Nocking Point: Arrow Episode 503, "A Matter of Trust"

ARROW fans, are you ready?

Beloved readers of Critical Blast, are you ready?

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, fans of all ages...are you ready to rummmmmmmmbllllllle?

Yes, I'm stealing from Michael Buffer, and why shouldn't I? This is the episode for the fans who cross the borders of ARROW and World Wrestling Entertainment. This is the episode where Stardust -- aka Cody Runnels, aka CODY RHODES -- enters the Arrowverse.

Okay, the wrestling persona Stardust doesn't make the cut, but the name does get used as the new designer drug that's infiltrating Star City. Cody's character is Derek Samson, a mid-level pusher of the stuff who gets Jokered into a vat of chemicals when he goes up against Wild Dog (RICK GONZALEZ) and Evelyn (MADISON MCLAUGHLIN) -- two of Oliver's recruits who are there against his express orders. The result of this exposure is a Samson with enhanced strength and an inability to feel any pain. See what happens when you don't follow Oliver's orders? You create a supervillain.

This week's "Previously On" opening segment includes bits from THE FLASH to explain the Flashpoint timeline, which ought to be a hint that things are a little different in this season of ARROW than the last. We already know that John Diggle (DAVID RAMSEY) has a son now instead of a daughter, but what other changes should eagle-eyed watchers look for? Could it be there to explain the presence of Floyd Lawton (MICHAEL ROWE) in the cell Diggle occupies now that he has been framed by his Army unit? Or is it to help call attention away from the fact that Diggle's wife, Lyla, pulls a Darren Stevens in mid-episode (the character switching from AUDREY MARIE ANDERSON to ANNE-MARIE JOHNSON)?

As the Green Arrow (STEPHEN AMELL) has his hands full training his new team, his alter-ego Oliver Queen is similarly busied when the media jumps all over his hiring of Quentin Lance (PAUL BLACKTHORNE) as his deputy mayor; only Oliver didn't hire him, his sister Thea (WILLA HOLLAND) did, against Oliver's instructions. Seems nobody listens to Oliver these days.

Other things to watch for in this episode include:

• Introducing JOSH SEGARRA as District Attorney Adrian (Vigilante) Chase!
• Felicity (EMILY BETT RICKARDS) secret guilt over Rory 'Ragman' Regan's (JOE DINICOL) secret origin!
• Curtis Holt's (ECHO KELLUM) love of professional wrestler Terry "Mr. Fair Play" Sloane!
• Mr. Terrific in costume!