What's the status of Daniel Bryan?
It's a question that has surfaced a lot in recent months and even more so since the rumors of the New Japan group signing with the WWE, but as of now, it seems to be the same story as before. Bryan's personal doctor had cleared him to return to the ring while the WWE's doctor hadn't so it was mentioned in an interview that he was going to visit a third doctor to get an independent medical opinion. That was from a few months ago and there's still no actual update on Bryan's status other than he's waiting to be cleared to get back to competition. The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported last week that doctors from UCLA cleared him to return, but you really have to take that with a grain of salt because there's nothing concentrate about his status unless it's from WWE or Daniel Bryan. It's been nearly a year since Daniel Bryan has seen action inside of the WWE after he sustained a concussion in a match with Sheamus and it forced him to vacate the IC title that he won at Wrestlemania 31 last year. However, it was the second consecutive year that Bryan was forced to vacate a championship, as he suffered a neck injury after the "YES! movement" propelled him into the main event of Wrestlemania 30 even though WWE brass originally had no plans for him in the title picture.
There's no doubt about Bryan's popularity and in my opinion, no doubt if it returns that he will be as popular, if not more so than he was previously. But, all things considered, it's doubtful that will be the case. As mentioned, Bryan said that the WWE staff sided against his return, even though his personal doctor gave it the green light and because of that, I would guess an independent doctor's medical opinion will be irrelevant. The bottom line is, it's the WWE and they will go with their doctor's advice before they will consider an outside view, and they have every right to do so because again, it's their product. With all the news being made about concussions, would the WWE want to risk the liability if Bryan gets hurt again? Especially after their own doctor advised against it? Daniel Bryan doesn't seem like the type to try to sue for the well known risks that go along with professional wrestling, but there always seems to be a revolving door of washed up mid carders from years prior that are trying to make a quick money grab with a lawsuit against WWE and if given the chance, you can bet the jobbers would get a lawyer that tries to use Daniel Bryan as an example of WWE's concussion policy. Granted, Billy Jack Haynes and any other delusional former star that sue are ridiculous, but the point being is the WWE is always going to be cautious and not risk potential liability, especially being a publicly traded company. There's also the matter of the current CM Punk lawsuit, which includes a WWE doctor suing Punk for claims that he wasn't given the proper medical treatment. If the WWE allows Bryan to compete and he gets hurt again, it would indirectly give CM Punk a way to counter the lawsuit. Essentially, Bryan could indirectly be used as a pawn in the current topic of sports related injuries and it might sway the WWE's decision.
That being said, Daniel Bryan, who worked for nearly a decade as "The American Dragon" on the independent scene, is without question one of the best in ring performers of all time, despite the majority of his work taking place in smaller venues. However, when Daniel Bryan was given a national stage, he proved his talents translate to any audience and he got over as the most popular star on WWE TV without the push from the WWE machine. In fact, it became blatantly obvious that the WWE management legitimately weren't going to give Bryan a chance to be a main event star until the mutiny that started at the Royal Rumble in 2014 continued until he was booked for Wrestlemania. Perhaps what made Daniel Bryan's journey to the championship such a great story was that it was generated from an organic reaction from the crowd that made an emotional investment into the character. Daniel Bryan is genuinely a humble competitor that wrestles because of his passion for the sport and the audience identifies with it. I actually had the chance to meet Daniel Bryan last week at the "World of Wheel" convention and despite the winter storm that hit most of the north east, many fans showed up to meet him. He was extremely polite and seemed happy to be there.
Aside from the hurdle of getting cleared to return to action. there would probably be limited scenarios for Bryan anyway because would the WWE really want to risk investing the TV time if he gets hurt again? More specifically, if Daniel Bryan is on the active roster again, there's also the possiblity that it could derail the WWE's plans to continue to push Roman Reigns as the top baby face, which is why they would probably avoid any scenarios that could get the crowd to boo again. Basically, if Bryan returns, he could interrupt the Reigns plan to the top spot, much like what happened at the Royal Rumble last year.
So again, what's the status of Daniel Bryan?
With as popular as he is, I would guess Bryan gets signed to a long term deal as an "ambassador," so to speak for the company and works a lot of the media tours to promote events, signings, etc. Sadly, I don't think Bryan will be cleared to return to in ring competition and if there's ANY risk of serious injury, I would rather Daniel Bryan retire. As disappointing as it would be for him to hang up the boots, it would be terrible if he sustained a long term injury from the return. So basically, the WWE will pay him to work the promotional side and not to wrestle anywhere else, which seems like a possibility, especially considering that Bri Bella is still regularly featured on WWE TV. As far an Daniel Bryan's legacy, he really has nothing left to prove at this point, as he was regarded by many as the best in ring worker for several years and he won the WWE title at Wrestlemania. Obviously, it would've been great to see him continue to wrestle on a global stage, but when you consider his ROH work, along with his world wide popularity in the WWE, Daniel Bryan had a tremendous career on a variety of levels.
Legendary announcer, Jim Ross wrote the following about Steve Austin in "The Stone Cold Truth" autobiography, "He isn't an actor. He's a pro wrestler with passion."
I would suggest that the statement also applies to Daniel Bryan and it's one of the reasons he had a remarkable career.
Friday, January 29, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Triple H vs. Roman Reigns
Usually, the brand of Wrestlemania will sell itself and the name, along with the history of the event will be the draw for thousands of fans to purchase tickets months in advance before a card is announced. Within recent years, the biggest event of the year has moved almost exclusively to major stadium venues, which makes sense because the WWE can essentially triple the gate in the stadium setting than in a traditional 20,000 seat arena. However, while the event sells itself, when you get to the staggering 70,000-80,000 ticket range, the content booked on the card does make the difference between a sellout or thousands of unsold seats at show time. Granted, the WWE is going to make major money regardless, but with this year's event set to take place at the 100,000 seat Cowboy stadium in Dallas, it wouldn't exactly be good publicity if ticket sales are "struggling" prior to the show. Keep in mind, the most attended Wrestlemania was over 93,000 at the Silver Dome, which took place with Andre The Giant on the card at the peak of the "Rock n Wrestling" era. Even if Seth Rollins, John Cena, etc. weren't on the sidelines, it would still be tough to sell 100,000 tickets to a wrestling show in 2016.
That being said, the injuries have depleted the roster and many of the projected major matches were scrapped when Rollins, Cena, etc. were injured. That certainly doesn't help the matter of drawing six figure attendance numbers to Cowboy stadium. The association of the mega venue and eccentric Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones is a media opportunity for the WWE, but if they want some type of attendance record, the content of the event matters. Seth Rollins, who cashed in to win the title in the main event last year, suffered an ACL injury a few months ago and will be out of action for several months. John Cena, a true work horse and one of the WWE's top drawing acts for a decade tore his tricep, putting him on the shelf for an extended period of time. Roman Reigns finally seemed to turn the corner and get a good reaction from the crowd, but had to be booked very carefully at the Royal Rumble to avoid a repeat of last year.
So, how does the WWE plan to sell 100,000 tickets at Cowboy Stadium in Dallas at Wrestlemania 32? When the chips are down and the roster is thin, Vince McMahon is going to trust his family and Triple H won the WWE championship to set up another Triple H main event at Wrestlemania. While Triple H is one of the best in ring performers in WWE history, does he really have enough star power to sell out Cowboy stadium? Don't get me wrong, Triple H is a skilled and talented worker, but despite the WWE's best efforts to continuously push the agenda over the years, he's not on the same level as Steve Austin, The Rock, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan etc. In fact, when there was a more loaded roster with some of the previous names mentioned, Triple H was always someone working with the star that draws the money, not actually the top draw himself. Take nothing away from him and this isn't some personal jab at Paul Levesque because he had a tremendous career, but would he really be going to main event Wrestlemania for an eighth time if he wasn't married to the boss's daughter? That's not to say that it was some malicious plan to "bury" the younger talent either, but an indication the the WWE lacks legitimate star power (some of which is because of their own booking decisions) and management booked the easy, predictable main event, even though there could be better options for the biggest show of the year.
Some might ask, if not Triple H then who should work with Roman for the title? Here's where some of WWE's booking decisions for years prior can come back to bite them so to speak, because how many times has a part timer showed up for Wrestlemania, worked the main event, and left a few months later? The Rock did a "once in a life time" match with John Cena...twice, and then Batista stopped at the WWE for a cup of coffee to promote the movie he was in a few years ago, and now Triple H has the spot. Yes, I know Brock Lesnar is technically a part-time talent, but he's under contract so he can be there whenever they want to pay him to show up and there's no concern for a scheduling conflict with movies, TV shows, etc. Further more, the last time two full-time competitors appeared in the main event at Wrestlemania was The Miz vs. Cena in 2011. I've said it before and I will say it again, bringing someone in for a short run just to boost WM doesn't help establish any of the younger stars that appear on a regular basis. As a result of the part-timers getting the top spots, very few full-time talents have been solidified as legitimate main event stars. A win at WM was a stamp of credibility for a performer and it worked as recent as last year when Seth Rollins cashed in to win the belt. If you look at it from a historical stand point, the WM victory validates a competitor's status and usually leads toward a money drawing run for the company. Steve Austin, John Cena, and Batista all began their main event runs after the WM win. The WWE hasn't had many of those solidifying WM moments in recent years and as a result, there's a lack of major draws for WM 32 in a few months. Granted, the talent is there and that's the most frustrating aspect of the whole situation, there are several workers on the roster that could be legitimate top stars for the WWE, but they have to be given the platform to establish themselves.
So again, who else could be booked to work with Roman?
In my opinion, the money match for WM 32 would be Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns in a rematch from last year. Technically, the Roman/Lesnar feud wasn't resolved because Rollins did the cash in to win the title so there's something that could be used to build toward the rematch. As I mentioned in a column last week, the WWE had to be very careful how they booked Roman in the Rumble because an elimination could lead to the crowd booing him again, and the WWE was very smart to literally keep Roman away from the match when Lesnar was eliminated by the Wyatt family. Obviously, the WWE wants to make Roman the top baby face in the company. That's what WWE brass wants to do, but is it what they SHOULD do? Just my two cents here, but a Roman Reign heel turn might be the only way to get him over for an eventual baby face run, considering that when he fired up at the end of the Rumble, there were still some booing from the crowd. What if the WWE was determined to continue to push Rocky Maivia as a baby face in 1997? Would The Rock have had the opportunity to become one of the biggest stars in the history of the business? A heel run can allow a performer to develop their character and improve mic skills. Roman Reigns as a heel vs. a fan favorite Brock Lesnar would also add a different dynamic to the rematch. The logistics and the background is already there to book the match, Roman sells out to the Authority to win the title and the Paul Heyman promos to defy the Authority stable could sell the WM 32 match.
The WWE has spent the past three years to build Brock Lesnar as a "special event" type of draw and after investing the TV time to promote him, including the ending of the streak, why not use Lesnar to sell tickets for Cowboy stadium? Again, this isn't a jab at Triple H, but Brock Lesnar is a bigger star and Lesnar's name on the marquee gives the WWE the best chance to sell out WM 32, especially considering the injuries. With John Cena and Rollins among those injured, Brock Lesnar is the biggest star on the roster and he should be used to cover the bases as the top draw for WM. But, the seeds were planted for a Lesnar/Bray Wyatt match, which will be an interesting feud, but again,all things considered, Lesnar should be used for a main event spot. Regardless, it should be interesting to see the ticket sales of the event and the crowd reaction to the Triple H/Roman Reigns feud.
That being said, the injuries have depleted the roster and many of the projected major matches were scrapped when Rollins, Cena, etc. were injured. That certainly doesn't help the matter of drawing six figure attendance numbers to Cowboy stadium. The association of the mega venue and eccentric Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones is a media opportunity for the WWE, but if they want some type of attendance record, the content of the event matters. Seth Rollins, who cashed in to win the title in the main event last year, suffered an ACL injury a few months ago and will be out of action for several months. John Cena, a true work horse and one of the WWE's top drawing acts for a decade tore his tricep, putting him on the shelf for an extended period of time. Roman Reigns finally seemed to turn the corner and get a good reaction from the crowd, but had to be booked very carefully at the Royal Rumble to avoid a repeat of last year.
So, how does the WWE plan to sell 100,000 tickets at Cowboy Stadium in Dallas at Wrestlemania 32? When the chips are down and the roster is thin, Vince McMahon is going to trust his family and Triple H won the WWE championship to set up another Triple H main event at Wrestlemania. While Triple H is one of the best in ring performers in WWE history, does he really have enough star power to sell out Cowboy stadium? Don't get me wrong, Triple H is a skilled and talented worker, but despite the WWE's best efforts to continuously push the agenda over the years, he's not on the same level as Steve Austin, The Rock, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan etc. In fact, when there was a more loaded roster with some of the previous names mentioned, Triple H was always someone working with the star that draws the money, not actually the top draw himself. Take nothing away from him and this isn't some personal jab at Paul Levesque because he had a tremendous career, but would he really be going to main event Wrestlemania for an eighth time if he wasn't married to the boss's daughter? That's not to say that it was some malicious plan to "bury" the younger talent either, but an indication the the WWE lacks legitimate star power (some of which is because of their own booking decisions) and management booked the easy, predictable main event, even though there could be better options for the biggest show of the year.
Some might ask, if not Triple H then who should work with Roman for the title? Here's where some of WWE's booking decisions for years prior can come back to bite them so to speak, because how many times has a part timer showed up for Wrestlemania, worked the main event, and left a few months later? The Rock did a "once in a life time" match with John Cena...twice, and then Batista stopped at the WWE for a cup of coffee to promote the movie he was in a few years ago, and now Triple H has the spot. Yes, I know Brock Lesnar is technically a part-time talent, but he's under contract so he can be there whenever they want to pay him to show up and there's no concern for a scheduling conflict with movies, TV shows, etc. Further more, the last time two full-time competitors appeared in the main event at Wrestlemania was The Miz vs. Cena in 2011. I've said it before and I will say it again, bringing someone in for a short run just to boost WM doesn't help establish any of the younger stars that appear on a regular basis. As a result of the part-timers getting the top spots, very few full-time talents have been solidified as legitimate main event stars. A win at WM was a stamp of credibility for a performer and it worked as recent as last year when Seth Rollins cashed in to win the belt. If you look at it from a historical stand point, the WM victory validates a competitor's status and usually leads toward a money drawing run for the company. Steve Austin, John Cena, and Batista all began their main event runs after the WM win. The WWE hasn't had many of those solidifying WM moments in recent years and as a result, there's a lack of major draws for WM 32 in a few months. Granted, the talent is there and that's the most frustrating aspect of the whole situation, there are several workers on the roster that could be legitimate top stars for the WWE, but they have to be given the platform to establish themselves.
So again, who else could be booked to work with Roman?
In my opinion, the money match for WM 32 would be Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns in a rematch from last year. Technically, the Roman/Lesnar feud wasn't resolved because Rollins did the cash in to win the title so there's something that could be used to build toward the rematch. As I mentioned in a column last week, the WWE had to be very careful how they booked Roman in the Rumble because an elimination could lead to the crowd booing him again, and the WWE was very smart to literally keep Roman away from the match when Lesnar was eliminated by the Wyatt family. Obviously, the WWE wants to make Roman the top baby face in the company. That's what WWE brass wants to do, but is it what they SHOULD do? Just my two cents here, but a Roman Reign heel turn might be the only way to get him over for an eventual baby face run, considering that when he fired up at the end of the Rumble, there were still some booing from the crowd. What if the WWE was determined to continue to push Rocky Maivia as a baby face in 1997? Would The Rock have had the opportunity to become one of the biggest stars in the history of the business? A heel run can allow a performer to develop their character and improve mic skills. Roman Reigns as a heel vs. a fan favorite Brock Lesnar would also add a different dynamic to the rematch. The logistics and the background is already there to book the match, Roman sells out to the Authority to win the title and the Paul Heyman promos to defy the Authority stable could sell the WM 32 match.
The WWE has spent the past three years to build Brock Lesnar as a "special event" type of draw and after investing the TV time to promote him, including the ending of the streak, why not use Lesnar to sell tickets for Cowboy stadium? Again, this isn't a jab at Triple H, but Brock Lesnar is a bigger star and Lesnar's name on the marquee gives the WWE the best chance to sell out WM 32, especially considering the injuries. With John Cena and Rollins among those injured, Brock Lesnar is the biggest star on the roster and he should be used to cover the bases as the top draw for WM. But, the seeds were planted for a Lesnar/Bray Wyatt match, which will be an interesting feud, but again,all things considered, Lesnar should be used for a main event spot. Regardless, it should be interesting to see the ticket sales of the event and the crowd reaction to the Triple H/Roman Reigns feud.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
The Royal Rumble
The stage is set for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, an event that was pivotal, especially in the past two years, of shaping the main event of Wrestlemania. The question going into this year's event is, is the WWE setting itself up for another hostile crowd reaction?
Building the Roman empire was an uphill battle for the WWE and through no direct fault of his own, Reigns was subjected to backlash that was projected towards WWE brass for anointing the next star. The WWE fans wanted their voices heard and it was audible as they booed Reigns out of almost every building leading towards Wrestlemania 31. As I've said before, the audience didn't want to be told who they should want to see in the main event and the resentment towards Reigns was such that Seth Rollins was booked to cash in and win the title.
Roman was booked for a series of feuds designed to get him over with the crowd as somewhat of a "fresh start," including matches with Bray Wyatt, who is good enough to get others over while still maintaining his own credibility as a heel. The strategy worked and the crowd steadily became more receptive to Reigns, but things were rushed when WWE champion Seth Rollins tour his ACL on a European tour and was force to vacate the title. With a depleted talent roster from other injuries, it seemed as though the WWE would go with Reigns as the chosen champion to win the belt in a tournament at Survivor Series, which he did, but Sheamus cashed in his title shot to win the championship before the PPV went off the air. Some fans criticized Sheamus as champion, but he did exactly what he was booked to do and that was get Roman over with the crowd. There are a lot of varabies for how different types of heels can be used depending on the situation and while there is certainly a place for the "cool heels" to flourish, (something the NWO proved during their heyday) Sheamus was there to give Reigns a boost toward the title. Sheamus was doing the classic heel's job, get heat from the audience and get the baby face over. That being said, Sheamus is also a solid in ring competitor and anyone that criticizes his transitional run as champion is probably just looking for something to complain about on social media.
As somewhat of an "all-in" move, Vince McMahon returned to WWE TV and even at 70, he's still a tremendous heel. In fact, the argument could be made that Vince taking the super man punch prior to Reigns' title victory was the key to getting the fans to cheer him as the champion. The chairman doesn't appear on WWE programming often so when he was on Raw, it was a "special event" type of angle and it added an extra emphasis to the storyline. The Vince card is probably the best shot (and most effective way) to get Roman over completely as a baby face, but could the Rumble hinder the progress Reigns has made?
Keep in mind, the initial hostility towards Reigns was because the audience perceived that the office was giving him the spot that the fans wanted someone else to get for Wrestlemania. While the title being defended in the Rumble itself adds a unique dynamic to the match, it also limits the potential results with Reigns already booked for it and there's the risk of the crowd booing him if he eliminates one of the fan favorites, in a sense "taking their spot" for Wrestlemania. Perhaps what ignited the resentment toward Reigns last year was that it was very predictable that the office wanted to push him as the next top guy and the fans took it as ignoring their requests so if the plan is the generic "Reigns defeats everyone to keep the title" type of angle, the crowd might not embrace it. Specifically, when Reigns speared Brock Lesnar on Raw, the crowd was booing and if he eliminates Lesnar from the Rumble, what's the reaction going to be?
It almost seems like the WWE is going to have to book some type of swerve or surprise to protect Reigns from indirectly taking the heat that's directed toward management. It's disappointing that Reigns was subjected to so much flak during his initial push because he works hard and you can tell the effort is there to improve on the weak aspects of his character, but sometimes the scripted promos he's given are counter productive. Too often, Roman does promos designed to sound witty or cleaver, but come off as a lame attempt at comedy and then the following week, he will do a promo that presents him as the Samoan monster that will fight all comers, which is way more effective. There's the historical value of the Samoan heritage and the legendary stories of the indestructible figures such as Afa, Haku, etc. that could be used as a temple to present Reigns in the modern context as a monster. Granted, that's not to say that Roman should be given some cartoonish gimmick, but he doesn't have to attempt to cut lame promos either.
At the conclusion of Raw, Bray Wyatt was showcased as the survivor of the brawl in the ring and as I said, he's good enough to keep himself relevant, but I don't think a push the week of the PPV, even standing over the fallen Brock Lesnar, will get Wyatt instant credibility as the major heel to potential win the Rumble. This is where the WWE using Wyatt mostly to get other competitors over will effect how he's perceirved going into the Rumble. Don't get me wrong, I've said many times that Bray Wyatt has the skills to be a main event star, but after being beaten into powder the past several months, how many fans really think Bray Wyatt has a chance to win the Royal Rumble? Another point to be made is, there's a lack of legitimate heels in the WWE and it doesn't seem like there's any direct answer other than possibly turning someone heel. When you consider all the injuries, who's the top heel on Raw? Essentially, the answer would be the Authority, but Stephanie isn't going to work a Wrestlemania main event and Vince is 70 so does that put Triple H in the title picture? Again, aside from turning someone heel, what options do they have? Lesnar is clearly a baby face and judging from the reaction on Raw, the crowd might boo Roman at the Rumble so maybe the answer is to turn Reigns heel? That would add a different dynamic to the Reigns/Lesnar rematch at Wrestlemania. If the crowd actually does boo Reigns at the Rumble, the WWE should finally turn him heel because there's not really an alternative plan the way Rollins was booked to cash in last year because of the injuries. The point being, the WWE should be very careful how the Royal Rumble is booked because they could unintentionally generate hostility towards Roman Reigns and it provides and interesting scenario leading to Wrestlemania in a few months.
Building the Roman empire was an uphill battle for the WWE and through no direct fault of his own, Reigns was subjected to backlash that was projected towards WWE brass for anointing the next star. The WWE fans wanted their voices heard and it was audible as they booed Reigns out of almost every building leading towards Wrestlemania 31. As I've said before, the audience didn't want to be told who they should want to see in the main event and the resentment towards Reigns was such that Seth Rollins was booked to cash in and win the title.
Roman was booked for a series of feuds designed to get him over with the crowd as somewhat of a "fresh start," including matches with Bray Wyatt, who is good enough to get others over while still maintaining his own credibility as a heel. The strategy worked and the crowd steadily became more receptive to Reigns, but things were rushed when WWE champion Seth Rollins tour his ACL on a European tour and was force to vacate the title. With a depleted talent roster from other injuries, it seemed as though the WWE would go with Reigns as the chosen champion to win the belt in a tournament at Survivor Series, which he did, but Sheamus cashed in his title shot to win the championship before the PPV went off the air. Some fans criticized Sheamus as champion, but he did exactly what he was booked to do and that was get Roman over with the crowd. There are a lot of varabies for how different types of heels can be used depending on the situation and while there is certainly a place for the "cool heels" to flourish, (something the NWO proved during their heyday) Sheamus was there to give Reigns a boost toward the title. Sheamus was doing the classic heel's job, get heat from the audience and get the baby face over. That being said, Sheamus is also a solid in ring competitor and anyone that criticizes his transitional run as champion is probably just looking for something to complain about on social media.
As somewhat of an "all-in" move, Vince McMahon returned to WWE TV and even at 70, he's still a tremendous heel. In fact, the argument could be made that Vince taking the super man punch prior to Reigns' title victory was the key to getting the fans to cheer him as the champion. The chairman doesn't appear on WWE programming often so when he was on Raw, it was a "special event" type of angle and it added an extra emphasis to the storyline. The Vince card is probably the best shot (and most effective way) to get Roman over completely as a baby face, but could the Rumble hinder the progress Reigns has made?
Keep in mind, the initial hostility towards Reigns was because the audience perceived that the office was giving him the spot that the fans wanted someone else to get for Wrestlemania. While the title being defended in the Rumble itself adds a unique dynamic to the match, it also limits the potential results with Reigns already booked for it and there's the risk of the crowd booing him if he eliminates one of the fan favorites, in a sense "taking their spot" for Wrestlemania. Perhaps what ignited the resentment toward Reigns last year was that it was very predictable that the office wanted to push him as the next top guy and the fans took it as ignoring their requests so if the plan is the generic "Reigns defeats everyone to keep the title" type of angle, the crowd might not embrace it. Specifically, when Reigns speared Brock Lesnar on Raw, the crowd was booing and if he eliminates Lesnar from the Rumble, what's the reaction going to be?
It almost seems like the WWE is going to have to book some type of swerve or surprise to protect Reigns from indirectly taking the heat that's directed toward management. It's disappointing that Reigns was subjected to so much flak during his initial push because he works hard and you can tell the effort is there to improve on the weak aspects of his character, but sometimes the scripted promos he's given are counter productive. Too often, Roman does promos designed to sound witty or cleaver, but come off as a lame attempt at comedy and then the following week, he will do a promo that presents him as the Samoan monster that will fight all comers, which is way more effective. There's the historical value of the Samoan heritage and the legendary stories of the indestructible figures such as Afa, Haku, etc. that could be used as a temple to present Reigns in the modern context as a monster. Granted, that's not to say that Roman should be given some cartoonish gimmick, but he doesn't have to attempt to cut lame promos either.
At the conclusion of Raw, Bray Wyatt was showcased as the survivor of the brawl in the ring and as I said, he's good enough to keep himself relevant, but I don't think a push the week of the PPV, even standing over the fallen Brock Lesnar, will get Wyatt instant credibility as the major heel to potential win the Rumble. This is where the WWE using Wyatt mostly to get other competitors over will effect how he's perceirved going into the Rumble. Don't get me wrong, I've said many times that Bray Wyatt has the skills to be a main event star, but after being beaten into powder the past several months, how many fans really think Bray Wyatt has a chance to win the Royal Rumble? Another point to be made is, there's a lack of legitimate heels in the WWE and it doesn't seem like there's any direct answer other than possibly turning someone heel. When you consider all the injuries, who's the top heel on Raw? Essentially, the answer would be the Authority, but Stephanie isn't going to work a Wrestlemania main event and Vince is 70 so does that put Triple H in the title picture? Again, aside from turning someone heel, what options do they have? Lesnar is clearly a baby face and judging from the reaction on Raw, the crowd might boo Roman at the Rumble so maybe the answer is to turn Reigns heel? That would add a different dynamic to the Reigns/Lesnar rematch at Wrestlemania. If the crowd actually does boo Reigns at the Rumble, the WWE should finally turn him heel because there's not really an alternative plan the way Rollins was booked to cash in last year because of the injuries. The point being, the WWE should be very careful how the Royal Rumble is booked because they could unintentionally generate hostility towards Roman Reigns and it provides and interesting scenario leading to Wrestlemania in a few months.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
New Japan stars signed for WWE
Last week, I penned a column about the remarkable year of New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2015 after the stellar Wrestle Kingdom 10 event at the Tokyo Dome in front of an estimated 60,000 fans. Just a few days later, the WWE announced that their streaming network launched in Japan and some very surprising rumors followed.
A few of the key players of the New Japan roster, including AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows were said to have given their notice to management to prepare to sign with the WWE. The story was more or less "confirmed" when WWE.com posted about it and if it's on the official website, the deal is probably already sealed so what does this translate to for the WWE landscape?
First of all, the WWE network launched in Japan this week and it's no coincidence that these talent acquisitions were made around the same time, as getting four of the top stars of NJPW will help boost subscriptions for the digital platform in Japan. Aside from the obvious value of getting a piece of the Japanese fan base, the new arrivals can also add depth to the NXT brand, where it's a safe bet that some of the talent will work during their WWE run. Finn Balor will probably be brought up to Raw at some point in the near future, especially with the roster currently being so depleted from injuries and when he departs from NXT, AJ could step up as the center piece of the product to keep the brand stable.
Speaking of AJ Styles, I was extremely surprised that his name was mentioned during all the speculation because it just didn't seem like his style would fit within the WWE environment, but I was shocked when Samoa Joe was signed, and he's done well so who knows what's in store for AJ? That being said, AJ Styles is one of the most talented athletes that has stepped into the squared circle and despite being a veteran now, it should be remembered that he used a revolutionary move set early in his career before it was common place on the independent scene. Bottom line, Styles is talented enough to work anywhere in the world and while the NXT emphasis on in ring action would probably suit him well, his skills would be on par with any level of the WWE. However, at 38, you have to wonder how long Styles will continue to wrestle, especially considering the aerial moves he used during most of his career, but if he works in WWE for at least five years before retiring, there's certainly the opportunity a successful run.
Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are a solid veteran team that add depth to any roster, and are seasoned enough to adapt to any product. Doc Gallows is very familiar with the WWE atmosphere and got his initial job with the company as "impostor Kane" and while it wasn't exactly a gimmick to build a career off of, it allowed the young Gallows to work with a veteran for his original WWE exposure, which was a valuable learning experience if nothing else. His next role as Fetus wasn't going to be a main event character either, but again, the experience helped when he eventually found himself as a performer. As was the case for much of CM Punk's WWE run as a whole, the Straight Edge Society probably wasn't utilized as well as it could have been, but Gallows' role there, as well as his time in TNA allowed him to enhance and polish his character towards the presentation that was successful in New Japan. A 15 year pro, Karl Anderson was trained at Les Thacther's HWA, which has produced several notable stars. Anderson wrestled extensively on the independent scene in the United States until he started working for New Japan, where he was a featured tag team star for nearly eight years and was formerly a team with current WWE coach, Matt Bloom. Karl Anderson also has good mic skills and did most of the mic work for the Bullet Club so his promo ability is another asset he brings to the table.
Shinsuke Nakamura is a charismatic striker and one of New Japan's most popular stars. This is another surprising signing for a few reasons. Bushiroad, the parent company of NJPW, owns a very profitable trading card business and would seemingly have the money to sign Nakamura to a major deal to keep him on the roster, but for whatever reason, he seems to be going to the WWE. Another reason being Nakamura will have to relocated from Japan to the United States and speaks limited English so there could be some what of a culture shock for the Japanese superstar. However, there's the potential for a major upside to his venture to the WWE, more specifically that he's a main stream star on the NJPW roster in Japan, but he could be a global star in the WWE. Some might assume that Nakamura will be limited to the mid card because of his lack of English, but there's no doubt that he has the potential to be a main event star in the WWE. If Nakamura is going to achieve the most from his time in the WWE, I would suggest that the booking to follow the same pattern that they've used for Samoa Joe, don't tamper with a gimmick that works and let the talent get over on the bigger stage the same way they had previously. Granted, this is just my two cents, but the reason unique talents get over is because they have certain intangibles that shouldn't be diluted just for a WWE trademark. Samoa Joe as Samoa Joe is the best formula for success and he didn't get some goofy name just so the WWE could own the rights to it. That's actually one of the benefits of the WWE at the top of the industry, if a competitor uses their original name that they've used in other promotions in the WWE and then works elsewhere, it doesn't really effect the WWE ratings. In fact, the story on WWE.com about the signings used the performers' original names so they might be an indication that their characters won't be tainted in the WWE environment. In my opinion, the WWE should let Nakamura be himself and he will probably get over WWE audience because he has all the ability to be a top star anywhere in the world. Obviously, there's a chance that his popularity doesn't translate, but if given a chance, it's extremely possible that Nakamura could be the first Japanese WWE champion. (Yes, I know Inoki has an unrecognized reign as WWF champion, but that was basically just a publicity stunt to boost audiences for the tour at the time) As far as promos go, Paul Heyman and Zeb Colter have both proven that managers can still effectively do the mic work to get a program over with the crowd so give the Japanese star a manager to talk for him.
How successful the imports from New Japan will be within the WWE remains to be seen, but there's a major upside to the entire acquisition and while the company itself is building toward the future, it certainly helps to add this talent group to the roster for a variety of roles. Could there possible be a spin off of the Bullet Club as "the Balor Club" in the WWE? Could the fans finally see AJ Styles booked for some WWE dream matches? Either way, the entire situation is intriguing and provides a spark for the WWE heading towards the Royal Rumble.
A few of the key players of the New Japan roster, including AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Karl Anderson, and Doc Gallows were said to have given their notice to management to prepare to sign with the WWE. The story was more or less "confirmed" when WWE.com posted about it and if it's on the official website, the deal is probably already sealed so what does this translate to for the WWE landscape?
First of all, the WWE network launched in Japan this week and it's no coincidence that these talent acquisitions were made around the same time, as getting four of the top stars of NJPW will help boost subscriptions for the digital platform in Japan. Aside from the obvious value of getting a piece of the Japanese fan base, the new arrivals can also add depth to the NXT brand, where it's a safe bet that some of the talent will work during their WWE run. Finn Balor will probably be brought up to Raw at some point in the near future, especially with the roster currently being so depleted from injuries and when he departs from NXT, AJ could step up as the center piece of the product to keep the brand stable.
Speaking of AJ Styles, I was extremely surprised that his name was mentioned during all the speculation because it just didn't seem like his style would fit within the WWE environment, but I was shocked when Samoa Joe was signed, and he's done well so who knows what's in store for AJ? That being said, AJ Styles is one of the most talented athletes that has stepped into the squared circle and despite being a veteran now, it should be remembered that he used a revolutionary move set early in his career before it was common place on the independent scene. Bottom line, Styles is talented enough to work anywhere in the world and while the NXT emphasis on in ring action would probably suit him well, his skills would be on par with any level of the WWE. However, at 38, you have to wonder how long Styles will continue to wrestle, especially considering the aerial moves he used during most of his career, but if he works in WWE for at least five years before retiring, there's certainly the opportunity a successful run.
Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are a solid veteran team that add depth to any roster, and are seasoned enough to adapt to any product. Doc Gallows is very familiar with the WWE atmosphere and got his initial job with the company as "impostor Kane" and while it wasn't exactly a gimmick to build a career off of, it allowed the young Gallows to work with a veteran for his original WWE exposure, which was a valuable learning experience if nothing else. His next role as Fetus wasn't going to be a main event character either, but again, the experience helped when he eventually found himself as a performer. As was the case for much of CM Punk's WWE run as a whole, the Straight Edge Society probably wasn't utilized as well as it could have been, but Gallows' role there, as well as his time in TNA allowed him to enhance and polish his character towards the presentation that was successful in New Japan. A 15 year pro, Karl Anderson was trained at Les Thacther's HWA, which has produced several notable stars. Anderson wrestled extensively on the independent scene in the United States until he started working for New Japan, where he was a featured tag team star for nearly eight years and was formerly a team with current WWE coach, Matt Bloom. Karl Anderson also has good mic skills and did most of the mic work for the Bullet Club so his promo ability is another asset he brings to the table.
Shinsuke Nakamura is a charismatic striker and one of New Japan's most popular stars. This is another surprising signing for a few reasons. Bushiroad, the parent company of NJPW, owns a very profitable trading card business and would seemingly have the money to sign Nakamura to a major deal to keep him on the roster, but for whatever reason, he seems to be going to the WWE. Another reason being Nakamura will have to relocated from Japan to the United States and speaks limited English so there could be some what of a culture shock for the Japanese superstar. However, there's the potential for a major upside to his venture to the WWE, more specifically that he's a main stream star on the NJPW roster in Japan, but he could be a global star in the WWE. Some might assume that Nakamura will be limited to the mid card because of his lack of English, but there's no doubt that he has the potential to be a main event star in the WWE. If Nakamura is going to achieve the most from his time in the WWE, I would suggest that the booking to follow the same pattern that they've used for Samoa Joe, don't tamper with a gimmick that works and let the talent get over on the bigger stage the same way they had previously. Granted, this is just my two cents, but the reason unique talents get over is because they have certain intangibles that shouldn't be diluted just for a WWE trademark. Samoa Joe as Samoa Joe is the best formula for success and he didn't get some goofy name just so the WWE could own the rights to it. That's actually one of the benefits of the WWE at the top of the industry, if a competitor uses their original name that they've used in other promotions in the WWE and then works elsewhere, it doesn't really effect the WWE ratings. In fact, the story on WWE.com about the signings used the performers' original names so they might be an indication that their characters won't be tainted in the WWE environment. In my opinion, the WWE should let Nakamura be himself and he will probably get over WWE audience because he has all the ability to be a top star anywhere in the world. Obviously, there's a chance that his popularity doesn't translate, but if given a chance, it's extremely possible that Nakamura could be the first Japanese WWE champion. (Yes, I know Inoki has an unrecognized reign as WWF champion, but that was basically just a publicity stunt to boost audiences for the tour at the time) As far as promos go, Paul Heyman and Zeb Colter have both proven that managers can still effectively do the mic work to get a program over with the crowd so give the Japanese star a manager to talk for him.
How successful the imports from New Japan will be within the WWE remains to be seen, but there's a major upside to the entire acquisition and while the company itself is building toward the future, it certainly helps to add this talent group to the roster for a variety of roles. Could there possible be a spin off of the Bullet Club as "the Balor Club" in the WWE? Could the fans finally see AJ Styles booked for some WWE dream matches? Either way, the entire situation is intriguing and provides a spark for the WWE heading towards the Royal Rumble.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
New Japan Pro Wrestling
This week, New Japan Pro Wrestling presented Wrestle Kingdom 10, the promotion's version of Wrestlemania and thus it's biggest show of the year. Last year, an entirely new audience was introduced to the Tokyo Dome tradition when WK 9 was broadcast in the United States for the first time ever through a partnership with Global Force Wrestling. As 2016 begins, there's always some discussion and analysis of the previous year, which was mostly good for the industry on a variety of levels. That being said, New Japan Pro Wrestling has to be considered the promotion of the year for 2015, as it continued to expand the promotion and it's really a remarkable accomplishment, especially when you take into account the state of Japan's biggest promotion just a decade ago.
Over 40 years ago, Antonio Inoki, one of the star pupils of the legendary Rikiodozan, founded New Japan Pro Wrestling and the company ascended to become the top organization in the country. Rikidozan's other top student, Giant Baba formed All Japan the same year and while it remained respectful, an intense rivalry developed during the next two decades as each group tried to claim the top spot. New Japan produced legends like The Great Muta, Masahiro Chono, and Hashimoto. All Japan introduced its share of legends such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Jun Akiyama. There were also several "gaijin" or foreign wrestlers used throughout the years for each company, including Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Dusty Rhodes, and many others.
The entire Japanese landscape would begin to change with the death of Giant Baba in 1999 and the exit of Misawa (along with the majority of the AJPW roster) to start Pro Wrestling NOAH the following year. By 2002, the trend of performers leaving well established promotions due to political disputes continued and the Japanese scene was completely over saturated with a wave of alphabet soup companies. Instead of stacked rosters for a few groups, an organization would have a few well known stars with an under card of mostly unknown wrestlers. With All Japan a shell of its former self, only propped up by Muta's jump to the company, New Japan began to struggle as well when the somewhat eccentric Inoki implemented a change in philosophy. Looking to capitalize on the popularity of Pride, Inoki started booking more mixed martial arts type angles and most of them fell flat in the pro wrestling environment. While there's a similar demographic, pro wrestling and MMA are different genres, and it's somewhat difficult to expect an MMA fighter to transition to taking bumps. The Japanese style is based on in ring action and precise skill, but NJPW featured sloppy worked MMA based matches that soured many fans of traditional pro wrestling. The low point of this and probably the best example was when former football player and current combat fighter, Bob Sapp won the IWGP Heavyweight title in 2004. Sapp was clumsy and sluggish in the ring, and the attendance reflected that, as Inoki's MMA experiment fell flat. In 2005, Inoki's empire was on the brink of bankruptcy after decades of success previously and he was forced to sell the organization to the Yuke's video game company. To add to the uncertainty of the organization, Brock Lesnar, who was looking for anywhere to jump start his career after a failed bid to join the Minnesota Vikings, refused to drop the IWGP belt in 2006 after a six month reign as champion. Lesnar took the title to Inoki Genome Federation's debut show and had a match with Kurt Angle, but that left New Japan without a credible heavyweight champion. A tournament was booked and a new champion was named, but it took several years and several impressive matches to rebuilt the credibility of the championship.
Fast forward to 2012 and NJPW still hadn't become a profitable for Yuke's and they sold to Bushiroad, a popular trading card company. Naoki Sugabayashi was declared President of the new group and the combination wrestling veterans, Jado and Gedo became the booker. Within a few years, the booking ideology of establishing younger New Japan stars and the debut of new foreign talent, many of of whom were among the best workers on the independent scene in the United States, fueled a resurgence for the company. Before Finn Balor was receiving rave reviews for his matches on the WWE Network, Prince Devitt worked extensively in Japan and and started what would become the most popular stable in the world in 2013. The Bullet Club, a throw back to the New World Order, (an angle that was originally used in the UWFI in Japan) consisted of a group of mostly "gaijin" wrestlers looking to take over New Japan. Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, The Young Bucks, AJ Styles, and others that are a part of the stable have helped make New Japan more well known outside of its home country. The Bullet Club t-shirt became the most in demand wrestling apparel in years and a working agreement with the Chicago based Pro Wrestling Tees website allowed fans in North America the chance to order a licensed t-shirt. As far as the native stars, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada, both of whom wrestled around the globe to sharpening their skills with different styles, had a classic series of matches that elevated the New Japan brand.
When Bushiroad purchased NJPW, one of the upgrades to the league was the expansion of internet pay-per-view events, which is more common in Japan than in the United States and it created another revenue stream for it. In 2015, New Japan inked a deal with Axis, the former HD Net channel, to air a TV show, NJPW's first TV deal in the US, which must be considered a major accomplishment for the organization. Along with American television, New Japan launched the "New Japan World" streaming service, which is similar to the WWE Network.
The past year featured the debut of American PPV, a US cable deal, one of the most popular stables in the world, and a great talent roster to compliment the launch of an online service. It's even more remarkable, considering that a decade ago the promotion almost collapsed, but WK 10 had an attendance of around 60,000 so it's certainly an impressive accomplishment. Where New Japan goes from here remains to be seen, but it's good to see that the storied history of the company will continue as the organization is stable and it's showcases some great events.
Over 40 years ago, Antonio Inoki, one of the star pupils of the legendary Rikiodozan, founded New Japan Pro Wrestling and the company ascended to become the top organization in the country. Rikidozan's other top student, Giant Baba formed All Japan the same year and while it remained respectful, an intense rivalry developed during the next two decades as each group tried to claim the top spot. New Japan produced legends like The Great Muta, Masahiro Chono, and Hashimoto. All Japan introduced its share of legends such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Jun Akiyama. There were also several "gaijin" or foreign wrestlers used throughout the years for each company, including Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Dusty Rhodes, and many others.
The entire Japanese landscape would begin to change with the death of Giant Baba in 1999 and the exit of Misawa (along with the majority of the AJPW roster) to start Pro Wrestling NOAH the following year. By 2002, the trend of performers leaving well established promotions due to political disputes continued and the Japanese scene was completely over saturated with a wave of alphabet soup companies. Instead of stacked rosters for a few groups, an organization would have a few well known stars with an under card of mostly unknown wrestlers. With All Japan a shell of its former self, only propped up by Muta's jump to the company, New Japan began to struggle as well when the somewhat eccentric Inoki implemented a change in philosophy. Looking to capitalize on the popularity of Pride, Inoki started booking more mixed martial arts type angles and most of them fell flat in the pro wrestling environment. While there's a similar demographic, pro wrestling and MMA are different genres, and it's somewhat difficult to expect an MMA fighter to transition to taking bumps. The Japanese style is based on in ring action and precise skill, but NJPW featured sloppy worked MMA based matches that soured many fans of traditional pro wrestling. The low point of this and probably the best example was when former football player and current combat fighter, Bob Sapp won the IWGP Heavyweight title in 2004. Sapp was clumsy and sluggish in the ring, and the attendance reflected that, as Inoki's MMA experiment fell flat. In 2005, Inoki's empire was on the brink of bankruptcy after decades of success previously and he was forced to sell the organization to the Yuke's video game company. To add to the uncertainty of the organization, Brock Lesnar, who was looking for anywhere to jump start his career after a failed bid to join the Minnesota Vikings, refused to drop the IWGP belt in 2006 after a six month reign as champion. Lesnar took the title to Inoki Genome Federation's debut show and had a match with Kurt Angle, but that left New Japan without a credible heavyweight champion. A tournament was booked and a new champion was named, but it took several years and several impressive matches to rebuilt the credibility of the championship.
Fast forward to 2012 and NJPW still hadn't become a profitable for Yuke's and they sold to Bushiroad, a popular trading card company. Naoki Sugabayashi was declared President of the new group and the combination wrestling veterans, Jado and Gedo became the booker. Within a few years, the booking ideology of establishing younger New Japan stars and the debut of new foreign talent, many of of whom were among the best workers on the independent scene in the United States, fueled a resurgence for the company. Before Finn Balor was receiving rave reviews for his matches on the WWE Network, Prince Devitt worked extensively in Japan and and started what would become the most popular stable in the world in 2013. The Bullet Club, a throw back to the New World Order, (an angle that was originally used in the UWFI in Japan) consisted of a group of mostly "gaijin" wrestlers looking to take over New Japan. Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, The Young Bucks, AJ Styles, and others that are a part of the stable have helped make New Japan more well known outside of its home country. The Bullet Club t-shirt became the most in demand wrestling apparel in years and a working agreement with the Chicago based Pro Wrestling Tees website allowed fans in North America the chance to order a licensed t-shirt. As far as the native stars, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada, both of whom wrestled around the globe to sharpening their skills with different styles, had a classic series of matches that elevated the New Japan brand.
When Bushiroad purchased NJPW, one of the upgrades to the league was the expansion of internet pay-per-view events, which is more common in Japan than in the United States and it created another revenue stream for it. In 2015, New Japan inked a deal with Axis, the former HD Net channel, to air a TV show, NJPW's first TV deal in the US, which must be considered a major accomplishment for the organization. Along with American television, New Japan launched the "New Japan World" streaming service, which is similar to the WWE Network.
The past year featured the debut of American PPV, a US cable deal, one of the most popular stables in the world, and a great talent roster to compliment the launch of an online service. It's even more remarkable, considering that a decade ago the promotion almost collapsed, but WK 10 had an attendance of around 60,000 so it's certainly an impressive accomplishment. Where New Japan goes from here remains to be seen, but it's good to see that the storied history of the company will continue as the organization is stable and it's showcases some great events.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)