating "Well, this rookie is going to kick your fucking ass." before busting Gresham's nose into the table, dragging Jonathan across the table and powerbombing him through it.
The bout is a technical masterclass with Gresham challenging Angle on the technical front. Gresham manages to get Angle in an octopus lock, Angle shifts Gresham out of it and cinches an Ankle Lock. Gresham hooks onto Angle's ankle and throws Kurt off balance, collapsing him into a knee bar. Angle manages to kick Gresham away before locking a figure four.
Gresham rolls over to reverse the pressure, before both men make their way onto their heads, slapping and swatting at each other. Angle throws the first closed fist and it dazes Gresham who breaks free of the predicament. Angle begins his repeated germans, Gresham lands on his feet with the third attempt. Octopus Lock by Gresham, Angle reverses into a third and final German Suplex.
Gresham stumbles up, Angle Slam, Gresham on his feet, big knee to the nose of Angle, Octopus Hold, a look of annoyed disbelief crosses the face of Angle due to Jonathan's insistence on this move, powerbomb reversal by Angle. Gresham pulls himself up using the ropes and is caught from behind with a definitive Angle Slam.
The referee counts the pin and Kurt Angle has secured his first pro wrestling title, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, after a barn burner to dethrone Jon Gresham.]
Kurt Angle def Jonathan Gresham (c) to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
TNA Bound For Glory 2024, Oct 13, 2024:
Kurt Angle (c) vs Kushida, TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[A few short months following their classic in the G1, Angle is hungry for revenge on the man he claims cost him the biggest opportunity of his career. After all, Angle suffered his arm injury during his match with Kushida, and there's an argument to be made his losses to Shingo and Sabre Jr. wouldn't have occured if not for the target Kushida put on him.
Kushida wins a fatal four way over Laredo Kid, Mike Bailey and Rich Swann to punch his ticket to Bound For Glory and the rematch is set. Angle/Kushida II
Angle shows more of his aggressive side in this bout, given that this match is probably the most personal of Angle's young career. Kushida attempts to wear away at the arm, but Kurt has him scouted, sharply reversing any arm oriented attacks.
Angle dizzies Kushida with a series of throws and suplex, making Kushida feel like he's trapped in the spin cycle. Following Angle's several minutes of control time, he attempts to finalize his revenge on Kushida with an Angle Slam. Kushida shifts off the shoulders and into a Kimura Lock.
Angle is forced to tough it out for a minute as Kushida relentlessly latches on. Angle finally takes Kushida to the ground, gets a hand around the ankle and rolls out of the Kimura, taking the ankle with him.
Ankle Lock is in, Kushida though, rolls forward to escape. A nasty jab by Kushida connects, before he attempts his handspring back elbow. Angle catches him and lands a German Suplex. Angle rolls over into an Ankle Lock. A, so far, unseen intensity donning his expression.
Kushida is gutsy and resilient, but is eventually forced to submit to Angle. Kurt relishes his victory, getting what he perceives as his vengeance over Kushida.
Angle, ever the good sport, offers Kushida a hand and pulls him up into a handshake, squashing the beef between them.]
Kurt Angle (c) def Kushida to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
TNA Turning Point 2024, Nov 3, 2024:
Josh Alexander vs Kurt Angle (c), TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[Having effectively vanquished Kushida, Angle turns his attention towards his next challenger. Josh Alexander, having been forced to vacate the World Championship after becoming the longest reigning TNA World Champion in company history, is still seeking to gain back the title that he never lost.
He just so happens to have to go through the man who made his debut to rescue Alexander a couple short months ago to do so. Alexander and Angle, both of similar backgrounds, are excited and respectful in their pursuit to do battle.
The match runs fairly similarly to Jeff Cobb's clash with Angle, a game of one upmanship based around suplex variants. Angle gets the better of Josh with one of these exchanges, getting his trio of German Suplexes to connect and throwing Josh across the ring with the third.
Alexander pops up and comes barreling out of the corner with a spear, he then rolls with Angle, maintaining grip on the waist and lifts him into a deadlift gutwrench suplex creating a beautiful fusion move. Angle barely gets the shoulder up and both men lay exhausted.
They find their footing in the center of the ring, and Alexander begins to lay in with uppercuts. Angle gets a read on him, and catches an uppercut attempt into a backslide, Josh kicks out and Kurt gets him up in powerbomb position. Josh escapes onto his feet and gets Kurt up for a fireman's carry landing a cutter from that position.
Kurt kicks out and Alexander adapts, getting a torture rack applied, bending Angle over his traps. Kurt escapes and gets an emphatic German Suplex. Angle scales the turnbuckles, moonsault! Alexander avoids. Josh gets Angle up and lands a spinning tombstone for a near fall.
For the first time since Angle transitioned to professional wrestling, his neck begins to bother him after the nasty spike on the head. The commentators make point of mentioning Angle's background of neck issues. Alexander decides to make a statement at the expense of Angle, trapping him in an Ankle Lock.
Kurt is able to roll free and as Josh rebounds off the ropes, he is caught with an Angle Slam. Kurt, clutching his neck, goes up top. Moonsault connects. The referee begins the count, but Kurt stops him. Ankle Lock by Kurt.
Kurt wants to make Josh submit, but Alexander breaks out. He gets a double underhook, but Kurt lifts Josh with his bad neck and falls backwards to escape. Kurt immediately goes back on attacking the ankle. Josh scrambles to kick Kurt away and succeeds. Kurt charges back, right into the grips of Alexander. Double Underhook, Tiger Driver! Angle bounces off his skull, and Josh quickly covers. Kurt somehow kicks out!
Josh drags Angle up by his singlet straps, a second spinning tombstone! One, Two Three. Alexander, after several months on the shelf, having to give up his record breaking reign, has reclaimed his spot at the top of the TNA food chain and he's done it by defeating Kurt Angle.
After the bout, Alexander is forced to cut his celebrating short as Kurt struggles to move. He's eventually carted off with a stretcher, putting a damper on Alexander's cathartic title victory.]
Josh Alexander def Kurt Angle (c) to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Following his harrowing loss of the TNA World Title, it's reported by PWI that Angle has a bad concussion and will be out of action for the remainder of November and likely all of Winter. This is due to precautionary measures being taken since Angle has a history of neck problems.
Death, Taxes and Dirt Sheets Being Wrong.
AEW Collision, Nov 9, 2024:
Motor City Machine Guns vs Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs
[Meanwhile, in AEW, MCMG arrived a little under six months ago and in doing so have become one of the premier tag teams in the company. They've recently been embroiled in a mini-feud with The Don Callis Family, and it comes to a head here.
After various points of control for each competitor, MCMG are able to take the hard earned victory, pinning Hobbs with Takeshita failing to break it up.
After the bout, Hobbs takes a microphone and makes it clear that The Don Callis Family has been on a downhill slide lately. He states that he can make The Don Callis Family better, and bring them back to their former relevance. That he can inspire Takeshita and earn tag team gold with him.
"I just don't want to."
He turns to Takeshita and Callis, taking a predatory stance now.
"Why should I stay and save this family." He scoffs. "A family of failures...is no family of mine."
He headbutts Takeshita and stands over the fallen warrior. Blood begins to trickle down the nose, as Hobbs capitalizes with the World's Strongest Slam. He kneels over the broken body of Takeshita when the star spangled banner coats the titantron and just six days after it was reported he would be out of action for months, Kurt Angle debuts in AEW.
He brawls with his GCW rival, taking Hobbs out of the ring. He stands his ground, staring down Hobbszilla. The Olympic Hero is All Elite!]
AEW Dynamite, Nov 13, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Powerhouse Hobbs
[It's announced that on Dynamite, ten short days after Kurt Angle's TNA World Title loss, that he will lock horns with Powerhouse Hobbs on Dynamite in his official debut.
Hobbs is able to do what few have truly been able to, and that is overpower Kurt Angle. Angle is a stout, strong guy but when greeted with the powerlifter Hobbs, he finds himself manhandled.
Hobbs blocks suplex attempts and tosses Angle around with slams and throws. Hobbs begins to work on the back, getting Kurt in a torture rack submission. Kurt slips out the back door and gets a surprise German on Hobbs, he maintains waist control and attempts another, but Hobbs escapes and sends Kurt spiraling off the ropes.
A spinebuster from Hobbs follows for a two count. Hobbs gets frustrated throwing Angle out of the ring and using his environment to his advantage. He throws Kurt across the announce desk, into the steel stairs, smashes him against the barricade. Once he feels enough damage has been done, he sends Kurt back in and gets him up for Town Business, Angle escapes off the shoulders and lands an Angle Slam.
Clutching his back, Kurt is able to get the pinfall victory over the ever-menacing Hobbs. A successful debut for The Olympic Hero in the land of The Elite.]
Kurt Angle def Powerhouse Hobbs
AEW Dynamite, Nov 20, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Powerhouse Hobbs
[One week after their titanic clash, it is announced that Hobbs and Angle will clash once more ahead of Takeshita/Hobbs at Full Gear.
Angle makes his entrance, a new shade of intensity painting his face. Everyone believes Angle is going to express that intensity by giving Hobbs a proper beating.
Instead, as the two men stand across each other and the bell rings, the two come face to face, center of the ring.
Hobbs snatches the ref. World's Strongest Slam.
Angle simply snickers to himself as he backs into the corner.
As the crowd sits in stunned silence, Angle climbs to the top turnbuckle, landing a bone-rattling moonsault on the defenseless Rick Knox, making clear he is in on this sick plan.
Security begins to rush the ring, and Hobbs & Angle begin to get to work. They demolish every guard that enters the ring in quick succession.
After clearing the twenty-some security guards, Angle and Hobbs stand together, proud of the carnage they've inflicted. That is, until, Konosuke Takeshita's theme sounds.
Takeshita storms the ring, fighting both men at once. To everyone's amazement, Takeshita is able to clear the ring, chasing off the two newly united heels. Takeshita stands tall ahead of Full Gear, sending a brief but loud message to Hobbs.]
AEW Full Gear, Nov 23, 2024:
Konosuke Takeshita vs Kurt Angle
[Tony Khan makes the announcement that the behavior shown on Dynamite was unacceptable, and reprimands are in order. Kurt Angle is a newcomer to the company, so Tony will let him off with a one and only warning, but Hobbs has been here for years and he knows better. Powerhouse Hobbs has been suspended for thirty days and will miss Full Gear, in his place, his new running mate Kurt Angle will be forced to sub in against Takeshita.
In one of the biggest tests of both men's young careers, two of the hottest rising stars in AEW collide, with deep personal roots fueling the bout. Takeshita wanted Powerhouse Hobbs, the man who backstabbed him, tonight but settles for directing all of that anger towards Kurt Angle instead.
Angle enters with his signature mouth-piece finally making it's first appearance, he probably could have used that before, but hindsight. It adds a distinct edge to his grizzled 'real' fighter look.
In Kurt's second proper match in the company, he is put through the wringer in one of the most physically intense matches of his career. Takeshita's blistering strikes leave Angle cornered and forced to rely on pockets of offense to try to limit the damage done to him.
Angle finally gets an opening late and attempts an Angle Slam, Takeshita on his feet lands behind Angle and sinks him with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Takeshita sizing up Kurt from the corner, closes the distance with a Pegasus Knee Strike, Angle catches the leg, and rolls into a knee bar. He focuses his assault on the ankle, hoping to soften Takeshita up.
Takeshita writhes in pain before finally reaching the bottom rope, forcing separation. Angle uses every bit of the five count to continue torturing the ankle. Takeshita kicks Kurt away as Angle looks to pounce, and Konosuke begins running the ropes, picking up steam. He avoids multiple clothesline attempts, dizzying Angle.
He finally closes the gap with a massive lariat. Takeshita scouts Angle from the corner now, and the Pegasus Knee gets ducked by Angle. Kurt begins his trio of German Suplexes. On the third attempt, Takeshita escapes, Blue Thunder Bo- Angle escapes, a third German Suplex! It lands Konosuke flat on his face and Takeshita seeks refuge on the outside.
Angle scales the turnbuckles, catching Konosuke at ringside with a moonsault! He sends Konosuke back in and climbs once more. A final moonsault, but Takeshita rolls out of the way. Angle eats the canvas. Pegasus Knee Strike connects knocking the mouthpiece out! Takeshita pulling Angle up, Blue Thunder Bomb!
It is sweet victory for Takeshita, as he is able to get a measure of revenge on Kurt Angle, translated via the glare in his eyes and the expression on his face though, it is evident that Takeshita still wants Hobbs.]
Konosuke Takeshita def Kurt Angle
AEW Worlds End, Dec 29, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Kyle O'Reilly, Submission Match
[We arrive at Worlds End and these two grappling gods are chomping at the bit to finally cross paths. Hobbs is busy with Takeshita which gives Angle ample opportunity to put O'Reilly to the test.
Kurt's been getting more braggadocios following his victories, including in two five minute challenges in which he was able to tap both Lee Moriarty and Daniel Garcia in under five minutes.
O'Reilly is able to meet Angle tit for tat, much like Kushida and Sabre Jr. before him. Kurt finally starts to feel some of that pressure he's been applying to his recent opponents.
Late in the contest, O'Reilly begins to pummel Angle with various strikes taking toll on every part of the body. He caps off the sequence with a stomp to the back of the head and a spinning forearm. Angle is left dazed when Kyle leaps on to the back for a sleeper.
Kurt fumbles momentarily with the hands of O'Reilly, but as loss of consciousness rears it's head, Angle dives forward slamming O'Reilly against the turnbuckles, nearly driving both men through them. O'Reilly stumbles up into a trio of Germans, O'Reilly locks onto the waist with his legs on the third attempt, rolling Angle forward and applying a cross armbreaker.
Angle finds his way out with a grasp on the ankle. Ankle Lock is in, O'Reilly kicks and kicks, but Angle refuses to release the grip. O'Reilly shifts himself onto his back and is able to get Angle within reach to apply a Guillotine. Angle gives up the Ankle Lock to focus on the newfound predicament.
He solves it with a northern lights suplex to escape. Angle sets his sights on O'Reilly and closes in for an Angle Slam, Kyle on his feet, Russian Leg Sweep by O'Reilly who then finds the arm and reattaches. Angle shows his strength getting a deadlift powerbomb and forcing O'Reilly to forgo his grip.
Angle climbs to the top for a moonsault, O'Reilly avoids, Kyle comes in hot, stepping up on Angle's leg to then knee him in the face. O'Reilly follows up with a roundhouse, Angle ducks, leg sweep, Angle jumps and then Angle rolls forward and snatches the ankle.
The Ankle Lock is firmly applied, O'Reilly struggles, trying to grab the ropes, kick free, roll out, but Angle has seen it all before and has an answer for everything O'Reilly attempts. After agonizing minutes in the Ankle Lock, O'Reilly finally submits to Kurt Angle.
Yet another feather in the cap of the seemingly unstoppable wrestling machine.]
Kurt Angle def Kyle O'Reilly
AEW Dynamite, Jan 22, 2025:
[On the Dynamite after Angle and Hobbs score a tag team victory over Hook and RVD, Hook is in the ring and calls out Angle. He claims that he is the match Angle has been waiting for and that he knows he can submit Kurt.
Angle comes out and tells Hook that he's a very talented man, and that one day Hook could be a World Champion. Angle's a fan of Hook, he's a hooker.
The only thing Angle can't stand about Hook is his stupid hair. A Champion shouldn't look like they rolled out of a sleeping bag on Skid Row twenty minutes ago, and Angle damn sure ain't tapping to no hobo.
Angle agrees to a match with Hook under the stipulation that when Hook loses he shave his head, Angle is so confident even that he'll put his own hair on the line too.
Once the match is made, Hobbs lambasts Hook from behind, beating on the defenseless up and comer. This leads Taz to rise from the announce table and try to come to the ring, Angle stops him and blocks his way.
As the two face off, Angle gets that feeling again. It's impossible, but...he's been here before, seen this man before. Angle gets a ringing in his ears and abruptly headbutts Taz. Excalibur rises from the table before Taz is ripped up by his suit and Angle carrys him over to the announce desk.
A brutal Angle Slam through the desk connects. Hobbs even backs Angle up and is able to somewhat corral the unhinged Angle. Taz is carted off and suddenly the fight between Hook and Angle just got personal.]
CONT. In Comments

Kurt Angle, often regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in history and with good reason. The man who won an Olympic gold medal with a broken neck came onto the scene in WWE between late 1999 and early 2000.
He went on to carve out an incredible career for himself, winning world titles the world over. Whether it was WWE, TNA or even NJPW - Angle made sure to leave an impact everywhere he went.
What if things were different though? What if Kurt Angle never debuted in the attitude era and instead, at the prime age of 32, Kurt Angle debuted in the wrestling world we know today?
Who would he cross paths with? Would he reach the same heights he did in his day? I intend to explore this topic and find out for myself.
Can The Wrestling Machine thrive in the Renaissance Era? Only time will tell...
The year is 2023 and Kurt Angle arrives on the scene, he's well known as is from his historic feat in 2021, when he won a gold medal with a broken neck at the Summer Olympics.
Many would expect Kurt to chase this success into something significant, but many are surprised and intrigued when it's made clear what his future goals are.
To transition into the world of sports entertainment and become a professional wrestler.
He spends his first year working the independent scene, making appearances in GCW specifically. There, he ends up having standout matches with the likes of Brian Cage and Powerhouse Hobbs who make special guest appearances to lock up with the hot commodity. He even has a half-decent match with Jake Hager, in a bout that seems like it could've been something special if Hager was about a decade younger and still The All American American.
By the time June 2024 rolls around, dirt sheets are speculating that most of the major professional wrestling companies are showing great interest in Kurt, but it's likely he will turn up in WWE due to their extensive track record transitioning athletes from various walks of life and countless different sports.
Imagine everyones surprise then, when Hiroshi Tanahashi announces NJPW has signed Kurt Angle, not to a full time contract but for a very exciting purpose indeed.
The G1 Climax.
Along with him in B Block are seven other supremely talented athletes, some of NJPW's finest along with a couple of freelancers from other promotions.
NJPW, G1 Climax 34 - Night 1, July 15, 2024:
Eddie Kingston vs Kurt Angle
[Kurt's first match of the G1 comes in the form of the Mad King, Eddie Kingston. Eddie's striking and submission based aggression pairs well with Kurt's grappling and limb targeting. Angle is able to rattle Eddie throughout the match with throws and suplexes, as well as his ability to outmaneuver Eddie's submission attempts.
The match comes to a close as Eddie comes out of the corner with a Uraken to a wobbly Angle. Kurt ducks and latches on for a German Suplex, maintaining waist control, a second German Suplex, yet again. Kurt pulls Kingston up to complete the trio, but Eddie hooks onto the top turnbuckle. Kurt shows his strength, suplexing Kingston as the padding goes flying.
Kurt tries for an Angle Slam, but Kingston finds his footing behind Kurt, and grips hold of the neck, cinching a bulldog choke. Kurt struggles up before marching towards the corner and diving downwards, thus driving Eddie skull first into the exposed turnbuckle.
An Angle Slam follows, and Kurt secures a win in his NJPW debut.]
Kurt Angle (2) def Eddie Kingston (0)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 3, July 18, 2024:
Jeff Cobb vs Kurt Angle
[Kurt's second match of the G1 proves to be a very interesting one indeed. Jeff Cobb, a former olympian himself, is perhaps one of the only wrestlers on the planet who can match Angle regarding his knowledge of suplexes, throws, power maneuvers and grapples.
The match begins to near the end as Cobb has Angle up top in a deadlift stalling superplex, Angle is able to land on his feet behind Cobb and German Suplex Cobb off the middle turnbuckle.
Angle looks for an Angle Slam, but Cobb lands on his feet and tries for Tour Of The Islands, but Kurt scrambles free and lands a German Suplex, maintains waist control, Cobb breaks free and steps behind Angle, German Suplex, Angle does the same thing, Cobb gets fed up and hits a German Suplex that lands Angle flat on his face as Cobb releases the waist.
Cobb signals for the end and looks for a standing moonsault, Kurt avoids and hits a throwing German Suplex of his own. Angle scales the turnbuckles, moonsault! At the ref's count of two, Cobb sits up with Angle in his arms. Tour Of The Islands connects! Near-fall!
Cobb gets Angle up on his shoulder, Angle escapes and locks on to the ankle, Jeff rolls forward and sends Angle into the corner. Angle steps backwards into the arms of Cobb, Tour Of The Isl- Angle on his feet! Angle Slam!
Kurt begins to scale the ropes and lands another moonsault. With that, Cobb finally stays down and Angle is able to outlast his counterpart.]
Kurt Angle (4) def Jeff Cobb (0)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 5, July 21, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Kushida
[Taking into consideration Kushida's rather successful MMA background, this matchup seems like a no brainer. Both men are grappling gods well regarded as being submission experts. It's on full display when they finally face off in the G1.
Kushida has been vocal about his displeasure competing only in the Junior division and when put in the premier tournament of NJPW's year, he's eager to prove he belongs in the main event scene.
The story told here is Angle's non stop assault on the legs and ankles of Kushida, and in return Kushida relentlessly damaging the arms and wrists of Angle.
Kushida, despite the quickly deteriorating bones in his legs, is leech like with how determined he is to stay attached to the arm of Kurt. Angle Slam? Denied and turned into a Kimura Lock. Ankle Lock? Kushida rolls forward driving Angle shoulder first into the steel post, and then Kimura Lock. German Suplex? That's what you think, it's actually a Kimura Lock.
As Kushida continuously dissects the arm, Angle begins getting increasingly desperate. He dunks Kushida into the turnbuckles harshly. Onto the apron. Into the barricade. Taking more and more drastic measures to free himself and becoming less and less successful.
Eventually Kurt is in agony and nothing seems to shake Kushida, he climbs to the top rope, hoping a drop from that height will force release. Kushida lets go without Kurt even having to drop only to reapply and look for an arm drag variation off the top.
As Kushida goes to drop, Kurt grips to the ropes and Kushida lands in a tree of woe position. Kurt grabs hold of the ears of Kushida, pulling him up slightly, before shoving him down and forcing him to collide with the turnbuckles.
He drags Kushida up to the top rope, clearly looking for something big, but Kushida goes back in with the Kimura, Kurt begins driving Kushida into the top of the steel post before actually picking Kushida up with his bad arm only and slamming Kushida into the metal.
Kurt positions himself for one last gasp effort to thwart the colorfast Kushida. Angle Slam from the top turnbuckle! An exhausted Angle crawls to cover, and is at last able to defeat Kushida.
The question quickly becomes though, as the referee is refused the chance to even raise the arm of Angle, how much damage was done?]
Kurt Angle (6) def Kushida (2)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 7, July 25, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Matt Riddle
[Four nights after having his arm near surgically dissected by Kushida, Angle locks up against another skilled fighter endowed with MMA experience.
Riddle gives the challenge Cobb gave being able to match Angle on power, while also giving the challenge Kushida did with limb targeting and joint manipulation.
Riddle, entering his first G1 has arguably his biggest opportunity since joining NJPW earlier in the year. He spends the duration of the match peppering Angle with strikes to the arm, salting with submissions.
As the match nears it's own climax, Angle goes for a high risk moonsault only for Riddle to avoid. A final flash knee follows from the ever opportunistic Riddle. Kurt is able to kick-out, inspiring Riddle to try for a RainTrigger. Kurt blocks with his arm to avoid getting struck in the face. He winces and Riddle capitalizes with rapid palm strikes to the chest before kicking Kurt into the ropes.
As Angle rebounds, Riddle goes under the arm and tries for a falling pele kick, Kurt catches the leg and gets an Ankle Lock. Riddle is able to get back to his free foot, so Angle hits a leg trapped German Suplex to discourage a comeback.
Kurt tries for an Angle Slam, but Riddle maneuvers into a pinning predicament, Kurt reverses the pressure pinning Riddle's shoulders. They go back and forth until Kurt traps Matt in a sleeper hold. Riddle fires up to his feet and begins snapping Kurt's elbow over his shoulder to escape.
Riddle gets Kurt up for Bro To Sleep, Angle catches the leg and clings with an Ankle Lock. Riddle gets back to his feet and lands a surprise roundhouse with his free foot. A V-Trigger to the shoulder follows, before Riddle gets Angle in Tombstone position. Angle slithers down, and like a snake, latches onto the ankle.
Riddle crumples under the unexpected pressure as Kurt gets a knee baankle lock hybrid applied. He wrenches away on the Achilles tendon, as Riddle writhes in pain.
Matt nearly gets to the ropes, but Angle is able to roll with him back into the center of the ring. Eventually, Riddle has to think of the big picture and consider the matches he still has left in the tournament, and he submits to Kurt Angle.
Kurt is able to conquer another worthy adversary and remains undefeated in the tournament, but his arm is clearly bothering him and that is shown as Kurt takes time to nurse the injury after the bout.]
Kurt Angle (8) def Matt Riddle (4)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 9, July 27, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Minoru Suzuki:
[It's more bad news for Angle, as his next foe is regarded as arguably one of the most sadistic pro wrestlers of all time. Suzuki, known for his methodical approach and willingness to lay in with strikes, has him salivating at the prospect of getting his hands on the already wounded Kurt.
Angle is donning circulation tape as he locks up with the Murder Grandpa. Suzuki wastes little time in tearing at the tape, exposing the flesh beneath. Digging his elbow into the shoulder blade, he continues his attack on Kurt.
Knee drops and stiff chops leave a stinging sensation rippling through the arm of Angle. Kurt wants to execute his power maneuvers, but a lack of grip prevents him as he begins losing strength and ability with every blow to the shoulder.
Suzuki tucks Kurt's fragmented arm behind him, connecting with Russian Leg Sweeps and suplexes, landing Angle's weight harshly onto his own arm.
Kurt begins mounting something of a comeback against the relentless Suzuki. He keeps his arm close to his body, but is able to surprise Minoru with his explosiveness. He knows he can't lift Suzuki, and so turns to the aerial side of his arsenal.
A swan dive off the apron has Suzuki reeling and Angle is able to follow up with a moonsault into the ring. Angle tries to strike with his feet, connecting with dropkicks and enziguris.
Suzuki weathers the storm, however, and positions Angle for a Gotch-Style Piledriver. Angle is able to grasp onto the leg and sink down, refusing to let Suzuki power him up.
Angle goes under, maintaining his leg control, and gets an Ankle Lock applied. He struggles to keep it in for as long as possible, but the strength in his arm isn't present. Suzuki is able to kick Angle off of him, and Kurt goes into desperation mode. A wounded animal faced with an angry Minoru Suzuki.
Angle goes for a risky strategy, considering his lack of practice in this department, but he decides to use a leg oriented submission, given that his arms are unable to grip for long. He is able to reverse a Gotch-Style into a triangle choke, tightening his legs vice grip around the neck and applying pressure to the carotid.
Angle tries his damnedest, withstanding even a deadlift powerbomb and continuing his choke, to maintain his attack on Suzuki. It pays off as slowly, but surely, Suzuki loses the ability to breathe and is forced to tap out to Kurt Angle.]
Kurt Angle (10) def Minoru Suzuki (2)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 11, Aug 1, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Shingo Takagi
[It's out of the frying pan and into the fire as Angle survives Suzuki, but is now faced with arguably more aggressive competition, in the form of Shingo Takagi.
Angle is on the defensive for most of the bout, wanting to keep his perfect record intact, and knowing the danger of letting Shingo get ahold of his arm.
This also means Angle is less assertive, however, and Shingo is more willing to take risks to do damage to Kurt. Takagi gives Angle a taste of his own medicine as he begins repeatedly suplexing Angle, multiple Germans, landing Kurt on his bad shoulder. He mixes in other variations as well, optimizing the damage he can do to the arm.
Takagi also drives Angle, shoulder first into the steel post. When Angle slumps down, Takagi closes in with a running knee strike, popping Angle's shoulder into the turnbuckle.
Shingo dominates the course of the match, letting Angle get in little offense. Angle stirs, sitting up as he tries to catch his bearings on the canvas. Shingo spots Angle in position for a PUMPING BOMBER, Angle ducks, Angle Slam, Shingo on his feet to avoid, Made In Japan! Angle locks to the waist and reverses with a roll-up, Shingo rolls backwards to kick out, Shingo behind Angle, gets him up, Last Of The Dragons!
Angle planted right on his bad shoulder with authority by Takagi. Shingo gets rewarded for his effort with a very close near fall. Shingo pulls Angle up by his hair, forearm, after forearm, after forearm. Angle spits in the face of Takagi, refusing to go quietly for The Dragon. Shingo wipes his face calmly, before running the ropes, PUMPING BOMBER.
With that, Takagi has handed Angle his first singles career loss, and overtaken him in the G1 rankings.]
Shingo Takagi (11) def Kurt Angle (10)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 13, Aug 5, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Zack Sabre Jr.
[Finally, we arrive at Kurt's final test of this grueling tournament. The tournament that has left him clutching his arm in peril every night, the tournament that has left him blistered and bruised in the biggest tests of his young career, but most importantly, the tournament that put him on the map.
Angle, well regarded as a fantastic submission worker and grappler, takes aim at arguably the greatest submission based wrestler of all time, Zack Sabre Jr.
Angle's Olympian background makes for an intriguing contrast against Zack's more strike heavy, frenzied submission approach. Sabre Jr., one of the most shark like opponents you could have, rips at the arm of Angle in various ways.
Bending the arm back as he stands on the fingers before stamping the elbow sideways, penalty kicks to the forearm, palm strikes to the shoulder blade, using every opportunity to hang the arm over the ropes before being forced to release.
Zack has Angle in a pool of pain as he ascends for a diving knee drop to the arm, Angle avoids, catching Zack in mid air with an Ankle Lock. Zack scrambles, and rolls forward, sending Angle out of the ring.
Sabre goes to the apron, and attempts a diving uppercut, Angle catches him and flips him forward before getting him up for a powerbomb. Zack quickly shifts into an arm triangle, tearing at the arm. Angle drops Zack onto the barricade to no avail, but a firm drop onto the apron forces Zack to let Angle go.
Sabre Jr. is positioned against the stairs and Kurt charges in, Zack slips into the ring and Angle collides with the steel stairs. Baseball slide by Zack follows before he guides Angle to the steel barricade. He pops Angle's arm through the bars and uses his feet on the other side to pull Angle further in, trying to pull Angle through the fence.
Zack gets cocky, standing atop the barricade as he keeps his paws on Angle. Angle sweeps the legs and Sabre takes a nasty spill on top of the steel. An impromptu Angle Slam into the barricade follows before Angle sends Sabre Jr. back in.
Angle climbs, looking to put the finishing touches on Sabre Jr. A Moonsault by Angle caught with a triangle! Sabre Jr. wraps his legs around the neck of Angle, strangling The Wrestling Machine. Kurt powers up Sabre with his last bit of strength. He collapses Zack into the turnbuckles, shifting the ring with the force.
Angle recovers and rips Zack out of the corner into an Ankle Lock. He knows he can't maintain good grip with his arm, so he cinches down into a knee bar. Zack struggles for a while before finally finding the bottom rope. Zack gets an arm triangle over the ropes for a few seconds, before connecting with a kick from the apron.
Sabre dives back in, but Angle blocks the slingshot with an Ankle Lock. Zack swiftly rolls forward, and as Angle tries to roll backwards, Zack pins him down. Angle rolls backwards anyway with Zack and gets a German Suplex. Angle sits up and lets out a roar, before Zack stands up and kicks him in the back of the head. Both men collapse as the playing field is evened.
Angle and Sabre Jr. find themselves crawling back up in opposite corners. The crowd breaks into a clap building up to both men meeting in the center of the ring, unloading with strikes. Zack goes cheap with a falling kick to the bad arm. Zack steps on the knee of Angle before maneuvering over him and onto his arm where he then rolls into a cross armbreaker.
Angle fires up, and twists away at the ankle to turn into an Ankle Lock. Sabre rolls forward and turns it back into a cross armbreaker. Angle rolls backwards and pops out, into an Ankle Lock. Sabre rolls Angle into the turnbuckles to break the cycle. Step-up knee strike by Zack, avoided by Angle, Angle hops to the bottom turnbuckle to greet Zack. Angle Slam from the middle turnbuckle!
Kurt desperately covers, but Zack kicks out, locking a Kimura as he does. Angle yelps out in agony, and tries to roll out of it. Zack stops Angle with a cross armbreaker, Angle powers Zack up, Zack clings to Kurt, connecting with a rana before mounting into a triangle choke.
No matter what Kurt does, Zack won't let go of the arm. Angle, the pain unbearable, the breath leaving his body at an alarming rate. As Zack tightens like a snake across the arm and neck of Angle, Kurt begins to fade and eventually, perhaps inevitably, passes out in the jaws of Zack Sabre Jr.
Kurt's G1 proves to be incredibly impressive as he is ranked third in his block, and his undeniable grit was on full display, as The Olympic Hero refused to tap out, opting to lose consciousness instead.]
Zack Sabre Jr. (13) def Kurt Angle (10)
It's not long after this that Kurt surprises by opting not to sign a full time contract with NJPW, drowning out the offers from AEW and WWE, and instead decides to visit a promotion that he feels oddly at home in. Total Nonstop Action.
TNA Victory Road 2024, Sep 21, 2024:
Jonathan Gresham (c) vs Kurt Angle, TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[Kurt, being the genetic freak that he is, catapults to the main event scene, especially given his matches in the G1 Climax boosting his resume. Gresham, having dethroned Moose a few months back, has been confidently seated as face of the company. Angle looks to challenge that throne.
Gresham and Angle have a heated contract signing prior to the event, with Angle, in response to being called a rookie stating "Well, this rookie is going to kick your fucking ass." before busting Gresham's nose into the table, dragging Jonathan across the table and powerbombing him through it.
The bout is a technical masterclass with Gresham challenging Angle on the technical front. Gresham manages to get Angle in an octopus lock, Angle shifts Gresham out of it and cinches an Ankle Lock. Gresham hooks onto Angle's ankle and throws Kurt off balance, collapsing him into a knee bar. Angle manages to kick Gresham away before locking a figure four.
Gresham rolls over to reverse the pressure, before both men make their way onto their heads, slapping and swatting at each other. Angle throws the first closed fist and it dazes Gresham who breaks free of the predicament. Angle begins his repeated germans, Gresham lands on his feet with the third attempt. Octopus Lock by Gresham, Angle reverses into a third and final German Suplex.
Gresham stumbles up, Angle Slam, Gresham on his feet, big knee to the nose of Angle, Octopus Hold, a look of annoyed disbelief crosses the face of Angle due to Jonathan's insistence on this move, powerbomb reversal by Angle. Gresham pulls himself up using the ropes and is caught from behind with a definitive Angle Slam.
The referee counts the pin and Kurt Angle has secured his first pro wrestling title, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, after a barn burner to dethrone Jon Gresham.]
Kurt Angle def Jonathan Gresham (c) to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
TNA Bound For Glory 2024, Oct 13, 2024:
Kurt Angle (c) vs Kushida, TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[A few short months following their classic in the G1, Angle is hungry for revenge on the man he claims cost him the biggest opportunity of his career. After all, Angle suffered his arm injury during his match with Kushida, and there's an argument to be made his losses to Shingo and Sabre Jr. wouldn't have occured if not for the target Kushida put on him.
Kushida wins a fatal four way over Laredo Kid, Mike Bailey and Rich Swann to punch his ticket to Bound For Glory and the rematch is set. Angle/Kushida II
Angle shows more of his aggressive side in this bout, given that this match is probably the most personal of Angle's young career. Kushida attempts to wear away at the arm, but Kurt has him scouted, sharply reversing any arm oriented attacks.
Angle dizzies Kushida with a series of throws and suplex, making Kushida feel like he's trapped in the spin cycle. Following Angle's several minutes of control time, he attempts to finalize his revenge on Kushida with an Angle Slam. Kushida shifts off the shoulders and into a Kimura Lock.
Angle is forced to tough it out for a minute as Kushida relentlessly latches on. Angle finally takes Kushida to the ground, gets a hand around the ankle and rolls out of the Kimura, taking the ankle with him.
Ankle Lock is in, Kushida though, rolls forward to escape. A nasty jab by Kushida connects, before he attempts his handspring back elbow. Angle catches him and lands a German Suplex. Angle rolls over into an Ankle Lock. A, so far, unseen intensity donning his expression.
Kushida is gutsy and resilient, but is eventually forced to submit to Angle. Kurt relishes his victory, getting what he perceives as his vengeance over Kushida.
Angle, ever the good sport, offers Kushida a hand and pulls him up into a handshake, squashing the beef between them.]
Kurt Angle (c) def Kushida to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
TNA Turning Point 2024, Nov 3, 2024:
Josh Alexander vs Kurt Angle (c), TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[Having effectively vanquished Kushida, Angle turns his attention towards his next challenger. Josh Alexander, having been forced to vacate the World Championship after becoming the longest reigning TNA World Champion in company history, is still seeking to gain back the title that he never lost.
He just so happens to have to go through the man who made his debut to rescue Alexander a couple short months ago to do so. Alexander and Angle, both of similar backgrounds, are excited and respectful in their pursuit to do battle.
The match runs fairly similarly to Jeff Cobb's clash with Angle, a game of one upmanship based around suplex variants. Angle gets the better of Josh with one of these exchanges, getting his trio of German Suplexes to connect and throwing Josh across the ring with the third.
Alexander pops up and comes barreling out of the corner with a spear, he then rolls with Angle, maintaining grip on the waist and lifts him into a deadlift gutwrench suplex creating a beautiful fusion move. Angle barely gets the shoulder up and both men lay exhausted.
They find their footing in the center of the ring, and Alexander begins to lay in with uppercuts. Angle gets a read on him, and catches an uppercut attempt into a backslide, Josh kicks out and Kurt gets him up in powerbomb position. Josh escapes onto his feet and gets Kurt up for a fireman's carry landing a cutter from that position.
Kurt kicks out and Alexander adapts, getting a torture rack applied, bending Angle over his traps. Kurt escapes and gets an emphatic German Suplex. Angle scales the turnbuckles, moonsault! Alexander avoids. Josh gets Angle up and lands a spinning tombstone for a near fall.
For the first time since Angle transitioned to professional wrestling, his neck begins to bother him after the nasty spike on the head. The commentators make point of mentioning Angle's background of neck issues. Alexander decides to make a statement at the expense of Angle, trapping him in an Ankle Lock.
Kurt is able to roll free and as Josh rebounds off the ropes, he is caught with an Angle Slam. Kurt, clutching his neck, goes up top. Moonsault connects. The referee begins the count, but Kurt stops him. Ankle Lock by Kurt.
Kurt wants to make Josh submit, but Alexander breaks out. He gets a double underhook, but Kurt lifts Josh with his bad neck and falls backwards to escape. Kurt immediately goes back on attacking the ankle. Josh scrambles to kick Kurt away and succeeds. Kurt charges back, right into the grips of Alexander. Double Underhook, Tiger Driver! Angle bounces off his skull, and Josh quickly covers. Kurt somehow kicks out!
Josh drags Angle up by his singlet straps, a second spinning tombstone! One, Two Three. Alexander, after several months on the shelf, having to give up his record breaking reign, has reclaimed his spot at the top of the TNA food chain and he's done it by defeating Kurt Angle.
After the bout, Alexander is forced to cut his celebrating short as Kurt struggles to move. He's eventually carted off with a stretcher, putting a damper on Alexander's cathartic title victory.]
Josh Alexander def Kurt Angle (c) to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Following his harrowing loss of the TNA World Title, it's reported by PWI that Angle has a bad concussion and will be out of action for the remainder of November and likely all of Winter. This is due to precautionary measures being taken since Angle has a history of neck problems.
Death, Taxes and Dirt Sheets Being Wrong.
AEW Collision, Nov 9, 2024:
Motor City Machine Guns vs Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs
[Meanwhile, in AEW, MCMG arrived a little under six months ago and in doing so have become one of the premier tag teams in the company. They've recently been embroiled in a mini-feud with The Don Callis Family, and it comes to a head here.
After various points of control for each competitor, MCMG are able to take the hard earned victory, pinning Hobbs with Takeshita failing to break it up.
After the bout, Hobbs takes a microphone and makes it clear that The Don Callis Family has been on a downhill slide lately. He states that he can make The Don Callis Family better, and bring them back to their former relevance. That he can inspire Takeshita and earn tag team gold with him.
"I just don't want to."
He turns to Takeshita and Callis, taking a predatory stance now.
"Why should I stay and save this family." He scoffs. "A family of failures...is no family of mine."
He headbutts Takeshita and stands over the fallen warrior. Blood begins to trickle down the nose, as Hobbs capitalizes with the World's Strongest Slam. He kneels over the broken body of Takeshita when the star spangled banner coats the titantron and just six days after it was reported he would be out of action for months, Kurt Angle debuts in AEW.
He brawls with his GCW rival, taking Hobbs out of the ring. He stands his ground, staring down Hobbszilla. The Olympic Hero is All Elite!]
AEW Dynamite, Nov 13, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Powerhouse Hobbs
[It's announced that on Dynamite, ten short days after Kurt Angle's TNA World Title loss, that he will lock horns with Powerhouse Hobbs on Dynamite in his official debut.
Hobbs is able to do what few have truly been able to, and that is overpower Kurt Angle. Angle is a stout, strong guy but when greeted with the powerlifter Hobbs, he finds himself manhandled.
Hobbs blocks suplex attempts and tosses Angle around with slams and throws. Hobbs begins to work on the back, getting Kurt in a torture rack submission. Kurt slips out the back door and gets a surprise German on Hobbs, he maintains waist control and attempts another, but Hobbs escapes and sends Kurt spiraling off the ropes.
A spinebuster from Hobbs follows for a two count. Hobbs gets frustrated throwing Angle out of the ring and using his environment to his advantage. He throws Kurt across the announce desk, into the steel stairs, smashes him against the barricade. Once he feels enough damage has been done, he sends Kurt back in and gets him up for Town Business, Angle escapes off the shoulders and lands an Angle Slam.
Clutching his back, Kurt is able to get the pinfall victory over the ever-menacing Hobbs. A successful debut for The Olympic Hero in the land of The Elite.]
Kurt Angle def Powerhouse Hobbs
AEW Dynamite, Nov 20, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Powerhouse Hobbs
[One week after their titanic clash, it is announced that Hobbs and Angle will clash once more ahead of Takeshita/Hobbs at Full Gear.
Angle makes his entrance, a new shade of intensity painting his face. Everyone believes Angle is going to express that intensity by giving Hobbs a proper beating.
Instead, as the two men stand across each other and the bell rings, the two come face to face, center of the ring.
Hobbs snatches the ref. World's Strongest Slam.
Angle simply snickers to himself as he backs into the corner.
As the crowd sits in stunned silence, Angle climbs to the top turnbuckle, landing a bone-rattling moonsault on the defenseless Rick Knox, making clear he is in on this sick plan.
Security begins to rush the ring, and Hobbs & Angle begin to get to work. They demolish every guard that enters the ring in quick succession.
After clearing the twenty-some security guards, Angle and Hobbs stand together, proud of the carnage they've inflicted. That is, until, Konosuke Takeshita's theme sounds.
Takeshita storms the ring, fighting both men at once. To everyone's amazement, Takeshita is able to clear the ring, chasing off the two newly united heels. Takeshita stands tall ahead of Full Gear, sending a brief but loud message to Hobbs.]
AEW Full Gear, Nov 23, 2024:
Konosuke Takeshita vs Kurt Angle
[Tony Khan makes the announcement that the behavior shown on Dynamite was unacceptable, and reprimands are in order. Kurt Angle is a newcomer to the company, so Tony will let him off with a one and only warning, but Hobbs has been here for years and he knows better. Powerhouse Hobbs has been suspended for thirty days and will miss Full Gear, in his place, his new running mate Kurt Angle will be forced to sub in against Takeshita.
In one of the biggest tests of both men's young careers, two of the hottest rising stars in AEW collide, with deep personal roots fueling the bout. Takeshita wanted Powerhouse Hobbs, the man who backstabbed him, tonight but settles for directing all of that anger towards Kurt Angle instead.
Angle enters with his signature mouth-piece finally making it's first appearance, he probably could have used that before, but hindsight. It adds a distinct edge to his grizzled 'real' fighter look.
In Kurt's second proper match in the company, he is put through the wringer in one of the most physically intense matches of his career. Takeshita's blistering strikes leave Angle cornered and forced to rely on pockets of offense to try to limit the damage done to him.
Angle finally gets an opening late and attempts an Angle Slam, Takeshita on his feet lands behind Angle and sinks him with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Takeshita sizing up Kurt from the corner, closes the distance with a Pegasus Knee Strike, Angle catches the leg, and rolls into a knee bar. He focuses his assault on the ankle, hoping to soften Takeshita up.
Takeshita writhes in pain before finally reaching the bottom rope, forcing separation. Angle uses every bit of the five count to continue torturing the ankle. Takeshita kicks Kurt away as Angle looks to pounce, and Konosuke begins running the ropes, picking up steam. He avoids multiple clothesline attempts, dizzying Angle.
He finally closes the gap with a massive lariat. Takeshita scouts Angle from the corner now, and the Pegasus Knee gets ducked by Angle. Kurt begins his trio of German Suplexes. On the third attempt, Takeshita escapes, Blue Thunder Bo- Angle escapes, a third German Suplex! It lands Konosuke flat on his face and Takeshita seeks refuge on the outside.
Angle scales the turnbuckles, catching Konosuke at ringside with a moonsault! He sends Konosuke back in and climbs once more. A final moonsault, but Takeshita rolls out of the way. Angle eats the canvas. Pegasus Knee Strike connects knocking the mouthpiece out! Takeshita pulling Angle up, Blue Thunder Bomb!
It is sweet victory for Takeshita, as he is able to get a measure of revenge on Kurt Angle, translated via the glare in his eyes and the expression on his face though, it is evident that Takeshita still wants Hobbs.]
Konosuke Takeshita def Kurt Angle
AEW Worlds End, Dec 29, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Kyle O'Reilly, Submission Match
[We arrive at Worlds End and these two grappling gods are chomping at the bit to finally cross paths. Hobbs is busy with Takeshita which gives Angle ample opportunity to put O'Reilly to the test.
Kurt's been getting more braggadocios following his victories, including in two five minute challenges in which he was able to tap both Lee Moriarty and Daniel Garcia in under five minutes.
O'Reilly is able to meet Angle tit for tat, much like Kushida and Sabre Jr. before him. Kurt finally starts to feel some of that pressure he's been applying to his recent opponents.
Late in the contest, O'Reilly begins to pummel Angle with various strikes taking toll on every part of the body. He caps off the sequence with a stomp to the back of the head and a spinning forearm. Angle is left dazed when Kyle leaps on to the back for a sleeper.
Kurt fumbles momentarily with the hands of O'Reilly, but as loss of consciousness rears it's head, Angle dives forward slamming O'Reilly against the turnbuckles, nearly driving both men through them. O'Reilly stumbles up into a trio of Germans, O'Reilly locks onto the waist with his legs on the third attempt, rolling Angle forward and applying a cross armbreaker.
Angle finds his way out with a grasp on the ankle. Ankle Lock is in, O'Reilly kicks and kicks, but Angle refuses to release the grip. O'Reilly shifts himself onto his back and is able to get Angle within reach to apply a Guillotine. Angle gives up the Ankle Lock to focus on the newfound predicament.
He solves it with a northern lights suplex to escape. Angle sets his sights on O'Reilly and closes in for an Angle Slam, Kyle on his feet, Russian Leg Sweep by O'Reilly who then finds the arm and reattaches. Angle shows his strength getting a deadlift powerbomb and forcing O'Reilly to forgo his grip.
Angle climbs to the top for a moonsault, O'Reilly avoids, Kyle comes in hot, stepping up on Angle's leg to then knee him in the face. O'Reilly follows up with a roundhouse, Angle ducks, leg sweep, Angle jumps and then Angle rolls forward and snatches the ankle.
The Ankle Lock is firmly applied, O'Reilly struggles, trying to grab the ropes, kick free, roll out, but Angle has seen it all before and has an answer for everything O'Reilly attempts. After agonizing minutes in the Ankle Lock, O'Reilly finally submits to Kurt Angle.
Yet another feather in the cap of the seemingly unstoppable wrestling machine.]
Kurt Angle def Kyle O'Reilly
AEW Dynamite, Jan 22, 2025:
[On the Dynamite after Angle and Hobbs score a tag team victory over Hook and RVD, Hook is in the ring and calls out Angle. He claims that he is the match Angle has been waiting for and that he knows he can submit Kurt.
Angle comes out and tells Hook that he's a very talented man, and that one day Hook could be a World Champion. Angle's a fan of Hook, he's a hooker.
The only thing Angle can't stand about Hook is his stupid hair. A Champion shouldn't look like they rolled out of a sleeping bag on Skid Row twenty minutes ago, and Angle damn sure ain't tapping to no hobo.
Angle agrees to a match with Hook under the stipulation that when Hook loses he shave his head, Angle is so confident even that he'll put his own hair on the line too.
Once the match is made, Hobbs lambasts Hook from behind, beating on the defenseless up and comer. This leads Taz to rise from the announce table and try to come to the ring, Angle stops him and blocks his way.
As the two face off, Angle gets that feeling again. It's impossible, but...he's been here before, seen this man before. Angle gets a ringing in his ears and abruptly headbutts Taz. Excalibur rises from the table before Taz is ripped up by his suit and Angle carrys him over to the announce desk.
A brutal Angle Slam through the desk connects. Hobbs even backs Angle up and is able to somewhat corral the unhinged Angle. Taz is carted off and suddenly the fight between Hook and Angle just got personal.]

Kurt Angle, often regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in history and with good reason. The man who won an Olympic gold medal with a broken neck came onto the scene in WWE between late 1999 and early 2000.
He went on to carve out an incredible career for himself, winning world titles the world over. Whether it was WWE, TNA or even NJPW - Angle made sure to leave an impact everywhere he went.
What if things were different though? What if Kurt Angle never debuted in the attitude era and instead, at the prime age of 32, Kurt Angle debuted in the wrestling world we know today?
Who would he cross paths with? Would he reach the same heights he did in his day? I intend to explore this topic and find out for myself.
Can The Wrestling Machine thrive in the Renaissance Era? Only time will tell...
The year is 2023 and Kurt Angle arrives on the scene, he's well known as is from his historic feat in 2021, when he won a gold medal with a broken neck at the Summer Olympics.
Many would expect Kurt to chase this success into something significant, but many are surprised and intrigued when it's made clear what his future goals are.
To transition into the world of sports entertainment and become a professional wrestler.
He spends his first year working the independent scene, making appearances in GCW specifically. There, he ends up having standout matches with the likes of Brian Cage and Powerhouse Hobbs who make special guest appearances to lock up with the hot commodity. He even has a half-decent match with Jake Hager, in a bout that seems like it could've been something special if Hager was about a decade younger and still The All American American.
By the time June 2024 rolls around, dirt sheets are speculating that most of the major professional wrestling companies are showing great interest in Kurt, but it's likely he will turn up in WWE due to their extensive track record transitioning athletes from various walks of life and countless different sports.
Imagine everyones surprise then, when Hiroshi Tanahashi announces NJPW has signed Kurt Angle, not to a full time contract but for a very exciting purpose indeed.
The G1 Climax.
Along with him in B Block are seven other supremely talented athletes, some of NJPW's finest along with a couple of freelancers from other promotions.
NJPW, G1 Climax 34 - Night 1, July 15, 2024:
Eddie Kingston vs Kurt Angle
[Kurt's first match of the G1 comes in the form of the Mad King, Eddie Kingston. Eddie's striking and submission based aggression pairs well with Kurt's grappling and limb targeting. Angle is able to rattle Eddie throughout the match with throws and suplexes, as well as his ability to outmaneuver Eddie's submission attempts.
The match comes to a close as Eddie comes out of the corner with a Uraken to a wobbly Angle. Kurt ducks and latches on for a German Suplex, maintaining waist control, a second German Suplex, yet again. Kurt pulls Kingston up to complete the trio, but Eddie hooks onto the top turnbuckle. Kurt shows his strength, suplexing Kingston as the padding goes flying.
Kurt tries for an Angle Slam, but Kingston finds his footing behind Kurt, and grips hold of the neck, cinching a bulldog choke. Kurt struggles up before marching towards the corner and diving downwards, thus driving Eddie skull first into the exposed turnbuckle.
An Angle Slam follows, and Kurt secures a win in his NJPW debut.]
Kurt Angle (2) def Eddie Kingston (0)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 3, July 18, 2024:
Jeff Cobb vs Kurt Angle
[Kurt's second match of the G1 proves to be a very interesting one indeed. Jeff Cobb, a former olympian himself, is perhaps one of the only wrestlers on the planet who can match Angle regarding his knowledge of suplexes, throws, power maneuvers and grapples.
The match begins to near the end as Cobb has Angle up top in a deadlift stalling superplex, Angle is able to land on his feet behind Cobb and German Suplex Cobb off the middle turnbuckle.
Angle looks for an Angle Slam, but Cobb lands on his feet and tries for Tour Of The Islands, but Kurt scrambles free and lands a German Suplex, maintains waist control, Cobb breaks free and steps behind Angle, German Suplex, Angle does the same thing, Cobb gets fed up and hits a German Suplex that lands Angle flat on his face as Cobb releases the waist.
Cobb signals for the end and looks for a standing moonsault, Kurt avoids and hits a throwing German Suplex of his own. Angle scales the turnbuckles, moonsault! At the ref's count of two, Cobb sits up with Angle in his arms. Tour Of The Islands connects! Near-fall!
Cobb gets Angle up on his shoulder, Angle escapes and locks on to the ankle, Jeff rolls forward and sends Angle into the corner. Angle steps backwards into the arms of Cobb, Tour Of The Isl- Angle on his feet! Angle Slam!
Kurt begins to scale the ropes and lands another moonsault. With that, Cobb finally stays down and Angle is able to outlast his counterpart.]
Kurt Angle (4) def Jeff Cobb (0)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 5, July 21, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Kushida
[Taking into consideration Kushida's rather successful MMA background, this matchup seems like a no brainer. Both men are grappling gods well regarded as being submission experts. It's on full display when they finally face off in the G1.
Kushida has been vocal about his displeasure competing only in the Junior division and when put in the premier tournament of NJPW's year, he's eager to prove he belongs in the main event scene.
The story told here is Angle's non stop assault on the legs and ankles of Kushida, and in return Kushida relentlessly damaging the arms and wrists of Angle.
Kushida, despite the quickly deteriorating bones in his legs, is leech like with how determined he is to stay attached to the arm of Kurt. Angle Slam? Denied and turned into a Kimura Lock. Ankle Lock? Kushida rolls forward driving Angle shoulder first into the steel post, and then Kimura Lock. German Suplex? That's what you think, it's actually a Kimura Lock.
As Kushida continuously dissects the arm, Angle begins getting increasingly desperate. He dunks Kushida into the turnbuckles harshly. Onto the apron. Into the barricade. Taking more and more drastic measures to free himself and becoming less and less successful.
Eventually Kurt is in agony and nothing seems to shake Kushida, he climbs to the top rope, hoping a drop from that height will force release. Kushida lets go without Kurt even having to drop only to reapply and look for an arm drag variation off the top.
As Kushida goes to drop, Kurt grips to the ropes and Kushida lands in a tree of woe position. Kurt grabs hold of the ears of Kushida, pulling him up slightly, before shoving him down and forcing him to collide with the turnbuckles.
He drags Kushida up to the top rope, clearly looking for something big, but Kushida goes back in with the Kimura, Kurt begins driving Kushida into the top of the steel post before actually picking Kushida up with his bad arm only and slamming Kushida into the metal.
Kurt positions himself for one last gasp effort to thwart the colorfast Kushida. Angle Slam from the top turnbuckle! An exhausted Angle crawls to cover, and is at last able to defeat Kushida.
The question quickly becomes though, as the referee is refused the chance to even raise the arm of Angle, how much damage was done?]
Kurt Angle (6) def Kushida (2)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 7, July 25, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Matt Riddle
[Four nights after having his arm near surgically dissected by Kushida, Angle locks up against another skilled fighter endowed with MMA experience.
Riddle gives the challenge Cobb gave being able to match Angle on power, while also giving the challenge Kushida did with limb targeting and joint manipulation.
Riddle, entering his first G1 has arguably his biggest opportunity since joining NJPW earlier in the year. He spends the duration of the match peppering Angle with strikes to the arm, salting with submissions.
As the match nears it's own climax, Angle goes for a high risk moonsault only for Riddle to avoid. A final flash knee follows from the ever opportunistic Riddle. Kurt is able to kick-out, inspiring Riddle to try for a RainTrigger. Kurt blocks with his arm to avoid getting struck in the face. He winces and Riddle capitalizes with rapid palm strikes to the chest before kicking Kurt into the ropes.
As Angle rebounds, Riddle goes under the arm and tries for a falling pele kick, Kurt catches the leg and gets an Ankle Lock. Riddle is able to get back to his free foot, so Angle hits a leg trapped German Suplex to discourage a comeback.
Kurt tries for an Angle Slam, but Riddle maneuvers into a pinning predicament, Kurt reverses the pressure pinning Riddle's shoulders. They go back and forth until Kurt traps Matt in a sleeper hold. Riddle fires up to his feet and begins snapping Kurt's elbow over his shoulder to escape.
Riddle gets Kurt up for Bro To Sleep, Angle catches the leg and clings with an Ankle Lock. Riddle gets back to his feet and lands a surprise roundhouse with his free foot. A V-Trigger to the shoulder follows, before Riddle gets Angle in Tombstone position. Angle slithers down, and like a snake, latches onto the ankle.
Riddle crumples under the unexpected pressure as Kurt gets a knee baankle lock hybrid applied. He wrenches away on the Achilles tendon, as Riddle writhes in pain.
Matt nearly gets to the ropes, but Angle is able to roll with him back into the center of the ring. Eventually, Riddle has to think of the big picture and consider the matches he still has left in the tournament, and he submits to Kurt Angle.
Kurt is able to conquer another worthy adversary and remains undefeated in the tournament, but his arm is clearly bothering him and that is shown as Kurt takes time to nurse the injury after the bout.]
Kurt Angle (8) def Matt Riddle (4)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 9, July 27, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Minoru Suzuki:
[It's more bad news for Angle, as his next foe is regarded as arguably one of the most sadistic pro wrestlers of all time. Suzuki, known for his methodical approach and willingness to lay in with strikes, has him salivating at the prospect of getting his hands on the already wounded Kurt.
Angle is donning circulation tape as he locks up with the Murder Grandpa. Suzuki wastes little time in tearing at the tape, exposing the flesh beneath. Digging his elbow into the shoulder blade, he continues his attack on Kurt.
Knee drops and stiff chops leave a stinging sensation rippling through the arm of Angle. Kurt wants to execute his power maneuvers, but a lack of grip prevents him as he begins losing strength and ability with every blow to the shoulder.
Suzuki tucks Kurt's fragmented arm behind him, connecting with Russian Leg Sweeps and suplexes, landing Angle's weight harshly onto his own arm.
Kurt begins mounting something of a comeback against the relentless Suzuki. He keeps his arm close to his body, but is able to surprise Minoru with his explosiveness. He knows he can't lift Suzuki, and so turns to the aerial side of his arsenal.
A swan dive off the apron has Suzuki reeling and Angle is able to follow up with a moonsault into the ring. Angle tries to strike with his feet, connecting with dropkicks and enziguris.
Suzuki weathers the storm, however, and positions Angle for a Gotch-Style Piledriver. Angle is able to grasp onto the leg and sink down, refusing to let Suzuki power him up.
Angle goes under, maintaining his leg control, and gets an Ankle Lock applied. He struggles to keep it in for as long as possible, but the strength in his arm isn't present. Suzuki is able to kick Angle off of him, and Kurt goes into desperation mode. A wounded animal faced with an angry Minoru Suzuki.
Angle goes for a risky strategy, considering his lack of practice in this department, but he decides to use a leg oriented submission, given that his arms are unable to grip for long. He is able to reverse a Gotch-Style into a triangle choke, tightening his legs vice grip around the neck and applying pressure to the carotid.
Angle tries his damnedest, withstanding even a deadlift powerbomb and continuing his choke, to maintain his attack on Suzuki. It pays off as slowly, but surely, Suzuki loses the ability to breathe and is forced to tap out to Kurt Angle.]
Kurt Angle (10) def Minoru Suzuki (2)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 11, Aug 1, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Shingo Takagi
[It's out of the frying pan and into the fire as Angle survives Suzuki, but is now faced with arguably more aggressive competition, in the form of Shingo Takagi.
Angle is on the defensive for most of the bout, wanting to keep his perfect record intact, and knowing the danger of letting Shingo get ahold of his arm.
This also means Angle is less assertive, however, and Shingo is more willing to take risks to do damage to Kurt. Takagi gives Angle a taste of his own medicine as he begins repeatedly suplexing Angle, multiple Germans, landing Kurt on his bad shoulder. He mixes in other variations as well, optimizing the damage he can do to the arm.
Takagi also drives Angle, shoulder first into the steel post. When Angle slumps down, Takagi closes in with a running knee strike, popping Angle's shoulder into the turnbuckle.
Shingo dominates the course of the match, letting Angle get in little offense. Angle stirs, sitting up as he tries to catch his bearings on the canvas. Shingo spots Angle in position for a PUMPING BOMBER, Angle ducks, Angle Slam, Shingo on his feet to avoid, Made In Japan! Angle locks to the waist and reverses with a roll-up, Shingo rolls backwards to kick out, Shingo behind Angle, gets him up, Last Of The Dragons!
Angle planted right on his bad shoulder with authority by Takagi. Shingo gets rewarded for his effort with a very close near fall. Shingo pulls Angle up by his hair, forearm, after forearm, after forearm. Angle spits in the face of Takagi, refusing to go quietly for The Dragon. Shingo wipes his face calmly, before running the ropes, PUMPING BOMBER.
With that, Takagi has handed Angle his first singles career loss, and overtaken him in the G1 rankings.]
Shingo Takagi (11) def Kurt Angle (10)
NJPW G1 Climax 34 - Night 13, Aug 5, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Zack Sabre Jr.
[Finally, we arrive at Kurt's final test of this grueling tournament. The tournament that has left him clutching his arm in peril every night, the tournament that has left him blistered and bruised in the biggest tests of his young career, but most importantly, the tournament that put him on the map.
Angle, well regarded as a fantastic submission worker and grappler, takes aim at arguably the greatest submission based wrestler of all time, Zack Sabre Jr.
Angle's Olympian background makes for an intriguing contrast against Zack's more strike heavy, frenzied submission approach. Sabre Jr., one of the most shark like opponents you could have, rips at the arm of Angle in various ways.
Bending the arm back as he stands on the fingers before stamping the elbow sideways, penalty kicks to the forearm, palm strikes to the shoulder blade, using every opportunity to hang the arm over the ropes before being forced to release.
Zack has Angle in a pool of pain as he ascends for a diving knee drop to the arm, Angle avoids, catching Zack in mid air with an Ankle Lock. Zack scrambles, and rolls forward, sending Angle out of the ring.
Sabre goes to the apron, and attempts a diving uppercut, Angle catches him and flips him forward before getting him up for a powerbomb. Zack quickly shifts into an arm triangle, tearing at the arm. Angle drops Zack onto the barricade to no avail, but a firm drop onto the apron forces Zack to let Angle go.
Sabre Jr. is positioned against the stairs and Kurt charges in, Zack slips into the ring and Angle collides with the steel stairs. Baseball slide by Zack follows before he guides Angle to the steel barricade. He pops Angle's arm through the bars and uses his feet on the other side to pull Angle further in, trying to pull Angle through the fence.
Zack gets cocky, standing atop the barricade as he keeps his paws on Angle. Angle sweeps the legs and Sabre takes a nasty spill on top of the steel. An impromptu Angle Slam into the barricade follows before Angle sends Sabre Jr. back in.
Angle climbs, looking to put the finishing touches on Sabre Jr. A Moonsault by Angle caught with a triangle! Sabre Jr. wraps his legs around the neck of Angle, strangling The Wrestling Machine. Kurt powers up Sabre with his last bit of strength. He collapses Zack into the turnbuckles, shifting the ring with the force.
Angle recovers and rips Zack out of the corner into an Ankle Lock. He knows he can't maintain good grip with his arm, so he cinches down into a knee bar. Zack struggles for a while before finally finding the bottom rope. Zack gets an arm triangle over the ropes for a few seconds, before connecting with a kick from the apron.
Sabre dives back in, but Angle blocks the slingshot with an Ankle Lock. Zack swiftly rolls forward, and as Angle tries to roll backwards, Zack pins him down. Angle rolls backwards anyway with Zack and gets a German Suplex. Angle sits up and lets out a roar, before Zack stands up and kicks him in the back of the head. Both men collapse as the playing field is evened.
Angle and Sabre Jr. find themselves crawling back up in opposite corners. The crowd breaks into a clap building up to both men meeting in the center of the ring, unloading with strikes. Zack goes cheap with a falling kick to the bad arm. Zack steps on the knee of Angle before maneuvering over him and onto his arm where he then rolls into a cross armbreaker.
Angle fires up, and twists away at the ankle to turn into an Ankle Lock. Sabre rolls forward and turns it back into a cross armbreaker. Angle rolls backwards and pops out, into an Ankle Lock. Sabre rolls Angle into the turnbuckles to break the cycle. Step-up knee strike by Zack, avoided by Angle, Angle hops to the bottom turnbuckle to greet Zack. Angle Slam from the middle turnbuckle!
Kurt desperately covers, but Zack kicks out, locking a Kimura as he does. Angle yelps out in agony, and tries to roll out of it. Zack stops Angle with a cross armbreaker, Angle powers Zack up, Zack clings to Kurt, connecting with a rana before mounting into a triangle choke.
No matter what Kurt does, Zack won't let go of the arm. Angle, the pain unbearable, the breath leaving his body at an alarming rate. As Zack tightens like a snake across the arm and neck of Angle, Kurt begins to fade and eventually, perhaps inevitably, passes out in the jaws of Zack Sabre Jr.
Kurt's G1 proves to be incredibly impressive as he is ranked third in his block, and his undeniable grit was on full display, as The Olympic Hero refused to tap out, opting to lose consciousness instead.]
Zack Sabre Jr. (13) def Kurt Angle (10)
It's not long after this that Kurt surprises by opting not to sign a full time contract with NJPW, drowning out the offers from AEW and WWE, and instead decides to visit a promotion that he feels oddly at home in. Total Nonstop Action.
TNA Victory Road 2024, Sep 21, 2024:
Jonathan Gresham (c) vs Kurt Angle, TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[Kurt, being the genetic freak that he is, catapults to the main event scene, especially given his matches in the G1 Climax boosting his resume. Gresham, having dethroned Moose a few months back, has been confidently seated as face of the company. Angle looks to challenge that throne.
Gresham and Angle have a heated contract signing prior to the event, with Angle, in response to being called a rookie stating "Well, this rookie is going to kick your fucking ass." before busting Gresham's nose into the table, dragging Jonathan across the table and powerbombing him through it.
The bout is a technical masterclass with Gresham challenging Angle on the technical front. Gresham manages to get Angle in an octopus lock, Angle shifts Gresham out of it and cinches an Ankle Lock. Gresham hooks onto Angle's ankle and throws Kurt off balance, collapsing him into a knee bar. Angle manages to kick Gresham away before locking a figure four.
Gresham rolls over to reverse the pressure, before both men make their way onto their heads, slapping and swatting at each other. Angle throws the first closed fist and it dazes Gresham who breaks free of the predicament. Angle begins his repeated germans, Gresham lands on his feet with the third attempt. Octopus Lock by Gresham, Angle reverses into a third and final German Suplex.
Gresham stumbles up, Angle Slam, Gresham on his feet, big knee to the nose of Angle, Octopus Hold, a look of annoyed disbelief crosses the face of Angle due to Jonathan's insistence on this move, powerbomb reversal by Angle. Gresham pulls himself up using the ropes and is caught from behind with a definitive Angle Slam.
The referee counts the pin and Kurt Angle has secured his first pro wrestling title, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, after a barn burner to dethrone Jon Gresham.]
Kurt Angle def Jonathan Gresham (c) to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
TNA Bound For Glory 2024, Oct 13, 2024:
Kurt Angle (c) vs Kushida, TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[A few short months following their classic in the G1, Angle is hungry for revenge on the man he claims cost him the biggest opportunity of his career. After all, Angle suffered his arm injury during his match with Kushida, and there's an argument to be made his losses to Shingo and Sabre Jr. wouldn't have occured if not for the target Kushida put on him.
Kushida wins a fatal four way over Laredo Kid, Mike Bailey and Rich Swann to punch his ticket to Bound For Glory and the rematch is set. Angle/Kushida II
Angle shows more of his aggressive side in this bout, given that this match is probably the most personal of Angle's young career. Kushida attempts to wear away at the arm, but Kurt has him scouted, sharply reversing any arm oriented attacks.
Angle dizzies Kushida with a series of throws and suplex, making Kushida feel like he's trapped in the spin cycle. Following Angle's several minutes of control time, he attempts to finalize his revenge on Kushida with an Angle Slam. Kushida shifts off the shoulders and into a Kimura Lock.
Angle is forced to tough it out for a minute as Kushida relentlessly latches on. Angle finally takes Kushida to the ground, gets a hand around the ankle and rolls out of the Kimura, taking the ankle with him.
Ankle Lock is in, Kushida though, rolls forward to escape. A nasty jab by Kushida connects, before he attempts his handspring back elbow. Angle catches him and lands a German Suplex. Angle rolls over into an Ankle Lock. A, so far, unseen intensity donning his expression.
Kushida is gutsy and resilient, but is eventually forced to submit to Angle. Kurt relishes his victory, getting what he perceives as his vengeance over Kushida.
Angle, ever the good sport, offers Kushida a hand and pulls him up into a handshake, squashing the beef between them.]
Kurt Angle (c) def Kushida to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
TNA Turning Point 2024, Nov 3, 2024:
Josh Alexander vs Kurt Angle (c), TNA World Heavyweight Championship
[Having effectively vanquished Kushida, Angle turns his attention towards his next challenger. Josh Alexander, having been forced to vacate the World Championship after becoming the longest reigning TNA World Champion in company history, is still seeking to gain back the title that he never lost.
He just so happens to have to go through the man who made his debut to rescue Alexander a couple short months ago to do so. Alexander and Angle, both of similar backgrounds, are excited and respectful in their pursuit to do battle.
The match runs fairly similarly to Jeff Cobb's clash with Angle, a game of one upmanship based around suplex variants. Angle gets the better of Josh with one of these exchanges, getting his trio of German Suplexes to connect and throwing Josh across the ring with the third.
Alexander pops up and comes barreling out of the corner with a spear, he then rolls with Angle, maintaining grip on the waist and lifts him into a deadlift gutwrench suplex creating a beautiful fusion move. Angle barely gets the shoulder up and both men lay exhausted.
They find their footing in the center of the ring, and Alexander begins to lay in with uppercuts. Angle gets a read on him, and catches an uppercut attempt into a backslide, Josh kicks out and Kurt gets him up in powerbomb position. Josh escapes onto his feet and gets Kurt up for a fireman's carry landing a cutter from that position.
Kurt kicks out and Alexander adapts, getting a torture rack applied, bending Angle over his traps. Kurt escapes and gets an emphatic German Suplex. Angle scales the turnbuckles, moonsault! Alexander avoids. Josh gets Angle up and lands a spinning tombstone for a near fall.
For the first time since Angle transitioned to professional wrestling, his neck begins to bother him after the nasty spike on the head. The commentators make point of mentioning Angle's background of neck issues. Alexander decides to make a statement at the expense of Angle, trapping him in an Ankle Lock.
Kurt is able to roll free and as Josh rebounds off the ropes, he is caught with an Angle Slam. Kurt, clutching his neck, goes up top. Moonsault connects. The referee begins the count, but Kurt stops him. Ankle Lock by Kurt.
Kurt wants to make Josh submit, but Alexander breaks out. He gets a double underhook, but Kurt lifts Josh with his bad neck and falls backwards to escape. Kurt immediately goes back on attacking the ankle. Josh scrambles to kick Kurt away and succeeds. Kurt charges back, right into the grips of Alexander. Double Underhook, Tiger Driver! Angle bounces off his skull, and Josh quickly covers. Kurt somehow kicks out!
Josh drags Angle up by his singlet straps, a second spinning tombstone! One, Two Three. Alexander, after several months on the shelf, having to give up his record breaking reign, has reclaimed his spot at the top of the TNA food chain and he's done it by defeating Kurt Angle.
After the bout, Alexander is forced to cut his celebrating short as Kurt struggles to move. He's eventually carted off with a stretcher, putting a damper on Alexander's cathartic title victory.]
Josh Alexander def Kurt Angle (c) to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Following his harrowing loss of the TNA World Title, it's reported by PWI that Angle has a bad concussion and will be out of action for the remainder of November and likely all of Winter. This is due to precautionary measures being taken since Angle has a history of neck problems.
Death, Taxes and Dirt Sheets Being Wrong.
AEW Collision, Nov 9, 2024:
Motor City Machine Guns vs Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs
[Meanwhile, in AEW, MCMG arrived a little under six months ago and in doing so have become one of the premier tag teams in the company. They've recently been embroiled in a mini-feud with The Don Callis Family, and it comes to a head here.
After various points of control for each competitor, MCMG are able to take the hard earned victory, pinning Hobbs with Takeshita failing to break it up.
After the bout, Hobbs takes a microphone and makes it clear that The Don Callis Family has been on a downhill slide lately. He states that he can make The Don Callis Family better, and bring them back to their former relevance. That he can inspire Takeshita and earn tag team gold with him.
"I just don't want to."
He turns to Takeshita and Callis, taking a predatory stance now.
"Why should I stay and save this family." He scoffs. "A family of failures...is no family of mine."
He headbutts Takeshita and stands over the fallen warrior. Blood begins to trickle down the nose, as Hobbs capitalizes with the World's Strongest Slam. He kneels over the broken body of Takeshita when the star spangled banner coats the titantron and just six days after it was reported he would be out of action for months, Kurt Angle debuts in AEW.
He brawls with his GCW rival, taking Hobbs out of the ring. He stands his ground, staring down Hobbszilla. The Olympic Hero is All Elite!]
AEW Dynamite, Nov 13, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Powerhouse Hobbs
[It's announced that on Dynamite, ten short days after Kurt Angle's TNA World Title loss, that he will lock horns with Powerhouse Hobbs on Dynamite in his official debut.
Hobbs is able to do what few have truly been able to, and that is overpower Kurt Angle. Angle is a stout, strong guy but when greeted with the powerlifter Hobbs, he finds himself manhandled.
Hobbs blocks suplex attempts and tosses Angle around with slams and throws. Hobbs begins to work on the back, getting Kurt in a torture rack submission. Kurt slips out the back door and gets a surprise German on Hobbs, he maintains waist control and attempts another, but Hobbs escapes and sends Kurt spiraling off the ropes.
A spinebuster from Hobbs follows for a two count. Hobbs gets frustrated throwing Angle out of the ring and using his environment to his advantage. He throws Kurt across the announce desk, into the steel stairs, smashes him against the barricade. Once he feels enough damage has been done, he sends Kurt back in and gets him up for Town Business, Angle escapes off the shoulders and lands an Angle Slam.
Clutching his back, Kurt is able to get the pinfall victory over the ever-menacing Hobbs. A successful debut for The Olympic Hero in the land of The Elite.]
Kurt Angle def Powerhouse Hobbs
AEW Dynamite, Nov 20, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Powerhouse Hobbs
[One week after their titanic clash, it is announced that Hobbs and Angle will clash once more ahead of Takeshita/Hobbs at Full Gear.
Angle makes his entrance, a new shade of intensity painting his face. Everyone believes Angle is going to express that intensity by giving Hobbs a proper beating.
Instead, as the two men stand across each other and the bell rings, the two come face to face, center of the ring.
Hobbs snatches the ref. World's Strongest Slam.
Angle simply snickers to himself as he backs into the corner.
As the crowd sits in stunned silence, Angle climbs to the top turnbuckle, landing a bone-rattling moonsault on the defenseless Rick Knox, making clear he is in on this sick plan.
Security begins to rush the ring, and Hobbs & Angle begin to get to work. They demolish every guard that enters the ring in quick succession.
After clearing the twenty-some security guards, Angle and Hobbs stand together, proud of the carnage they've inflicted. That is, until, Konosuke Takeshita's theme sounds.
Takeshita storms the ring, fighting both men at once. To everyone's amazement, Takeshita is able to clear the ring, chasing off the two newly united heels. Takeshita stands tall ahead of Full Gear, sending a brief but loud message to Hobbs.]
AEW Full Gear, Nov 23, 2024:
Konosuke Takeshita vs Kurt Angle
[Tony Khan makes the announcement that the behavior shown on Dynamite was unacceptable, and reprimands are in order. Kurt Angle is a newcomer to the company, so Tony will let him off with a one and only warning, but Hobbs has been here for years and he knows better. Powerhouse Hobbs has been suspended for thirty days and will miss Full Gear, in his place, his new running mate Kurt Angle will be forced to sub in against Takeshita.
In one of the biggest tests of both men's young careers, two of the hottest rising stars in AEW collide, with deep personal roots fueling the bout. Takeshita wanted Powerhouse Hobbs, the man who backstabbed him, tonight but settles for directing all of that anger towards Kurt Angle instead.
Angle enters with his signature mouth-piece finally making it's first appearance, he probably could have used that before, but hindsight. It adds a distinct edge to his grizzled 'real' fighter look.
In Kurt's second proper match in the company, he is put through the wringer in one of the most physically intense matches of his career. Takeshita's blistering strikes leave Angle cornered and forced to rely on pockets of offense to try to limit the damage done to him.
Angle finally gets an opening late and attempts an Angle Slam, Takeshita on his feet lands behind Angle and sinks him with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Takeshita sizing up Kurt from the corner, closes the distance with a Pegasus Knee Strike, Angle catches the leg, and rolls into a knee bar. He focuses his assault on the ankle, hoping to soften Takeshita up.
Takeshita writhes in pain before finally reaching the bottom rope, forcing separation. Angle uses every bit of the five count to continue torturing the ankle. Takeshita kicks Kurt away as Angle looks to pounce, and Konosuke begins running the ropes, picking up steam. He avoids multiple clothesline attempts, dizzying Angle.
He finally closes the gap with a massive lariat. Takeshita scouts Angle from the corner now, and the Pegasus Knee gets ducked by Angle. Kurt begins his trio of German Suplexes. On the third attempt, Takeshita escapes, Blue Thunder Bo- Angle escapes, a third German Suplex! It lands Konosuke flat on his face and Takeshita seeks refuge on the outside.
Angle scales the turnbuckles, catching Konosuke at ringside with a moonsault! He sends Konosuke back in and climbs once more. A final moonsault, but Takeshita rolls out of the way. Angle eats the canvas. Pegasus Knee Strike connects knocking the mouthpiece out! Takeshita pulling Angle up, Blue Thunder Bomb!
It is sweet victory for Takeshita, as he is able to get a measure of revenge on Kurt Angle, translated via the glare in his eyes and the expression on his face though, it is evident that Takeshita still wants Hobbs.]
Konosuke Takeshita def Kurt Angle
AEW Worlds End, Dec 29, 2024:
Kurt Angle vs Kyle O'Reilly, Submission Match
[We arrive at Worlds End and these two grappling gods are chomping at the bit to finally cross paths. Hobbs is busy with Takeshita which gives Angle ample opportunity to put O'Reilly to the test.
Kurt's been getting more braggadocios following his victories, including in two five minute challenges in which he was able to tap both Lee Moriarty and Daniel Garcia in under five minutes.
O'Reilly is able to meet Angle tit for tat, much like Kushida and Sabre Jr. before him. Kurt finally starts to feel some of that pressure he's been applying to his recent opponents.
Late in the contest, O'Reilly begins to pummel Angle with various strikes taking toll on every part of the body. He caps off the sequence with a stomp to the back of the head and a spinning forearm. Angle is left dazed when Kyle leaps on to the back for a sleeper.
Kurt fumbles momentarily with the hands of O'Reilly, but as loss of consciousness rears it's head, Angle dives forward slamming O'Reilly against the turnbuckles, nearly driving both men through them. O'Reilly stumbles up into a trio of Germans, O'Reilly locks onto the waist with his legs on the third attempt, rolling Angle forward and applying a cross armbreaker.
Angle finds his way out with a grasp on the ankle. Ankle Lock is in, O'Reilly kicks and kicks, but Angle refuses to release the grip. O'Reilly shifts himself onto his back and is able to get Angle within reach to apply a Guillotine. Angle gives up the Ankle Lock to focus on the newfound predicament.
He solves it with a northern lights suplex to escape. Angle sets his sights on O'Reilly and closes in for an Angle Slam, Kyle on his feet, Russian Leg Sweep by O'Reilly who then finds the arm and reattaches. Angle shows his strength getting a deadlift powerbomb and forcing O'Reilly to forgo his grip.
Angle climbs to the top for a moonsault, O'Reilly avoids, Kyle comes in hot, stepping up on Angle's leg to then knee him in the face. O'Reilly follows up with a roundhouse, Angle ducks, leg sweep, Angle jumps and then Angle rolls forward and snatches the ankle.
The Ankle Lock is firmly applied, O'Reilly struggles, trying to grab the ropes, kick free, roll out, but Angle has seen it all before and has an answer for everything O'Reilly attempts. After agonizing minutes in the Ankle Lock, O'Reilly finally submits to Kurt Angle.
Yet another feather in the cap of the seemingly unstoppable wrestling machine.]
Kurt Angle def Kyle O'Reilly
AEW Dynamite, Jan 22, 2025:
[On the Dynamite after Angle and Hobbs score a tag team victory over Hook and RVD, Hook is in the ring and calls out Angle. He claims that he is the match Angle has been waiting for and that he knows he can submit Kurt.
Angle comes out and tells Hook that he's a very talented man, and that one day Hook could be a World Champion. Angle's a fan of Hook, he's a hooker.
The only thing Angle can't stand about Hook is his stupid hair. A Champion shouldn't look like they rolled out of a sleeping bag on Skid Row twenty minutes ago, and Angle damn sure ain't tapping to no hobo.
Angle agrees to a match with Hook under the stipulation that when Hook loses he shave his head, Angle is so confident even that he'll put his own hair on the line too.
Once the match is made, Hobbs lambasts Hook from behind, beating on the defenseless up and comer. This leads Taz to rise from the announce table and try to come to the ring, Angle stops him and blocks his way.
As the two face off, Angle gets that feeling again. It's impossible, but...he's been here before, seen this man before. Angle gets a ringing in his ears and abruptly headbutts Taz. Excalibur rises from the table before Taz is ripped up by his suit and Angle carrys him over to the announce desk.
A brutal Angle Slam through the desk connects. Hobbs even backs Angle up and is able to somewhat corral the unhinged Angle. Taz is carted off and suddenly the fight between Hook and Angle just got personal.]

After leaving his previous business with $2.5M, Zeb Evans, Founder of ClickUp, decided to create a Craigslist competitor.
He put together a team he trusted and began to build. One of the first projects they took on was to build an internal productivity tool as none of the options on the market actually made them more productive (counter-intuitively). And none of them could serve as an all-in-one productivity app.
Quickly the team realized that this internal tool was actually the bigger need. It had a real vision and was solving a massive problem.
Companies are too tool-heavy. On average, using 89 apps in 2022 (this number skyrocketed to 187 for companies with over 2k employees). Toggling tax from using all these apps adds up to 4 hours per week - about 10% of working time.
ClickUp could give people their time back. Actually making them more productive.
Zeb put all his money from his previous business into ClickUp and the team went all-in.
In less than two years they bootstrapped their way to profitability and $20M ARR. Insane!
And just like that, the one tool to rule them all was born.
From then on ClickUp has skyrocketed with their latest valuation at $4B.
Because this is the story of how ClickUp went from Zero to One. Click here for the full deep dive 🚀

ClickUp’s Growth

After deciding to go all-in on ClickUp, the team spent 7 months building. They knew they were entering one of the most competitive software industries. So they focused heavily on user experience, design, and branding. They thought this would make them appear bigger and punch above their weight.
They were right.
ClickUp launched in mid-2017, and in less than two years had reached $20M ARR. With no outside funding. And no marketing budget.
From here ClickUp started taking on investment and growth only sped up. And ClickUp started collecting milestones:

• June 2020: 100k+ customers (about three years after launch).
• October 2020: $36M ARR.
• Jan 2022: $85M ARR and 200k+ customers.
• Jan 2023: $150M ARR and >100% YoY growth.

ClickUp now serves over 2M teams with ~10M total users.
Some of their current customers include teams at Google, Nike, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, Spotify, IBM, and Booking.com.

Key Success Factors (KSFs)

There have been many reasons for ClickUp’s rise to success. But what stood out most to me is the process they took to PMF.
ClickUp focused on creating Natural PMF. I.e., product-led growth combined with virality and organic growth. Rather than the more traditional route of raising investor funds to purchase users on the way to PMF (Artificial PMF).
This way ClickUp could focus on building a better product. Which in the end created a faster route to PMF. And eventually, an easier path to raising money and scaling.
Why?
Because they had built an obsessed fan base of active users and advocates by listening to their customers' needs and delivering on them.
ClickUp created a Natural PMF Flywheel. Combining three key aspects:

🌻 1. Focused on organic users

Zeb and the ClickUp team have always been obsessed with helping their customers. They know that what matters at the end of the day is solving real problems for your users.
So they set out to do that before you even become a customer.
Actively helping potential users to build the ClickUp brand and community.
From early on they focused on writing useful and actionable content for their target customers.
This meant writing about topics such as:

• How to manage projects. 👩‍💼
• How to work effectively in a remote environment. 🌍
• How to be agile and move quickly. 🏃‍♂️

They consistently posted at least one article a day for years.
And although returns were slow at first, they understood that content is a long-term game. Unlike many of their competitors at the time who were not focusing on content or SEO - leaving a clear path to giving ClickUp an edge.
ClickUp now ranks for over 60k keywords today.
What they’ve also done to rank, build trust, and take customers from competitors is having dedicated competitor comparison pages - showing how ClickUp can better solve their users' problems than the alternatives.
Building this foundation of content has proven to be critical years later. As they now generate over $12M worth of clicks - all for free.
What’s great about organic users is that they are often your best promoters. ClickUp leveraged this. They love users who promote their product - and they make it easy for them to do so, e.g., with seamless team invites.
Talking about teammates, what I also love about ClickUp’s growth strategy and product is that the tool becomes inherently more useful and fun to use when your team also uses it - meaning users were naturally incentivized to promote it.
Further leveraging the snowball effect you get from organic users.

💬 2. Drove their vision with user feedback

ClickUp built an authentic feedback loop with their customers to bring them closer to Natural PMF. Listening to their needs, developing a real connection with them, and building a trusting two-way relationship. All while keeping ClickUp’s vision in mind.
Organic user are your best promoters when you get them involved in the product development.
This meant speaking to users - collecting feedback, having zoom calls, meeting in person. They used this to build a real connection with their customers.
Then they used this feedback and connection to see what was working, what wasn’t, and what needed to be added to their product.
But this can be a tricky balancing act to manage. Because while it’s important to action customer feedback, you also don’t want to become a feature factory or just a carbon copy of what already exists. It is your product at the end of the day.
So ClickUp made sure to be careful in fusing user feedback with their vision. Making sure that every new feature, product, or integration kept in line with their mission to help give people their time back.
Listening and then also delivering to their users created this authentic feedback loop for ClickUp. Building extreme trust, a loyal community, and allowed their product to stand out.

⏩ 3. Iterated and shipped fast

This final step completed their Natural PMF flywheel and allowed ClickUp to shine as a North Star for anyone trying to use Product-Led Growth.
Because although it is important to drive organic users and listen to their feedback - what pulled everything together for ClickUp was shipping fast. They delivered on features, requests, and bug fixes. And they delivered fast.
In 2022 alone, they added 100+ new features and integrations.
This confirms and strengthens their users’ trust in them and turns them into your best advertisers. Because they feel heard.
ClickUp are very clear to choose progress over perfection. A core value at the company. Because they believe that high frequency compounds over time - getting to perfect at a faster rate.
So they launch a new release every Friday. Consistently.
This speed and consistency became a massive competitive advantage - their competition couldn’t keep up. They knew they would improve them with the help of their users.
ClickUp used this bias toward action and learned to tolerate the risk of failure in order to build a better product that their customers felt a part of.

Tactics to replicate ClickUp’s success

Focus on UX, branding, and design 🎨

ClickUp entered one of the most competitive software markets - project management and productivity tools.
They were up against industry giants. Asana, Monday., JIRA, and more.
When you’re in a position like this, you need to punch above your weight.
You’re David. They’re Goliath.
But one way you can stand out and appear bigger than you are, is by obsessing over exceptional UX, professional and unique design, and strong branding.
This is something ClickUp did (and still does) brilliantly. Their user experience is awesome (from personal experience), their design is vibrant and inviting, and their branding has a unique and memorable voice.
ClickUp used these three things to keep them in your mind.
So when you do need a tool for project management - your first thought is ClickUp.
Focusing on these key aspects leads users to think you are competing in the same weight class as your competitors - even though you’re not quite there yet.

Build what matters most for your users 🏗️

Link to all the tactics you can use to replicate in your business here.

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This is all based on fake Omeda city ranking, so take with a grain of salt.
After the last major patch, I have had a pretty poor and inconsistent matchmaking experience. I’m frequently the lowest rank by a large margin in every single game now. I was bottom plat 2 pre update, and high plat 2 post update, so my personal fake MMR hasn’t really changed all that much.
Despite that, I’m now always matched with diamond and master players and am usually the only platinum player in the lobby. This feels like an error in the matchmaking. I know the player counts aren’t super high, but I haven’t had this issue in the past. I play frequently and effectively every single match is like this now. My queue times have also nearly tripled, from 1-2min to 3-6min regularly.
Before this last patch, I was matched with high gold/plat/low diamond, which felt on par. Now I’m always leagues below every single other player in the game.
Has anyone else experienced a shift in matchmaking accuracy since the last update?

This is all based on fake Omeda city ranking, so take with a grain of salt.
After the last major patch, I have had a pretty poor and inconsistent matchmaking experience. I’m frequently the lowest rank by a large margin in every single game now. I was bottom plat 2 pre update, and high plat 2 post update, so my personal fake MMR hasn’t really changed all that much.
Despite that, I’m now always matched with diamond and master players and am usually the only platinum player in the lobby. This feels like an error in the matchmaking. I know the player counts aren’t super high, but I haven’t had this issue in the past. I play frequently and effectively every single match is like this now.
Before this last patch, I was matched with high gold/plat/low diamond, which felt on par. Now I’m always leagues below every single other player in the game.
Has anyone else experienced a shift in matchmaking accuracy since the last update?

Just under a day would follow since Max and 8-Bit's tenacious battle and in that time, SuperCity had become the very antithesis of what it had represented. A city intended to be a symbol of hope and prosperity for all to follow had become diluted into a desolate wasteland, isolated from the rest of the world. Gone were the brightly lit, welcoming streets that were commonplace and so was the hope of the people...
The city had been abandoned by nearly all of it's residents, most had saw the writing on the wall, leaving it to be occupied by heartless machines, controlled by a clairvoyant plague fed to their minds. For the very few that remained, any attempts at resistance would quickly be stomped out for this was a city of evil. With both Max and Surge out of the picture, it appeared things were going to stay that way for a long, long time...
A muscle car would soon pass into the city. It's blue and grey paint job appeared garish in contrast to its dull surroundings and the driver knew it. He didn't pay much mind to all the omens that passed him by. The abandoned bridge he had rode on, the lack of a city skyline, the fact that he was yet to see a single soul around, and chief among them was what he considered his best friend...
He had heard of at least some of the news; corrupted robots taking over what appeared to be an impenetrable city thanks to those who kept it safe. As usual, he tried his best to stay optimistic about the situation, hoping that everything had been blown way out of proportion. There was no way all this could possibly happen, or at least that's what he kept telling himself...
"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon...!" muttered the driver as he stepped out of his vehicle, splashing a shoe onto a rain-filled pothole, revealing none other than Brock. He took a few steps forward and once he had given himself the time to observe his surroundings, Brock was completely beside himself when his darting eyes caught just a glimpse of the devastation far off in the distance. It was something he had never seen before. Something straight out of a videogame, yet something beyond the work of fiction. Brock took a step back, nearly tripping over the pothole but for now at least... he maintained his composure.
Brock found himself standing in a city he once knew, something he could now consider uncharted territory. By now, the pouring rain had washed away all sense of direction for him. He looked into the distance once again, frantically rubbing his eyes, not willing to accept what his eyes were relaying back to him. Skyscrapers with massive gaping holes under a tainted moonlight. Not a single other light to illuminate the harrowing darkness was to be found aside from a massive purple beam that pierced the sky itself. It was something Brock couldn't make any sense of.
Uncertainty and unease now perfumed the air Brock had stood so perfectly still in for quite some time, completely stunned, and woeful, while more cold droplets continued to fall. Brock whipped out his phone and put it up to his ear, pacing in place, awaiting a response that never came. After some time had passed, Brock gave in, slinging the phone down with a sharp sigh, and then... pure silence. The rain had ended and it felt like time had stood still. That was when, suddenly, a red dot had crept up to his chest. By the time he had noticed and looked up, Brock was staring deep into the barrel of a distant revolver.
Brock's heart skipped a beat and for a mere moment, his entire body was frozen. That was until a rush of adrenaline had possessed him. Brock immediately sprang, dropping his phone in the process and inadvertently dodging a bullet sent toward him. Brock then clumsily slid over the hood of his car, seeking safety behind the vehicle as a plethora of bullets were fired all around while he curled away from shattering glass.
"Ey, ey, ey, w-we can talk this out!--We could can talk it out! Just--Just chill!" Brock continued to cower while two robots began to converge on his position. His pleas as a voice of reason had fallen on deaf ears. He pressed a button placed on his watch, one that displayed a blinking lightning bolt, eventually displaying no signal, only proving to dishearten Brock more. Dread was looming. Fear was at an all-time high. Time was running out fast and hope was scarce at best. Brock tried his very best to catch his breath, preparing for the very worst to come.
Brock's attackers maintained their fire right up until a single, thunderous boom roared, putting a swift end to the commotion. Nonetheless, Brock remained tense, far too afraid to take as little as a peak behind himself or speak for that matter. In the distance, he heard a voice break the unsettling silence. "Ooh, gotta say that one hurt to watch. Thanks for the target practice, guys."
Brock kept his head downward in his lap as he shivered non-stop. He could hear clanking spurs that would grow louder right up until it felt like something was looming over him.
"Heh. Someone's late to the party..." That voice, it was familiar to Brock. All of a sudden, most of that tension had plummeted and a feeling of comfort slowly filled his body. Brock rested his shoulders, opened his eyes, and began to slowly raise his head.
"...I understand, my invitation got lost in the mail too... Here. Think this belongs to you." Said Brock's protector as his newly cracked smartphone fell onto his lap. He picked his head up completely to see one dashing sheriff with a strikingly confident smirk on his face.
Brock: "...C-Colt?"
The smirk written on Colt's face only brightened. "The one and only. Unless there's someone 'round here's been slinging guns as sexily as I do of course."
Brock: "Well--"
Colt: "Yeah, I thought so. You look like someone who could use a hand, Brock."
Colt offered his hand to Brock, who was more than willing to accept. He stood up to see both of his attackers absolutely floored, each with a gaping bullet hole in their head, their exit wounds still sizzling. Soon after, beeping could be heard from behind. One of their heads would begin twitching, flashing between purple and green, signaling that this wasn't over. An annoyed groan broke from Colt's mouth. "Okay, looks like the show's not over... you back for seconds?"
The bot got back to it's feet as if it were possessed by yet another outside force. Colt readied a revolver, "...I can help with that." then fired at it once more effortlessly and turned back to Brock, anticipating a thud that never sounded off. In addition to the frantic twitching, the head sparked and a black liquid with a greenish hue began leaking from it while Colt fired another ineffective bullet. The head only spins around from the impact, leaving Colt to furrow his brows. "What the...?" The sparking only intensified until the head had popped like a balloon and out burst green, squirming, slimy parasitic ringlets soaked in that same liquid.
"Just when I thought I'd seen it all. Brock, you might wanna--*WOOAHH--" said Colt as those tendrils wrapped around his wrists and tossed him aside directly into Brock's windshield, cracking it and leaving one of his revolvers behind that landed beside Brock. It was now just him and the corrupted, mutated robot. Even with the opportunity to defend himself, Brock's entire body tensed up, his eyes racing between the metal monster and the revolver.
Brock took some steps back, tripping over himself, and was then held up by the neck. The parasite continued to squeeze as his life began slipping away. All Brock wanted to do was plead with his words but even at that, what he could muster were merely restrained gasps for air.
"Hey, wormy...!" Shouted Colt as a handful of stones hit Brock's attacker from behind, who dropped him, asserting all of it's attention back to Colt, writhing with pain yet still able to continue. "...Gonna take just a little more to keep me down." The steel monster's tendrils formed an axe head and swung it down toward Colt, who split his legs, narrowly managing to evade the attack.
Colt gulped and rolled off the hood of Brock's muscle car, reloading his single revolver with haste as the bot recovered. "Aaaaand gotcha." Colt slams at the hammer, releasing a flurry of bullets that would hit their target all over. Once again, the metal monster was hardly bothered by Colt's attack. The confident look on Colt's face quickly turned to one of mild panic. He looked down at his belt, only to be interrupted with his signature weapon of choice easily batted out his hand.
Colt flushed with a small amount of fear. "Any chance for a timeout--?" Colt ducks another attack and boots the bot in the chest, creating some distance between each other as Colt heads back for his revolver. Right when Colt retrieves the weapon, his ankle becomes entangled by his foe, causing him to once again drop the weapon, dragging him backward. By now both Colt and Brock were eye-to-eye with each other. Brock was still grounded, mesmerized, his knees weak with fear, seemingly unable to function.
"Brock, what're you doing...?" Asked Colt as he struggled, inching closer toward what appears to be certain doom. "I know I'm too pretty for this world but now's really not the time for admiration!"
"I-I--I can't just--What about you?"
"I can handle myself. Believe me..." Said Colt as he loosened his boot. "...So either zip it and get to running or uhh... okay, I guess we could all use some help every once in a while..."
Ever so timid, Brock looked down to Colt's other revolver and paused.
"Don't tell me you don't know how to use that..." Colt could already tell Brock's next words by the incompetence etched on his face. "--You're kidding." Colt manages to slip out of the parasite's grasp, losing a boot in the process. Brock held Colt's revolver, trembling, still unsure of himself. Colt picked up his boot and threw it at the tendrils, briefly stunning the creature and giving Colt the time to remove one of many abnormally large, silver bullets from his belt. "Y'know what, I'll take it from here."
Brock silently nodded and tosses Colt his revolver who then takes aim right at the core of the mutation. "Still hungry? Maybe try some of this!" The silver bullet blasts right through the parasite which lets out a high-pitched shriek as more of that viscous black fluid flows. The body of the bot fell to the ground, the creature still squirming around, still alive. Colt frantically stomps at it until it stops moving, getting some of that liquid on himself and finally putting an end to the conflict.
After calming himself, an exasperated Colt kept his eyes locked on what he had defeated, put off at the sight. "...Sheesh. I was almost a shiskabob, and my clothes...!" Colt kneeled, rubbing his finger on the black ink and putting it up to his nose. "gags No way that's oil. Guess Pam was right..." Colt said to himself before turning to Brock. "...Think I should lick it?"
Brock was still visibly struggling to catch his breath and Colt seemed to take no mind to that. "I'm just messing around, Brock, thought you'd know that by now. But anyway, on to more pressing matters... how's the hair?--Any out of place?--any more of whatever this stuff is on the face?--I gotta know."
Brock had finally caught his breath. "I think... I think you're good... What even was that?"
Colt shrugged. "Beats me. All that matters is whatever that thing was is done for and we're still standing. Ain't that right?"
"...Right."
"Right, right... never do that again by the way."
"...Do what--?"
Colt blew out the simmering smoke coming from his revolver. "Don't want to alarm ya but Christmas ain't gonna be here for another five months. What exactly were you waiting for--? Maybe I'm giving you just a bit too much credit here but you've given me so many kickings in Shotgun Shootout that I thought maybe all that time staring at a screen would translate well into the real world... still want another rematch by the way."
Brock solemnly smiled. "You just don't know when to give up, do you? You really wanna get your ass handed to ya for... jeez, I lost count too."
Colt: "--Shush, sh--sh, sh, sh... sh! ...Okay? Those were all flukes and you know it. Besides, I hate shotguns. Got one too many reasons to hate 'em back home and now there's this. Where's the skill in using them anyway? No wonder why you struggled to use one of these..." Colt eyed his revolver and yawned. "...Anyway, long time, no see, huh? How's the day been treating ya? Bet it's been goin' great so far."
Brock: "I'm uh... you know, doing fine. As fine as I can be after... that."
Colt: "Heh, y'know a "Thank you, Colt, you sexy gunslinger, you." would be nice for a change..."
Brock sighed. "...Thanks, Colt."
Colt tilted his head and smiled obnoxiously. "Come on. You can say the rest. I mean, you still kinda owe me one for fending off those punks from Retropolis and that's the least you can do..." An awkward silence had been cast over the two. "...Okay fine, just a "thank you" will do."
"So, um..." Brock scratched his head. "You got any clue what's going on here?"
Colt: "Psh, no time to explain. From what I've heard so far it's a loooooong story anyway. So, ya done with the questions 'cause I got a whole lotta of my own so if you'll excuse me... I'm here to save the day and look good doing it. Now why are you here?"
Brock would keep quiet, a little uneasy about himself as usual. Feeling a little slighted, Colt crossed his arms, looking back at Brock's ruined ride. "Eh, it's only a scratch but hey, if ya really want me to, I can just help you right on out the city."
Brock: "No, no--I... I ain't leaving, not yet."
Colt raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's certainly a choice--a stupid one but still definitely a choice. Here to help with the load, huh? That's not to say I need it of course."
Brock looked off into the distance."I guess that's one way to put it..."
Colt scoffed. "Don't mean to judge but judging by how you handled your little situation back there... I take it you didn't bring anything for self-defense or uh, any defending for that matter..."
Brock scratched his head nervously. "Yeah..."
"Heh. Nice going, Brock. So... what, you can't afford a good ol' fashioned six shooter? Didn't realize your arcade was going out of business, what happened to you lighting up the dancefloor as a DJ?" Colt asked with a load of sarcasm in his tongue.
Brock: "I'm hoping you know not every problem can be solved with a gun, Colt."
Colt rolled his eyes. "What're you, my mother? Of course, I know that..."
Brock: "Oh. Great. Nice to know we're on the same pa--"
Colt: "Which is why I use two. Now I want you to consider this: would you rather get put six feet under by some no-name junk buckets or dish out some butt-kickings yourself with one of these bad boys?" [Spins revolver] "Answer's pretty obvious, ain't it?"
Brock once again wouldn't answer Colt.
Colt: "...Right? Look, I'm not saying to bust out a whole friggin' rocket launcher or something but, come on now."
"Okay, okay... maybe you got a point..." Brock chuckled his nervousness off, plunging both of his hands into his pockets. "But, umm, I guess I also have something to let off my chest. I'm here for a reason and it's probably not one you're thinking of..."
Colt: "Yeah, no kidding. Must be one helluva of a reason to bring you to this place too... ah screw it, I'll bite. What really is it that brings you here? There are easier ways to kill yourself, y'know."
Brock chuckled nervously then rolled his eyes with a level of snark that matched Colt. "Just looking for a friend--maybe friend(s) would be the better word."
"Good thing you got me." Intrigued, Colt tilted his head forward with an enthralled eyebrow raise. "This friend got a name?"
Brock: "Oh yeah... It's... it's..."
Colt: "Come on, spit it out."
Brock: "...it's 8-Bit."
Colt: "...Oh. I'm sure he's doing just mighty fine right about now. After all, he's totally a bounty hunter sent from space. He might've told you that maybe one or a billion times."
Brock: "Err, that's Rico and yeah, you're right. You telling me you don't remember 8-Bit? You kinda spilled some soda on him that time you got just a little too heated on Project Laser..."
Colt: "Really?--Oh. Yeah. Think you're starting to ring a bell..." A smile cracked from Colt's mouth. "I'll admit it was a little funny watching 'em squirm around like there were bees in his circuits..."
Colt began snickering as his eyes drifted away from Brock, who wasn't exactly approving of Colt's tone. "...But, sorry."
Brock: "All good. Need to keep jogging that memory of yours? He's about this tall, on the stumpier side of things... wears these blue Converses, pretty adorable too, definitely no vest-- trust me, I couldn't get him to wear one if I tried. His tracker's led me to the city, the thing is--"
Brock stopped himself after he noticed that Colt had grown awfully silent. He just stood there, looking like he was possibly hiding something. Brock himself had grown curious.
Brock: "...It's kinda jammed. Did... did I say something--?"
Colt: "Yeah, actually. Good thing Rico didn't tag along with ya... okay--look, I'll just break the news to ya right away. I don't think you're gonna be finding your little buddy anytime soon. At least in the way you remember him..."
Brock: "For real? Wha--Why?"
Colt: "Huh. I guess there is time to explain. You're barking up the wrong tree here but, apparently, so don't shoot the messenger, the little guy's the one behind all of..." Colt paused, looking back over to the robots he put out of commission. "...this."
Brock batted his eyes in disbelief. "I know you like to mess around and stuff but I don't think now's the time to be joking."
Colt: "Wish I was. Really do. Didn't realize you and a certain starfish had much more in common because clearly, you've been living under a rock. Haven't you heard of the news?"
Brock: "Yeah--kinda--but I ain't hearing that noise. He wouldn't do this. He wouldn't do any of this."
Colt: "Well you better get those ears checked. Felt like his vibe was always off whenever I was around him. You sure he wasn't planning to go all goblin mode or something when you first found him?"
Brock: "N-No?! Sure he's been a little more quiet than usual for the past week or so but--"
Colt: "What're you even gonna do when you see him, huh? sideyes revolver smugly I know what I will... when the time's right I'll definitely be giving that thing what it deserves."
Brock: "Thing? That's my friend--!"
Colt: "Was. He was your friend..."
Brock kept his silence, giving himself much-needed time to gather his thoughts. "...If, and that's a big if, what you say is true... I'm gonna get him back. Something's gotta be controlling him."
Colt burst out laughing. "--Hahahahahaha--you're, breaths in you're... continues laughing ...you're serious?" Colt continued with his amused laughter as Brock only appeared more and more annoyed.
Brock crossed his arms as the laughter went on. "You done?" Colt's laughter died down a bit. "Hold on... just--just gimme a moment... laughs ...man, sorry, I had to get that outta my system. Hit me with that again, you wanna do what now?"
Brock: "I'm bringing him home. Don't matter how, I just want my friend back."
Colt: "Whew, you're lucky I pity you. So how exactly do you plan on doing that? Still losing that oh-so-good circulation to your brain?--Have you had a little too much to drink? I know that's rich coming from a guy who proposed to a mannequin but if both Surge and what's-her-face couldn't take 'em out, what chance do you have?
Brock froze up. "...What?"
"Just go home kid, this is one game you'll never win."
Brock: "I--"
Colt: "You heard me, Brock. Go home, kid."
Brock: "...You're just four ye--"
"Yeah, yeah." Ragged Colt, who turned and began strutting away, retrieving his other revolver, sticking out two fingers and waving them as a goodbye. "We'll do that rematch sometime later. Now if you'll excuse me, I got a city to save on my--"
"Wait...!" Colt had stopped in his tracks, still turned away from Brock.
"...What about Max and Surge?"
Colt turned his head slightly toward Brock. "So that's her name... you tellin' me you don't know?"
"Know what...?!"
Colt's face turned from confidently smug to somewhat remorseful. "...They're gone."
Sorrow had touched Brock's heart. Once again, he took a step back, completely stunned, unable to cobble together any words.
Colt folded his arms. "Something wrong?--Need a pinch or two? Maybe some water over the face?"
"...S...S-So they're--?"
Colt: "Yeah. Probably. If you wanna go down that rabbit hole then be my guest. Just know you'll never climb out of it. They haven't been seen in over a day now. I dunno what else to tell ya but what do you expect out of a glorified tin can and an impulsive rookie during the apocalypse?"
A cold shiver ran down Brock's spine as Colt continued. "...If I was in their place things would be peachy right about now, believe me. Now we've all been left high and dry and guess who's fault that is. Hope ya know 8-Bit's not gonna stop until this is far, far worse..."
Wrenched by guilt and despair, Brock couldn't help but turn away from Colt. He couldn't bear looking him in the eye.
"...Which is why we're gonna stop him, right?"
Brock looked up to see Colt with a hopeful, earnest smile on his face. His breathing had steadied and Brock nodded his head a handful of times. "...Right. Right. I just wanna talk with him."
"Sorry. Not in the job description. You said something about a tracker, yes?"
"...Yeah."
"Perfect. You won't have to worry about it. I'm sure we can get it fixed."
"We?"
"Yeah. We. You'll see what I'm talking about later. In fact, I got a whole lotta stuff to show you, especially with what 8-Bit's done..."
"I'll... I'll see it when I believe it, Colt." Said Brock, not much confidence coming from his mouth.
Colt scoffed hard. "Oh, you will when you're staring right into the stuff of your nightmares. Can't say I didn't say "I told ya so" when that happens. But hey--if it makes you feel any better I'm almost as confused as you are. Some fun-sized arcade machine? He's responsible for the mess I gotta clean up...?" Colt scoffed again. "Give me a break..."
All of a sudden, that silence had returned yet again. Colt sat on some nearby pavement, his hands clasped together, his face etched with a subtle amount of remorse while Brock was left to observe.
The rest of Colt's bitterness subsided. "...Sorry I sort of blew a gasket back there. I... exhales things have been so rough lately. This... all of this, it happened so fast... I couldn't help as much as I could've. I Don't want you or anyone else that hasn't already to get hurt. I know you wanna help your friend and I get that, but I seriously can't hammer this home enough. Trust me. I've been in this game long enough to know there's next to no hope of getting the little guy the help he needs. That's to say he even can be lended help, aside from a few bullet holes to the screen, of course..."
Brock: "It's... it's cool. Apology accepted. Maybe you're right, I am a little outta my depth but I gotta do what I can. If 8-Bit really is outta control here, I gotta do something about it. Gotta right some wrongs."
Colt: "That's the spirit but... yeah--you know what?" Colt got back up. "...As much as I'd love to blast more and more of these things to pieces 'til the sun comes back up, we should probably just pick up the slack before more of them come out to play--for your sake I mean, not mine."
With a mystery ignited, Brock nodded while Colt brushed passed him. Brock fails to follow, his mind still occupied by 8-Bit, by Max and Surge, by all the unanswered questions surrounding them, prompting Colt to turn back and raise an eyebrow.
Colt: "So, you comin' with, or are you just gonna enjoy the view? Or maybe, just maybe, the second thoughts are finally kicking in, hmm? To be honest, I wouldn't blame ya." Colt extended his hand into the air, signaling that the rain had returned. "Aw, my hair!--Have you made up your mind? I don't--okay well I sorta do have all day but think of my hair!"
"...Oh--uh--y-yeah, I'm comin' with, it's just..." Brock looked back over to his muscle car and sighed heavily. "...Oh man...! I guess it is still usable. Are we not taking my ride?"
Colt: "Yeah, no. You're pretty much begging for trouble riding around in that thing going forward. Best to keep things slow and steady for now so come on, let's get this show on the road already. We've got things to do."
Brock sighed lightly. "Okay..."
Colt: "Don't think you'll have to worry about a parking ticket--so hey, there's that. Now remember, this face? He's your guardian angel if you couldn't tell, and this place? Probably gonna eat ya alive if you're not careful so make sure you stick to me like glue... d-don't actually do that, I'm as uncomfortable as is already ."
Brock: "I think I got it..."
Colt: "Alright then, 'bout time we got going..."

My EX blames me for where we've ended up post-breakup. Am I to blame?
I'll try to give some context:
My EX Gf broke up with me 4 months ago. It ended amicably and I did not doubt we still loved each other deeply. But it was incompatibility in the future (I'm older) and even though it's been great now, she just didn't think it would work into the far future, even though I wanted a future with her. I did not fight, beg or plead.
I lasted 2 months before I broke NC. Not proud of it.
2 months ago: The first time, my message was that I was thinking of her and hoped she was doing well. She replied back asking how I was. I didn't respond. She messaged later the same day and I bit. She then flooded me with saying she still thinks of me, misses me, in love with me. Instead of playing it off like some experts say, I told her I felt the same. Spent a week talking and even set up a date, but a few hrs after the date setup, she said she couldn't go through with it. Felt she was stringing me along. We Met f2f for closure. She ends up telling me I'll find someone, etc. But then later she is kissing me. More than once. Then later leaves and said she would have to block me. Texts me 2 days later she can't stop thinking of me. I learn later she unblocked me an hour after blocking me.
1 month ago: I send a text asking if she and her Fam is ok after deadly flooding in her neighborhood area ( 7 people died from the floods). It triggered me from a break up I had 6 years ago. One month later, we were hit by the deadliest Hurricane we've ever experienced. I came close to checking on her during/after the storm, but I decided not to. When I ran into her a year later, she admitted she wished I would have checked on her. I felt like a jerk and guilty. This weighed on my decision as well as the fact that I genuinely still care about my EX. So I messaged her. She replied back they were ok. I said great and "take care". She responds thanks, you, too. But she sends another message that evening. And I respond. Deja vu: I miss you so much. I love you so much, etc. , etc. We later had a conversation about me reaching out and I told her why. She seemed cool about it and told me she was glad that I framed my response "Take care" as a way to respect our boundaries.
She tells me she wants to fix things and make it work. I'm ready to do the same. But within the next 2 weeks, she starts going hot and cold with mixed feelings. I do my best to encourage her to open up, and the first cold spell, I listen as she shared she has problems with self-esteem and depression. She also tells me she's having negative intrusive thoughts about us. I listen. I support her. At the end of the conversation, she is happy she was able to be vulnerable and wants things to work and loves me. I felt it was progress. We went on 2 dates, with the last one sleeping/intimate with me. Says it was one of the best dates and intimacy she's had. Three days later she goes cold, I get her open up and this time she says she sees no future.
I don't beg or plead, but I do tell her I felt being used. She admits she's believes she has. But then asks why I reached out in the first place asking about her safety after the storm. I told her I genuinely cared (we talked about this before), but she tells me the call really didn't matter. She said it wouldn't have made a difference. She asks me several other things that made me feel like I had ulterior motives ( I really didn't). She always knew where I stood. But I start to feel like it was my fault. And I also was wondering, was she talking or was it someone close to her who was supporting/convincing her to end things with me.
She texts me a song that describes how she feels during our conversation. When I watch it the next morning, it's about someone trying to move past the sad/"missing you" memories and get to memories that make them smile when they think about the other person. But each time they get close to moving on, their EX shows up and they feel sad for them and let them in. They aren't able to move on and get to those happy memories. They start to get frustrated with their EX with those memories at risk for becoming bad. It's like she's telling me she's too vulnerable/weak to ignore when I broke NC. I feel extremely guilty after listening to the emotionally charged song.
I also should disclose that her parents and friends did not like me because I was older (they should have met me, I'm a very young-looking and great guy) and did have a big influence on her decision making. I wonder if that's why I was seeing so many mixed messages?
As we say our goodbyes, she tells me she loves me. Later that week, she finds a way in social media to congratulate and high five an achievement I had.
Was she bread crumbing me? I don't think I was bread crumbing her? The blame game did hit me hard at first and I almost sent her a letter apologizing for all the post-break up pain I've caused. But now, I think it's not all me. I do take responsibility for reaching out first. I should have just remained NC.

I don't feel like my in-laws respect me at all, and it's been years of observing these patterns of lack of decent care. My daughter (8) spends the night once or twice per month at my husband's parents house. My MIL is typically the one responsible for caring for my daughter, I can't rely on FIL to do anything. When my daughter was younger, MIL would babysit and I'd always bring a packed lunch for her. The lunch would always go untouched, even after pointing it out. I can't tell you how many soggy PBJs I've had to throw away because MIL would feed my daughter something else, or just forget to feed her altogether. When my daughter would spend the night, upon picking her up, she'd still be wearing yesterday's clothes, meaning she slept in them, and her hair is unbrushed. My daughter has super long, butt length hair that NEEDS brushed every day, no exceptions. It's very thick and if it doesn't get brushed even one day, her hair takes me about 30 minutes to fully brush through. I'd always pack a toothbrush, then found out MIL was having my daughter use this old toothbrush that's been sitting in the bathroom for years. I sneakily threw it away one day, because that's absolutely appalling.
Funny thing is, my MIL is a caregiver at a facility for mentally handicapped people. It's her job to make sure they're clean, dressed and fed. I think she's a supervisor now, but I know she spent years actually caring for the individuals. It's baffling to me that this knowledge and experience doesn't translate into her grandmother job. My daughter isn't mentally handicapped or anything, but she's only 8, she can't be expected to automatically get dressed and brush her hair, or to reach for her own lunch we brought. Occasionally she'll mention that she asked my daughter to get dressed, and my daughter would protest. Then the subject would get dropped. Like, OF COURSE a small child is going to protest basic rules. They're TESTING YOU to see if you have any boundaries. You're showing her that you don't have boundaries and that she can always get her way.
I'm just trying to build a good foundation for my daughter, to teach her some basic self respect, get into good habits of good hygeine and caring about herself, and I seem to be the only one who cares. My husband doesn't think it's a big deal. He also isn't the one tasked with brushing her hair every day like I am. On the rare occasion he brushes her hair, he gets about halfway through and gives up. I point out that he gets dressed every morning, he doesn't have to brush his hair but he still makes sure it looks good, he cares about how he looks. Why do you not care that your daughter doesn't care how she looks? How do you suppose she'll understand how to care about these things if we're not implementing them now?
It all came to a head this weekend when my daughter spent the weekend at the in-laws camping with them and my husband's sister's family. She's 9 years older than us and her kids are much older now. Not to mention, they're all boys. My daughter is the only girl in the family right now; no one in the family has ever dealt with hair like hers. My daughter spent the night with everyone then my husband and I came the next day, in the afternoon. My daughter was still wearing the same clothes, and they were wet. Hair is a damn rat's nest. Everyone was just hanging out, all the adults were talking and my daughter suddenly gets into a very bad mood when she found out my husband and I brought some Doritos that weren't the usual flavor we get. Like, unusually bad, she's throwing sticks around from the campfire and storming around, extremely pissed because we brought the wrong chips. I asked her, what did you eat today? She said basically nothing. MIL pops up and said she had half a biscuit with some jelly and a few bites of cereal she didn't like. "She just wanted to keep playing!" MIL said cheerfully. I checked the clock and it was 2:30 in the afternoon. I'm like, does she at least have a water bottle around? Did you bother with any sunscreen? Everyone's been outside all day. Especially if she's running around, she needs decent food and water so she doesn't devolve into this terror that throws sticks around. My daughter isn't like this. Husband goes inside to find something to feed her. I'd long given up on bringing my own food for her by this point, but I really wish I did. MIL comes out a few minutes later with three mozzarella sticks that are absolutley glued to the plate from being in the microwave too long, and a giant orange that she'd only cut in half like a grapefruit. My husband peeled the orange and finished slicing it up, and the mozzarella sticks ended up in the trash, inedible. I KNOW my MIL isn't this unintelligent.
My FIL and SIL are real good at running their mouths and are constantly saying bad things about other people who are in the family, but not really in the family. Every time I'm around these people, they're making jokes at others expenses, but never make jokes about anyone that was born into the family. They only make jokes about people who have married into the family, like me. Given that I've heard "jokes" (rather, insults) about damn near every other person who has married into the family, I often wonder what they say about me behind my back. I've seen this happen over and over for 12 years, I've been married into the family for 8 years now. I literally never know what to say about these insults so I sit quietly while everyone else is roaring with laughter. My husband doesn't participate in this, that I'm aware of. My husband's cousin was talking about her dad, someone she doesn't see often because she's attached to her mom and they've been divorced since she was little, and FIL made a joke about the cousin's dad not being very smart. He doubles down and says he's not very bright, just repeating what he's saying, trying to make eye contact with anyone until someone acknowledges his "joke" and laughs at it. FIL loves talking shit about the cousin's husband, too, as they're currently going through a divorce. MIL actually had to tell him to stop because the son was right there, hearing terrible things said about his dad. SIL was talking about some board game they were all playing recently, I didn't hear what it was, but SIL kept saying it was an inappropriate game. She was kind of laughing it off like playing this game was just a wild idea. Someone asked who brought the game, SIL said (her son's fiancé's name) and said, does THAT tell you much? It's definitely not a secret SIL doesn't like her son's fiancé, but never says anything to her face. The fiance has become a friend of mine and told me SIL told her son she didn't like the wedding dress. I sided with fiance like yeah, it's really not her business and her opinions should just be kept to herself. But SIL likes running her mouth. She's a midwife and I've overheard plenty of conversations of her on the phone with other midwives saying ridiculous things about her patients and generally just having a shitty attitude. She was my midwife too, so I wonder, what have you said about me behind my back?
Today I found out SIL's oldest son just bought a house and apparently took my daughter to see it while they were camping. SIL didn't bother mentioning it to me or my husband. MIL didn't mention it either, and she was the one who was supposed to be watching my daughter. They had an entire day to bring it up and they didn't. Idk how my daughter didn't even mention it until today. I don't even care that they took her, but I'd like to know about it. Just a quick Hey! Going on a little field trip to see a new house! The most respectful thing would be to ask for permission, but I realize I'm in too deep to ever expect THAT. But I need to know where my daughter is. Can't I at least expect that?
I've brought up all these issues to my husband several times and nothing gets done about it. It happens over and over again and I'm truly so sick of it. I try to be a reasonable person, I try to mull over my feelings and try to make them make sense, try to calm myself down, but the conclusion I always come to is that I'm not respected in this family because I wasn't born into it. My husband's cousin's son is a couple years younger than my daughter and my in-laws are CONSTANTLY asking permission from the cousin about things with her son. Since my daughter was born I tried establishing certain rules about sugary foods and just expressing my general concerns about things I find important for child development, and those rules were always broken. For SOME reason, (maybe because she was born into the family,) the cousin's rules for her son are absolutely respected, and they're pretty much the same rules I had. All weekend long I heard several questions to the cousin about her son, and thinking to myself huh, you've never bothered to ask me that. You'd just do it, sometimes you'd say, hope that's ok, with a sheepish, fake apologetic smile.
Am I wrong to expect my husband to be on board with me, and to unequivocally devote his loyalty to me and our daughter over his biological family? He doesn't like confrontation, and the slighest thing makes his mom sob. These are just the latest examples but I feel like I can write a novel at this point. Am I wrong to expect him to get his family on OUR page, and to show a little more repect for the way we're raising our kid? I would never expect him to handle issues with my family. We don't even see my family as much as we see his so his in-law experience has been pretty damn easy. My in-law experience has been quite hellish and I simply can't take it anymore. Am I overreacting?
TL;DR I don't feel respected by my in-laws and my husband doesn't seem to care.

Guys Im on my vacation and I can't play rn -,-
I was DK main off-lane and I was the important part of our team, I was usually puting levels into E to get insane HP regen and just stand here, laughing at any damage I get while going for last hits.
So it was the only hero that I could end-up well farmed with, high level because I never came back to base as a partially solo off-lane.. my buddy Alchemist was often power-jungling, we had a tanky hard to kill off-lane without a "hard-support" but a jungler.
Enemy safe lane was getting some farm when I was alone but def not any kills.
One time even Razor and Enchantress didnt bother me that much, I went to bash their wards, they attacked me but Alchemist was waiting to gank, our support venge teleported it and we stun-locked one of them.*
I checked the changes and his E is now.... gone. Some perks but the main stuff, the insane early game regen and armor is now gone..
Reworked into some minor funny passive.
I couldnt really imagine playing anyone else in our team, DK was the safests of bets, I was always able to be good later too because of the tankiness and good ulti late-game mechanics.
But really kinda the lane phase was what made it, no matter how skilled and harrasy the enemy was, I actually never died on lane and had a good exp and gold gain.
In one of the random test games, I lost the off-lane to a skilled enemy and it kinda crashed the game, something that wouldnt happen if I was playing DK.
I'm kinda crying rn, do I need to find a new hero to play? What do you suggest? I know Huskar has some regen too but Huskar is a meme hero

• Edit - they actually bothered me a lot, I mean they would propably own me if I wasn't DK*

Actually this was a strong laning duo that we might consider checking, it has a potential to own the lane with its harrasment potential. I mean Razor + Enchantress on safe lane.