I’m on the iOS app, latest version, trying to cast to a chromecast so I can watch on my tv.

In some update or other since I last watched, they got rid of that handy cast icon that all streaming services worth their salt have on their videos, know the one?

Anyway, the only way I can now find to cast to a different device is hidden deep in the settings, and asks me for a code from the device I’m casting to. Which I guess in chromecast’s case, is the Guest Mode PIN…there’s nothing else it could be, because other than that, chromecast connects automatically over the local network.

Thing is, I had to spend ages getting my chromecast to even show me that PIN…because Guest Mode was discontinued…quite a long time ago…because now chromecast is done entirely over local networks.

So unsurprisingly, that doesn’t work? Did Fite/Triller bring out a new version of the iOS app that removed a (somewhat) functioning casting system and replace it with one that relies on technology that the most common casting devices no longer support (and haven’t for some time?).

Their support site is incredibly unhelpful and often refers to older features and settings that just don’t exist anymore. Meanwhile their email response to my report has been “have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling everything” three times in a row. (Yes, and it made no difference at all) They seem a bit clueless but they don’t seem to be aware of any intent to make Chromecast non-functional with the update.

“Ok so I want these two wolves on the poster… and one of them is wearing a cape.”

“You mean like regular wolves or werewolves?”

“Full anthropomorphic wolves and I want them to be all shirtless and super buff with cool tattoos.”

“You realize we are advertising a sporting event right?”

“Just give me my sexy werewolves!”

After being delayed two months, Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome took place earlier today. You can see it now on NJPWWorld, or pay $30 to see it on FITE TV. This is the first Tokyo Dome event NJPW has run outside of the annual January 4th show, now known as Wrestle Kingdom, since Toukon Souzou New Chapter on 10/8/2005, where one of the worst matches in NJPW history main evented. 

Originally due to take place on 5/29/2021, and with a completely different main event, it was postponed due to the state of emergency enacted at the time in Tokyo and elsewhere. This one took place under a state of emergency as well, but at this point, it was now or never. This did affect the attendance of the show, listed as 5,389 persons, probably the lowest drawing Dome show in recent times (maybe ever? Hard saying, considering there are also quite a lot of worked numbers in those Dome attendances through the years, both from Antonio Inoki, previous owners Yuke’s, as well as Bushiroad) but with restrictions in place for attendances, and the mystery surrounding whether the event would take place or not, there was not much that could be done there.

Kota Ibushi was announced prior to the event that he would not be making it, due to his aspiration pneumonia. Hiroshi Tanahashi, in his 11th Tokyo Dome main event, would take his place in the main event IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match v. Shingo Takagi, after making himself available at yesterday’s Summer Struggle in Nagoya. There are a lot of parallels to be drawn between this show and All Japan Pro Wrestling’s recent Champion Night 2021 megacard. Both had to be postponed due to a state of emergency, and both had their main event changed due to illness of one of the participants - Ibushi we just discussed above, whereas then-Triple Crown champion Suwama had to miss and vacate the title due to testing positive for COVID-19. Illnesses will occur, especially in a pandemic. 

Results:

Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome - 7/25/2021, Tokyo Dome (NJPWWorld / FITE)

KOPW2021 New Japan Ranbo With Handcuffs: Chase Owens [Bullet Club] d. Toru Yano [CHAOS] (c), Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Minoru Suzuki [SZKG], Yoshinobu Kanemaru [SZKG], YOH [CHAOS], SHO [CHAOS], Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, BUSHI [Los Ingobernables], Tiger Mask IV, Master Wato, DOUKI [SZKG], Tomohiro Ishii [CHAOS], Dick Togo [Bullet Club], Hirooki Goto [CHAOS], Yuji Nagata, Great O-Khan [United Empire], KENTA [Bullet Club], YOSHI-HASHI [CHAOS], Yujiro Takahashi [Bullet Club] - Owens is the Provisional KOPW2021 Champion

IWGP Juniorheavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo [Bullet Club] © d. Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero [CHAOS] (Phantasmo > Taguchi, CRII, 20:56) - Ishimori/ELP succeed their 1st defense

IWGP Juniorheavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles [CHAOS] d. El Desperado [SZKG] © (Ron Miller Special, 19:56) - Despy fails his 3rd defense - Eagles is the 90th champion

Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS] d. Jeff Cobb [United Empire] (Pinfall, 19:23)

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. [SZKG] d. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA [Los Ingobernables] © (Sabre > Naito, European Clutch, 37:58) - Naito/SANADA fail their 1st defense - Dangerous Tekkers are the 91st champions

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi [Los Ingobernables] © d. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Last Of The Dragon, 37:26) - Shingo succeeds his 1st defense

Shingo gets his v1 defense in, and declares he will hold onto the title until Ibushi is ready to challenge for it again. With that, the lights go out, and EVIL attacks Shingo, demanding a shot at the belt. The Internet by and large was not amused, and honestly, I’m not sure what will make anyone happy at this point. The adage was right -- when you are hot, you can do no wrong, when you are in a down cycle (which NJPW is in, let’s not make any bones about it), you can do nothing right. The same folk who say the main event scene is stale have been given three brand new champions in 2021 and have complained every step of the way. Including me in places! Shingo v. EVIL is a new match, and there is a history there that never really got addressed! Just yesterday I was saying how EVIL needed the win over Ishii to build credibility back up, tho I said for G1 Climax; maybe THIS is the story, that he IS NOT ready to challenge but thinks he is?! I just don’t understand fans anymore. The complaints are always about stale things are, and then when something different IS actually offered it’s always “No not THAT way!” Maybe I just need to divorce myself from Twitter for a while.

Complaints are also coming in for the IWGP Heavyweight tag title change. Naito & SANADA want a rematch, but then Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI step in and plead their case for a shot as well. Hey, multiple teams vying for the belts, what a time to be alive. I can understand complaints about Robbie Eagles beating El Desperado for the title more than any other ones, especially since Hiromu Takahashi was on hand at the start of the show proper to challenge today’s winner. Hiromu v. Despy is a money match, tho one that’s been done a lot, even tho the champion v. challenger spots would be switched. Eagles v. Hiromu is a relatively new match, I will grant, but I am also not as high on Robbie Eagles as a lot of others are. 

Chase Owens becomes the first person to hold the KOPW trophy besides Toru Yano since the trophy’s inception last summer. The match was ridiculous. It’s a Ranbo, and a KOPW match, it’s supposed to be ridiculous. Wrestling is ridiculous! It’s OK!

Essentially, the complaints here, the complaints online about last night’s GCW show with Nick Gage v. Matt Cardona... I just don’t know anymore.