Friday, April 17, 2015
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Wrestlemania XXXI
There was a lot of discussion leading up to Wrestlemania about the lack of build up for the show and it was certainly understandable, as most of the major matches on the show involved part time preformers that weren't on TV every week to promote the storylines, but the show itself has received mostly solid reviews. As for the promotion of the event, Brock Lesnar earned his new contract when he appeared on ESPN last week to announce that he was retired from mixed martial arts and had signed a new deal with the WWE, which gave the WWE main stream media coverage for the pay-per-view. As I've said before, there's easier money on the table for Lesnar working a limited schedule in sports entertainment than training full time for the UFC so it wasn't a surprise that he will continue wrestling, but it gave WWE free advertisement on ESPN for the pay-per-view. Granted, ESPN had a ratings spike for the Lesnar appearance so it was a win-win situation.
The show opened with the IC title ladder match and while it seemed a little rushed, it was a great opener with alot of action to start the show. Daniel Bryan retrieved the the IC title to win it and in some ways, it could be considered a "consolation prize," so to speak since Bryan give the main event spot that many fans said he deserved after the Royal Rumble. Regardless, it was a great match and Byran as IC champion creates the possibility for some good title matches, which was seen on Raw when Dolph Ziggler challenged for it. The Randy Orton/Seth Rollins match was next and it was a solid match, which isn't easy to do, considering they had to follow the spot fest of the ladder match. The RKO finish was impressive and Rollins doing the job actually helped make the events later in the show more unpredictable.
I was somewhat surprised that Triple H/Sting was the third match on the card, considering it was one of the major matches promoted, but considering Sting's age and how the match was booked, it's understandable that it took place earlier in the show. The match itself was decent, nothing spectacular, but not terrible either. While the run ins of the NWO and DX were fun, the match became somewhat of a cluster and the finish was a little goofy. Triple H hit Sting with part of a sledge hammer and then they shake hands after it. Why would Sting shake hands after being hit with a sledge hammer? I didn't agree with Triple H beating Sting, mostly because he didn't really get a "Wrestlemania moment" to complete his career and at the same time, it almost seemed like another jab at WCW. I was somewhat surprised that Sting did the job because one of his main reservations about signing with WWE originally was that he thought that the company down grade former WCW talents, but it's possibly there are future plans.
The divas tag match was decent, but nothing great. However, the divas division as a whole has improved drastically over the past year and if the WWE wants to spotlight it, there are divas on the roster with the skills to have good matches. The US title match was solid and John Cena winning the title was a good way to give him a main role on WWE TV, while freshening up the main event picture and with as strong as Rusev has been booked, dropping the title won't diminish his status.
I don't want to be too negative here because the event was really solid, but the following segment halted the momentum of the show. It wasn't the content of the promo, but rather that it was a 20 minute segment that could have been done in half the time frame. The Rock appearing is always a plus on any show because of the star power he brings, even if it's just a promo, but the verbal exchanges between The Rock and the authority were just too lengthy. Rhonda Rousey getting involved was a cool surprise and it will be interesting to see if she makes another WWE appearance.
The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt match was one of the more anticipated matches on the card, especially since it was The Undertaker return after the streak ended. It was reported that Bray Wyatt had an ankle injury prior to the match and there were a few flat points during it, but it was an entertaining contest. The Undertaker got the win and it was the right decision because nobody wanted to see him lose at Wrestlemania again. Bray Wyatt still hasn't gotten a career defining win and hopefully the WWE will book him for a storyline that will boost his profile on Raw.
The main event was a brutal bout and Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns deserve a lot of credit for it. The only problem with the match was that Reigns didn't get much offense and when he did, they were repetitive moves. How many super man punches is he going to throw? He many times can he spear an opponent? Doesn't it water down a finisher if it's used several times during a match? While Reigns had a good performance, the match didn't really showcase him and it didn't necessarily elevate him to the next level. There seemed to be more of a focus on Lesnar as the dominate champion and it could have been the purpose of how the match was booked. The finish of the match was brilliant because most of the time the money in the bank cash in is after the match, but Rollins cashing in during the match made it more of a surprise. Reigns took the pin and it keeps Lesnar strong, which could indicate a Rollins vs. Lesnar match in a few months. It will be interesting to see how Rollins does as the WWE champion and the directions of Reigns as well. Roman Reigns is in a tough spot because the WWE assumed he was going to be the next top star, but the audience didn't buy it so what does the Reigns do from here? A heel turn would make sense and provide some intriguing TV, but who does Reigns feud with on Raw?
Overall, Wrestlemania was a solid event and an entertaining pay-per-view. Some people have called it the greatest Wrestlemania of all time, but I wouldn't say that. However, it was still one of the better Wrestlemania events of the past few years and there were some great matches.
The show opened with the IC title ladder match and while it seemed a little rushed, it was a great opener with alot of action to start the show. Daniel Bryan retrieved the the IC title to win it and in some ways, it could be considered a "consolation prize," so to speak since Bryan give the main event spot that many fans said he deserved after the Royal Rumble. Regardless, it was a great match and Byran as IC champion creates the possibility for some good title matches, which was seen on Raw when Dolph Ziggler challenged for it. The Randy Orton/Seth Rollins match was next and it was a solid match, which isn't easy to do, considering they had to follow the spot fest of the ladder match. The RKO finish was impressive and Rollins doing the job actually helped make the events later in the show more unpredictable.
I was somewhat surprised that Triple H/Sting was the third match on the card, considering it was one of the major matches promoted, but considering Sting's age and how the match was booked, it's understandable that it took place earlier in the show. The match itself was decent, nothing spectacular, but not terrible either. While the run ins of the NWO and DX were fun, the match became somewhat of a cluster and the finish was a little goofy. Triple H hit Sting with part of a sledge hammer and then they shake hands after it. Why would Sting shake hands after being hit with a sledge hammer? I didn't agree with Triple H beating Sting, mostly because he didn't really get a "Wrestlemania moment" to complete his career and at the same time, it almost seemed like another jab at WCW. I was somewhat surprised that Sting did the job because one of his main reservations about signing with WWE originally was that he thought that the company down grade former WCW talents, but it's possibly there are future plans.
The divas tag match was decent, but nothing great. However, the divas division as a whole has improved drastically over the past year and if the WWE wants to spotlight it, there are divas on the roster with the skills to have good matches. The US title match was solid and John Cena winning the title was a good way to give him a main role on WWE TV, while freshening up the main event picture and with as strong as Rusev has been booked, dropping the title won't diminish his status.
I don't want to be too negative here because the event was really solid, but the following segment halted the momentum of the show. It wasn't the content of the promo, but rather that it was a 20 minute segment that could have been done in half the time frame. The Rock appearing is always a plus on any show because of the star power he brings, even if it's just a promo, but the verbal exchanges between The Rock and the authority were just too lengthy. Rhonda Rousey getting involved was a cool surprise and it will be interesting to see if she makes another WWE appearance.
The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt match was one of the more anticipated matches on the card, especially since it was The Undertaker return after the streak ended. It was reported that Bray Wyatt had an ankle injury prior to the match and there were a few flat points during it, but it was an entertaining contest. The Undertaker got the win and it was the right decision because nobody wanted to see him lose at Wrestlemania again. Bray Wyatt still hasn't gotten a career defining win and hopefully the WWE will book him for a storyline that will boost his profile on Raw.
The main event was a brutal bout and Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns deserve a lot of credit for it. The only problem with the match was that Reigns didn't get much offense and when he did, they were repetitive moves. How many super man punches is he going to throw? He many times can he spear an opponent? Doesn't it water down a finisher if it's used several times during a match? While Reigns had a good performance, the match didn't really showcase him and it didn't necessarily elevate him to the next level. There seemed to be more of a focus on Lesnar as the dominate champion and it could have been the purpose of how the match was booked. The finish of the match was brilliant because most of the time the money in the bank cash in is after the match, but Rollins cashing in during the match made it more of a surprise. Reigns took the pin and it keeps Lesnar strong, which could indicate a Rollins vs. Lesnar match in a few months. It will be interesting to see how Rollins does as the WWE champion and the directions of Reigns as well. Roman Reigns is in a tough spot because the WWE assumed he was going to be the next top star, but the audience didn't buy it so what does the Reigns do from here? A heel turn would make sense and provide some intriguing TV, but who does Reigns feud with on Raw?
Overall, Wrestlemania was a solid event and an entertaining pay-per-view. Some people have called it the greatest Wrestlemania of all time, but I wouldn't say that. However, it was still one of the better Wrestlemania events of the past few years and there were some great matches.
Monday, March 9, 2015
What's next for Alberto El Patron?
Last August, Alberto Del Rio made headlines when he was abruptly fired from the WWE after he slapped a social media employee for making a disparaging joke about Mexican heritage. First, I don't blame Del Rio for slapping someone that made a rude comment and the social media person deserved to be slapped, but the WWE is a corporation so the release was probably more to avoid a lawsuit than anything. That being said, the dismissal from WWE was actually a chance for Del Rio to rejuvenate his career, as he was somewhat lost in the shuffle in the months prior to his release and it seems like the WWE didn't really know what to do with him for storylines.
Almost immediately following his departure from WWE, Del Rio returned to Mexico, where he was a major star before signing a WWE deal and his return to AAA was a major draw for the promotion. Without the restrictions of a WWE contract, Del Rio began working multiple promotions and the start of 2015 was very lucrative for him, as he was announced to work for Ring Of Honor and Lucha Underground. Under the name "El Patron," he made great money in AAA, where he won the Heavyweight title, worked regularly the past few months for ROH, and had the TV exposure in the United States from Lucha Underground. Along with AJ Styles, Patron is probably the most in demand freelancer in the world in recent months. Plus he made a few appearances in Japan and with the Japanese wrestling scene getting a resurgence since the expansion of New Japan, there's definitely the potential for money to be made there as well.
Ultimately, Alberto proved that there's a legitimate career outside of the WWE and that money could be made working independently for a variety of promotions. Obviously, the WWE exposure elevated his profile in the United States, but the point is Patron remains relevant on the global scene instead of a competitor taking bookings specifically because they're a former WWE star. The international scene continues to generate some buzz among fans, as Rey Mysterio was announced to appear for AAA after his WWE contract expired. At the press conference for the Mysterio announcement, Patron appeared along with Mistico, the original Sin Cara and it was announced that they would be a team for an upcoming tournament in Mexico. With Rey returning to AAA and his debut for Lucha Underground, Alberto could be an important element, as it gives Rey another major star to start a feud and it could be based on their previous history in the WWE. An Alberto/Rey feud could draw major money in Mexico and it could be used to bring more notoriety to Lucha Underground.
However, it was reported that Alberto suffered an injury last week and he was limited during in ring action at an independent show this past weekend so one of Mexico's biggest stars could be on the sidelines. Some reports suggest that it could be a torn quad, but it hasn't been confirmed. If Alberto did actually tear a quad, it could be almost a year before he could return to the ring and it would have a major effect on the plans for AAA. Patron has had a good run since his WWE departure and hopefully it's not a major injury because it's great to see a competitor continue their career as top stars outside of the WWE. It should also be noted that Patron's success as an independent performer makes wrestling better because there are more options for the fans, which helps the entire wrestling business.
Almost immediately following his departure from WWE, Del Rio returned to Mexico, where he was a major star before signing a WWE deal and his return to AAA was a major draw for the promotion. Without the restrictions of a WWE contract, Del Rio began working multiple promotions and the start of 2015 was very lucrative for him, as he was announced to work for Ring Of Honor and Lucha Underground. Under the name "El Patron," he made great money in AAA, where he won the Heavyweight title, worked regularly the past few months for ROH, and had the TV exposure in the United States from Lucha Underground. Along with AJ Styles, Patron is probably the most in demand freelancer in the world in recent months. Plus he made a few appearances in Japan and with the Japanese wrestling scene getting a resurgence since the expansion of New Japan, there's definitely the potential for money to be made there as well.
Ultimately, Alberto proved that there's a legitimate career outside of the WWE and that money could be made working independently for a variety of promotions. Obviously, the WWE exposure elevated his profile in the United States, but the point is Patron remains relevant on the global scene instead of a competitor taking bookings specifically because they're a former WWE star. The international scene continues to generate some buzz among fans, as Rey Mysterio was announced to appear for AAA after his WWE contract expired. At the press conference for the Mysterio announcement, Patron appeared along with Mistico, the original Sin Cara and it was announced that they would be a team for an upcoming tournament in Mexico. With Rey returning to AAA and his debut for Lucha Underground, Alberto could be an important element, as it gives Rey another major star to start a feud and it could be based on their previous history in the WWE. An Alberto/Rey feud could draw major money in Mexico and it could be used to bring more notoriety to Lucha Underground.
However, it was reported that Alberto suffered an injury last week and he was limited during in ring action at an independent show this past weekend so one of Mexico's biggest stars could be on the sidelines. Some reports suggest that it could be a torn quad, but it hasn't been confirmed. If Alberto did actually tear a quad, it could be almost a year before he could return to the ring and it would have a major effect on the plans for AAA. Patron has had a good run since his WWE departure and hopefully it's not a major injury because it's great to see a competitor continue their career as top stars outside of the WWE. It should also be noted that Patron's success as an independent performer makes wrestling better because there are more options for the fans, which helps the entire wrestling business.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Where's Rey Mysterio?
Similar to his name, there is a mystery surrounding the future of one of the WWE's biggest stars of the past decade, Rey Mysterio, who remains one of the most popular stars, despite being injured in recent years.
Mysterio began wrestling at a young age and after a few appearances in ECW, he signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling in 1996. Rey was one of the company's highlights, as he brought the lucha style to a national audience, but tailored it more towards the United States. As was the case with most young performers in WCW, Mysterio was under utilized, but worked in the company until it was sold in 2001. After being unmasked in WCW a few years earlier, he debuted in the WWE in 2002, wearing the mask and he would soon win the now defunct WWE Cruiser Weight title. Mysterio debuting under the mask is one of the reasons WWE won the war against WCW and it was merchandising. Rey with the mask gave him a solid character to bring to the WWE audience and it also allowed the company to market it in every aspect. There were replica masks, t shirt designs, etc. that could be used to maximize the Mysterio brand.
Aside from merchandise, Rey Mysterio was one of the most solid competitors on the roster and he could make his opponents look good in the ring. As Rey became more popular, the sudden passing of his friend, Eddie Guerrero brought a storyline to the WWE that Rey would win the World title for Eddie. As I said at the time, I don't approve of how the WWE used Eddie's name in the storyline and Rey could have been the champion without it, which he proved a few years later. Regardless, Rey won the Royal Rumble in 2006 and he went on to win the title at Wrestlemania 22 a few months later.
After that, Rey would have sporadic injuries during his WWE career, seemingly from his high risk style from years previously and despite toning down his style some what, the injuries persisted. While he would win the WWE title and remain in the main event picture in the following years, Rey had multiple surgeries during his later WWE run. Mysterio has been on the sideline for most of the past three years and it was reported that the WWE automatically renewed his contract for another year because of the amount of time he was injured.
The entire situation is somewhat bizarre considering the amount of time Rey has worked for the WWE and how successful he has been for the company. There are rumors that Mysterio wants to work for AAA or Lucha Underground, but I have to ask, why? It's not a jab at AAA, but unless they are paying more money, (which doesn't seem possible) why would he want to take somewhat of a step down to work for AAA when he could retire on a global stage of the WWE? While Lucha Underground has generated some buzz, it tapes an entire season in a few days and doesn't have any major distribution so again, isn't it somewhat of a step down from the WWE? Depending on the perspective, you can't really blame the WWE for renewing the deal because Mysterio was being paid a downside guarantee when he was injured and they could attempt to generate revenue to cover the cost of the contact when Mysterio returns. On the flip side, it's possible that Rey doesn't want to work the demanding WWE schedule and would prefer lighter options for the conclusion of his career.
It's well documented that Mysterio started his career in Mexico so maybe he wants to retire there, but it would be disappointing if he doesn't retire on the global stage because he deserves the recognition for his career. Undoubtedly the most successful cruiser weight wrestler of all time, Rey proved that aerial wrestlers could be a main event draw and in many respects, he has reached legendary status. When Rey's WWE contract finally expires, it will be interesting to see if he actually continues to wrestle outside of the WWE, but considering his age, how many more years would he continue wrestling? Hopefully, Rey and the WWE can reach an agreement because he deserves a lot of credit for his career.
Mysterio began wrestling at a young age and after a few appearances in ECW, he signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling in 1996. Rey was one of the company's highlights, as he brought the lucha style to a national audience, but tailored it more towards the United States. As was the case with most young performers in WCW, Mysterio was under utilized, but worked in the company until it was sold in 2001. After being unmasked in WCW a few years earlier, he debuted in the WWE in 2002, wearing the mask and he would soon win the now defunct WWE Cruiser Weight title. Mysterio debuting under the mask is one of the reasons WWE won the war against WCW and it was merchandising. Rey with the mask gave him a solid character to bring to the WWE audience and it also allowed the company to market it in every aspect. There were replica masks, t shirt designs, etc. that could be used to maximize the Mysterio brand.
Aside from merchandise, Rey Mysterio was one of the most solid competitors on the roster and he could make his opponents look good in the ring. As Rey became more popular, the sudden passing of his friend, Eddie Guerrero brought a storyline to the WWE that Rey would win the World title for Eddie. As I said at the time, I don't approve of how the WWE used Eddie's name in the storyline and Rey could have been the champion without it, which he proved a few years later. Regardless, Rey won the Royal Rumble in 2006 and he went on to win the title at Wrestlemania 22 a few months later.
After that, Rey would have sporadic injuries during his WWE career, seemingly from his high risk style from years previously and despite toning down his style some what, the injuries persisted. While he would win the WWE title and remain in the main event picture in the following years, Rey had multiple surgeries during his later WWE run. Mysterio has been on the sideline for most of the past three years and it was reported that the WWE automatically renewed his contract for another year because of the amount of time he was injured.
The entire situation is somewhat bizarre considering the amount of time Rey has worked for the WWE and how successful he has been for the company. There are rumors that Mysterio wants to work for AAA or Lucha Underground, but I have to ask, why? It's not a jab at AAA, but unless they are paying more money, (which doesn't seem possible) why would he want to take somewhat of a step down to work for AAA when he could retire on a global stage of the WWE? While Lucha Underground has generated some buzz, it tapes an entire season in a few days and doesn't have any major distribution so again, isn't it somewhat of a step down from the WWE? Depending on the perspective, you can't really blame the WWE for renewing the deal because Mysterio was being paid a downside guarantee when he was injured and they could attempt to generate revenue to cover the cost of the contact when Mysterio returns. On the flip side, it's possible that Rey doesn't want to work the demanding WWE schedule and would prefer lighter options for the conclusion of his career.
It's well documented that Mysterio started his career in Mexico so maybe he wants to retire there, but it would be disappointing if he doesn't retire on the global stage because he deserves the recognition for his career. Undoubtedly the most successful cruiser weight wrestler of all time, Rey proved that aerial wrestlers could be a main event draw and in many respects, he has reached legendary status. When Rey's WWE contract finally expires, it will be interesting to see if he actually continues to wrestle outside of the WWE, but considering his age, how many more years would he continue wrestling? Hopefully, Rey and the WWE can reach an agreement because he deserves a lot of credit for his career.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Samoa Joe to WWE?
Samoa Joe was trending on Twitter this week after he announced on his account that he opted not to renew his deal with TNA and an executive for the company would later confirm that Joe had officially parted ways with the promotion.
Samoa Joe initially garnered notoriety wrestling for UPW and later traveled to Japan to wrestle for Zero-1 in 2001. Still learning his craft, Joe generated a lot of buzz in the United States when he debuted for Ring Of Honor and had a brutal match with Low Ki in 2002. ROH was and still is a breeding ground for young talent to be discovered, which gave Joe a platform to elevate his status on the independent scene. He was a very unique athlete and extremely agile for his size, which allowed him to work well with a variety of opponents. Joe also brought a sense of realism to his matches and his stiff in ring style enhanced it, which made his character believable. Eventually, Joe won the ROH World title and held the belt for nearly two years. It was the title run and his consistently solid matches that brought him offers from both WWE and TNA.
There were rumors that the WWE approached Joe with the Umaga gimmick that he given to Jamal from 3 Minute Warning, who portrayed the character during a run in the WWE. Obviously, Joe declined the stereotypical character and signed with TNA, which at the time was securing a time slot on Spike TV. After Joe signed in 2005, he went on a year and a half undefeated streak, while still wrestling a full schedule for ROH. Joe was built up as a monster and he seemed to be the future of TNA. Kurt Angle was released from the WWE and after a controversial departure, he signed a TNA deal in 2006. Almost immediately, the Angle/Joe dream match was booked and there actually wasn't a major push for the match, but it was a major booking fumble from TNA. Angle defeated Joe and ended the undefeated streak, which I still say made Joe look secondary to a WWE star.
Over the next several years, Joe had a few title runs, but TNA never fully let him run with it and ridiculous booking would minimize his character many times during his TNA career. The "Nation of Violence" character, where Joe occasionally had a machete, random tag teams, and being kidnapped after an attack from unidentified ninjas were some of the TNA booking for him. Yes, Russo booked the ninjas and Joe returned to TV a few weeks later with no explanation for the storyline. In some respects, it might have been better for Joe's career if he left TNA sooner because after 10 years, he spent much of the prime of his career floundering there. Ultimately, TNA missed the boat on Joe and he could have helped built a brand for the company, which is something they are still trying to do on Destination America.
So where does Joe go from here? After the announcement on Twitter, there was already speculation that Joe might sign to NXT, but I don't know if it will happen. At 35, Joe has wrestled a very physical style during his career and it has probably taken a toll on it so he might not be on the WWE's radar. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great to see Joe in the WWE and despite his age, he could probably have a good there, but realistically, he's not going to be the same performer he was ten years ago. The other option for Joe could be New Japan and considering that more foreign talent is being booked, Joe could have a major run there. Regardless, Samoa Joe is a great competitor and he always has solid matches so the exit from TNA could somewhat rejuvenate his career.
Samoa Joe initially garnered notoriety wrestling for UPW and later traveled to Japan to wrestle for Zero-1 in 2001. Still learning his craft, Joe generated a lot of buzz in the United States when he debuted for Ring Of Honor and had a brutal match with Low Ki in 2002. ROH was and still is a breeding ground for young talent to be discovered, which gave Joe a platform to elevate his status on the independent scene. He was a very unique athlete and extremely agile for his size, which allowed him to work well with a variety of opponents. Joe also brought a sense of realism to his matches and his stiff in ring style enhanced it, which made his character believable. Eventually, Joe won the ROH World title and held the belt for nearly two years. It was the title run and his consistently solid matches that brought him offers from both WWE and TNA.
There were rumors that the WWE approached Joe with the Umaga gimmick that he given to Jamal from 3 Minute Warning, who portrayed the character during a run in the WWE. Obviously, Joe declined the stereotypical character and signed with TNA, which at the time was securing a time slot on Spike TV. After Joe signed in 2005, he went on a year and a half undefeated streak, while still wrestling a full schedule for ROH. Joe was built up as a monster and he seemed to be the future of TNA. Kurt Angle was released from the WWE and after a controversial departure, he signed a TNA deal in 2006. Almost immediately, the Angle/Joe dream match was booked and there actually wasn't a major push for the match, but it was a major booking fumble from TNA. Angle defeated Joe and ended the undefeated streak, which I still say made Joe look secondary to a WWE star.
Over the next several years, Joe had a few title runs, but TNA never fully let him run with it and ridiculous booking would minimize his character many times during his TNA career. The "Nation of Violence" character, where Joe occasionally had a machete, random tag teams, and being kidnapped after an attack from unidentified ninjas were some of the TNA booking for him. Yes, Russo booked the ninjas and Joe returned to TV a few weeks later with no explanation for the storyline. In some respects, it might have been better for Joe's career if he left TNA sooner because after 10 years, he spent much of the prime of his career floundering there. Ultimately, TNA missed the boat on Joe and he could have helped built a brand for the company, which is something they are still trying to do on Destination America.
So where does Joe go from here? After the announcement on Twitter, there was already speculation that Joe might sign to NXT, but I don't know if it will happen. At 35, Joe has wrestled a very physical style during his career and it has probably taken a toll on it so he might not be on the WWE's radar. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be great to see Joe in the WWE and despite his age, he could probably have a good there, but realistically, he's not going to be the same performer he was ten years ago. The other option for Joe could be New Japan and considering that more foreign talent is being booked, Joe could have a major run there. Regardless, Samoa Joe is a great competitor and he always has solid matches so the exit from TNA could somewhat rejuvenate his career.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
NXT Review
This past week, the NXT Rivals special aired and the tremendous show continues to receive rave reviews from many fans on social media. While the entire card was solid, three bouts were particularly good and they were a prime example of why the NXT brand has generated such a buzz in recent months.
Fin Balor and Adrian Neville arguably stole the show with a physical match that featured some spectacular aerial offense for the number one contender spot for the NXT title. Shasa Banks won the NXT Women's title in a four way match that proved woman wrestlers can showcase athleticism that presents an importance to a major title match. This wasn't a four minute divas match to pace the show prior to the main event at a pay-per-view, but rather a featured match that allowed all four competitors to showcase their skills. Kevin Owens challenged Sami Zayn for the NXT title and their history of wrestling on the independent scene was used as the basis of the feud. Owens and Zayn had several solid matches before they were signed to NXT so it's no surprise that this was a solid main event for the Rivals special. The finish was very unique as well, as the referee stopped the match after Owens hit several power bombs on Zayn and it sets up for a rematch. The stoppage could have fell flat, but Zayn selling the power bomb made it work and it also helped establish Owens as the new champion.
So, what made the event stand out? While the in ring action was great, I think the element that made it an intriguing show is the emotion that was displayed during the matches. The emotion that was portrayed from the competitors emphasized the importance of the titles and it can translate to the audience. There was a sense that the wins were important and there was a special event atmosphere for the show, which isn't always the case for some of the main WWE pay-per-view events. After an intense match, Balor and Neville shook hands, which enhanced the result of the match. Bailey seemed somewhat emotional on her way to the ring, as did Charlotte and Shasa Banks at the conclusion of the match, which helped establish the women's division. After Kevin Owens won the NXT title, he was very emotional as he displayed the belt to the crowd, which increases the prestige of the championship. Basically, if there's a sense of importance placed on the show and it's portrayed as important from the performers, it's perceived as more important to the audience. The fans can identify with the characters and it gives them a reason to tune into the show because there's more of an emotional investment into the show.
After such an entertaining event, what's the goal for NXT? During his appearance on the Stone Cold podcast, Triple H said that the booking for NXT wasn't as strict as the main brands and he also mentioned on Twitter that the WWE was building towards establishing it as its own brand. Will the success of these NXT shows lead to evolving the main roster and the use of a less restrictive booking style of the main shows? It's possible and it will be interesting to see if the seemingly successful NXT formula influences the presentation of the other main brands.
However, it should be noted that comparing Raw or Smackdown to NXT is almost apples to oranges because the developmental brand doesn't have to work around commercials or sponsors during the show. It's somewhat comical that some smart marks think that they are "better fans" if they praise NXT and complain about the main roster on social media, but they are still paying for a WWE product. Don't get me wrong, NXT is great, but the main roster has many stars that draw a lot of money for the company and so it shouldn't be discounted because it's a main stream product. Regardless, if some NXT stars are the future of the WWE, it could provide some great matches and it will be extremely interesting to see what stars eventually transition to the main roster.
Fin Balor and Adrian Neville arguably stole the show with a physical match that featured some spectacular aerial offense for the number one contender spot for the NXT title. Shasa Banks won the NXT Women's title in a four way match that proved woman wrestlers can showcase athleticism that presents an importance to a major title match. This wasn't a four minute divas match to pace the show prior to the main event at a pay-per-view, but rather a featured match that allowed all four competitors to showcase their skills. Kevin Owens challenged Sami Zayn for the NXT title and their history of wrestling on the independent scene was used as the basis of the feud. Owens and Zayn had several solid matches before they were signed to NXT so it's no surprise that this was a solid main event for the Rivals special. The finish was very unique as well, as the referee stopped the match after Owens hit several power bombs on Zayn and it sets up for a rematch. The stoppage could have fell flat, but Zayn selling the power bomb made it work and it also helped establish Owens as the new champion.
So, what made the event stand out? While the in ring action was great, I think the element that made it an intriguing show is the emotion that was displayed during the matches. The emotion that was portrayed from the competitors emphasized the importance of the titles and it can translate to the audience. There was a sense that the wins were important and there was a special event atmosphere for the show, which isn't always the case for some of the main WWE pay-per-view events. After an intense match, Balor and Neville shook hands, which enhanced the result of the match. Bailey seemed somewhat emotional on her way to the ring, as did Charlotte and Shasa Banks at the conclusion of the match, which helped establish the women's division. After Kevin Owens won the NXT title, he was very emotional as he displayed the belt to the crowd, which increases the prestige of the championship. Basically, if there's a sense of importance placed on the show and it's portrayed as important from the performers, it's perceived as more important to the audience. The fans can identify with the characters and it gives them a reason to tune into the show because there's more of an emotional investment into the show.
After such an entertaining event, what's the goal for NXT? During his appearance on the Stone Cold podcast, Triple H said that the booking for NXT wasn't as strict as the main brands and he also mentioned on Twitter that the WWE was building towards establishing it as its own brand. Will the success of these NXT shows lead to evolving the main roster and the use of a less restrictive booking style of the main shows? It's possible and it will be interesting to see if the seemingly successful NXT formula influences the presentation of the other main brands.
However, it should be noted that comparing Raw or Smackdown to NXT is almost apples to oranges because the developmental brand doesn't have to work around commercials or sponsors during the show. It's somewhat comical that some smart marks think that they are "better fans" if they praise NXT and complain about the main roster on social media, but they are still paying for a WWE product. Don't get me wrong, NXT is great, but the main roster has many stars that draw a lot of money for the company and so it shouldn't be discounted because it's a main stream product. Regardless, if some NXT stars are the future of the WWE, it could provide some great matches and it will be extremely interesting to see what stars eventually transition to the main roster.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns
This past week on Raw, Triple H made a major announcement that while Roman Reigns will be acknowledged as the official winner of the Royal Rumble, his spot in the main event of Wrestlemania isn't confirmed yet. A few matches were made and Daniel Bryan defeated Seth Rollins on Raw to go to the Fast Lane pay-per-view to wrestle Reigns in a match to determine the challenger for Brock Lesnar. On the surface, it was actually a logical segment because Bryan can make a case to get a title shot, as he was stripped of the title due to an injury, but the justification that The Rock's interference affected the result of the Rumble almost taints the victory for Reigns. The Rumble win is designed to push Reigns and how the segment was presented, it somewhat downgraded Reigns so the WWE should probably be careful going forward with the angle because it could actually increase the hostility toward him.
Obviously, this scenario is being put booked because of the outrage after the Rumble when Bryan was eliminated early in the match and as I said in the previous column, didn't the WWE realize anything from the Batista debacle? However, the WWE calling an audible isn't a negative thing because the angle puts an importance on Fast Lane, which probably wouldn't have been there. If the main event of the biggest show of the year is confirmed, what's the point of the Fast Lane PPV? The Reigns vs. Bryan match will have a direct effect on the main event of Wrestlemania and it gives the fans a reason to tune into the show. So, will the WWE actually book Bryan in the main event or is this an attempt to squash the chants?
As I've said before, I think the hostility isn't necessarily directed at Reigns, but rather a response to the disappointment that Bryan didn't win the Rumble. Stone Cold made a really good point on a recent podcast when he mentioned that some fans might not think that Reigns earned the spot, particularly because he was originally a member of The Shield, which had three competitors for storylines. It's a valid point because Ambrose and Rollins had spotlight matches recently, but how many great Reigns matches are there? That's not a jab at Reigns or to say he can't reach the next level, but the title match at the Rumble is a prime example of Rollins being elevated to the next level and he proved he can go with the WWE's top stars, but Reigns has yet to have one of those career defining matches. If Reigns is going to boost his stock, he has to prove that he can have main event quality matches but, it remains to be seen.
While Bryan vs. Reigns adds an emphasis on the Fast Lane PPV, it's almost somewhat risky because if Bryan loses the match, it could increase the resentment towards Reigns, but if Bryan wins what does the WWE book for Reigns? It would be difficult for him to maintain the credibility of being the next top star, if the WWE acknowledges that he's not ready for the push that they tried to book for Wrestlemania. At this point, it might work well if Reigns loses and turns heel to feud with Bryan for the title after Wrestlmania. Jim Ross mentioned on his podcast the possibility of Paul Heyman doing the mic work for Reigns if Brock Lesnar doesn't resign with the company, which would be great for him. Heyman has cut more money promos than anyone featured on WWE TV in the past few years and again, it would make sense for Reigns to turn heel if Bryan gets the spot.
That being said, the bottom line is, the fans want to see Daniel Bryan in the main event of Wrestlemania and if it happens or not remains to be seen, but it speaks volumes to how over he is with the WWE audience. How many other performers have been as over as Bryan is for a two year span? Is that to say he will set the merchandise records of Stone Cold or The Rock? No, but he's the most over performer on the current roster. The audience knows that Bryan is a genuine competitor and they recognize that he earned his spot in the WWE. Regardless, it should be interesting to see the direction of the storyline and if there continues to be a hostile response for Reigns.
Obviously, this scenario is being put booked because of the outrage after the Rumble when Bryan was eliminated early in the match and as I said in the previous column, didn't the WWE realize anything from the Batista debacle? However, the WWE calling an audible isn't a negative thing because the angle puts an importance on Fast Lane, which probably wouldn't have been there. If the main event of the biggest show of the year is confirmed, what's the point of the Fast Lane PPV? The Reigns vs. Bryan match will have a direct effect on the main event of Wrestlemania and it gives the fans a reason to tune into the show. So, will the WWE actually book Bryan in the main event or is this an attempt to squash the chants?
As I've said before, I think the hostility isn't necessarily directed at Reigns, but rather a response to the disappointment that Bryan didn't win the Rumble. Stone Cold made a really good point on a recent podcast when he mentioned that some fans might not think that Reigns earned the spot, particularly because he was originally a member of The Shield, which had three competitors for storylines. It's a valid point because Ambrose and Rollins had spotlight matches recently, but how many great Reigns matches are there? That's not a jab at Reigns or to say he can't reach the next level, but the title match at the Rumble is a prime example of Rollins being elevated to the next level and he proved he can go with the WWE's top stars, but Reigns has yet to have one of those career defining matches. If Reigns is going to boost his stock, he has to prove that he can have main event quality matches but, it remains to be seen.
While Bryan vs. Reigns adds an emphasis on the Fast Lane PPV, it's almost somewhat risky because if Bryan loses the match, it could increase the resentment towards Reigns, but if Bryan wins what does the WWE book for Reigns? It would be difficult for him to maintain the credibility of being the next top star, if the WWE acknowledges that he's not ready for the push that they tried to book for Wrestlemania. At this point, it might work well if Reigns loses and turns heel to feud with Bryan for the title after Wrestlmania. Jim Ross mentioned on his podcast the possibility of Paul Heyman doing the mic work for Reigns if Brock Lesnar doesn't resign with the company, which would be great for him. Heyman has cut more money promos than anyone featured on WWE TV in the past few years and again, it would make sense for Reigns to turn heel if Bryan gets the spot.
That being said, the bottom line is, the fans want to see Daniel Bryan in the main event of Wrestlemania and if it happens or not remains to be seen, but it speaks volumes to how over he is with the WWE audience. How many other performers have been as over as Bryan is for a two year span? Is that to say he will set the merchandise records of Stone Cold or The Rock? No, but he's the most over performer on the current roster. The audience knows that Bryan is a genuine competitor and they recognize that he earned his spot in the WWE. Regardless, it should be interesting to see the direction of the storyline and if there continues to be a hostile response for Reigns.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)