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Post by Dan on Apr 9, 2021 15:06:44 GMT -5
I think the window of opportunity for the Demon is even less so now that The Fiend has been so ramped up. It's presented too similarly, so I can't see it being on screen for a long while now. I think it would have been fine and even would have blown up ten fold had he not had to drop the Universal Championship immediately after winning it as the Demon. By the time he came back, we'd already seen it, and it had already been rinsed quite a bit on NXT. It almost made 'normal' Finn Balor seem average.
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Post by Dan on Mar 22, 2021 17:22:54 GMT -5
I've no problems with it being a Triple Threat now to be honest. I get on paper, that Roman Reigns vs Edge appears a lot stronger, and the feud probably could have been great had they had Christian involved and continued to play on the whole family/brotherhood angle with Reigns, not to mention Spear vs Spear. But that isn't really how things have panned out, and in all honesty, the Match will be a lot more entertaining with Daniel Bryan added. I think they can also get away with it purely because this is quite literally the weakest Wrestlemania Card of all time, so it really doesn't matter too much. Plus, Roman's winning regardless.
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Post by Dan on Mar 10, 2021 8:49:14 GMT -5
If I'm honest, I feel like the Road to Wrestlemania has been pretty underwhelming for the past 5 or 6 years now. 31 cemented the benchmark of 'We no longer need to put time and effort into the build as Wrestlemania sells itself', which they had slowly begun rolling out from around 28/29. The reliance on video packages, pre-taped promos, and no real firm interaction has kind of got us to where we are now. Everything just seems like complete filler nowadays. It's as if they think that winning the Rumble, and then headlining an already sold-out Wrestlemania is all it really needs, and have disregarded what positive effect a strongly booked 'Road' can do in terms of giving guys that extra bit of momentum and rocket heat heading into the Event.
It partially of course started deteriorating when the likes of Undertaker, Triple H and Brock Lesnar were only used sparingly in builds, due to the simple attitude of 'Their name is on the Card, the Show will sell'. It became a rinse repeat formula of video packages, in-ring promos with zero interaction and a lack of things getting personal with their feuds. I have to look back to the likes of Wrestlemania 21 with the downfall of Evolution, or the Authority and Daniel Bryan storylines to really be their last serious stock put into the big money matches. Now, the only time we really get any form of juice, is when the Creative clearly have no long term direction or idea of where a Championship or big Match is heading (e.g. this years WWE Championship, Undertaker vs Shane McMahon), and thus we get a bit of a hotshot situation which is at least interesting just to see where things are headed.
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Post by Dan on Mar 4, 2021 19:31:33 GMT -5
I'm trying not to read too much into the biggest scoop 'Ever' line Wight dropped, I feel he was just trying to sell the news. The Hall of Fame 'worthy' is the key, as you'd assume it would rule them out if they are already in the Hall of Fame.
My gut feeling is it's going to be Kurt Angle. Listen, he's my all time favourite by a Country mile, but I have zero interest seeing him in a ring again. If he somehow miraculously got into ring-shape and could legitimately go again, even then it would only leave me feeling bitter sweet that he didn't really get the true WWE closure he should have gotten. We knew for years he was clamouring for that final swansong in WWE, and it kept getting rejected, and when it did finally happen, it was too late; not to mention the anti-climatic return being thrusted into a Match as part of The Shield. It wouldn't surprise me if it was him though, as you just know that he's still so attached to the industry, and is maybe even in denial himself. How you could only dream of Kurt Angle leading the Bullet Club 4 years ago though; and they may well just use him as a Ric Flair type role in the Elite.
I know a lot of people are saying John Cena due to the Turner links but come on, seriously? Listen, there are simply only 4 guys who would move the needle legitimately, and that's John Cena, CM Punk, The Rock and Brock Lesnar, and I just can't see them wasting that debut on a show with no real live crowd. John Cena or CM Punk suddenly turning up in AEW would be one of the biggest moments in history, period, it just can't happen in these times.
Brock Lesnar is the realest possibility of the big list. He's already worked COVID era shows, and is active in recent times. His rub value in WWE has kind of largely ran it's course after putting over Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre in clean fashion at the last couple of Wrestlemania's, and he's faced more or less everybody there is in WWE to face now. Plus, Paul Heyman is paired up with Roman Reigns. We also know how much of a business man Lesnar is, he doesn't have legit affiliation or affection. If there was a time for him to go, it would probably be now. The only thing convincing me otherwise is the fact Lashley has just won the WWE Title and I can see that being because a Match with Lesnar has been lined up. I just don't see this being a way they announce Brock Lesnar in AEW, it's too big. I salivate at the thought of Kenny Omega vs Brock Lesnar though.
RVD may be a reasonable outside scoop.
Okada would certainly fit the bill, and billing him this way would present him as a big deal to those new AEW fans not fimiliar with NJPW. They'd instantly buy him as a Main Eventer. I think he's one though that would feel truly special if he were to suddenly sign for WWE, not AEW. It's nothing we've not really already seen, since he's already faced the likes of Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho in recent times.
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Post by Dan on Mar 4, 2021 19:14:12 GMT -5
Everyone pretty much hit the nail on the head above. Essentially anyone other than Bryan winning the 2014 rumble would have gotten boo’ed. As evidenced by Rey Mysterio getting booed for the first time in his WWE career. Batista got it just a bit worse because as art imitated real life, Batista was the corporate machines hand chosen pick screwing the guy truly deserving of the spot out of his Mania moment. That being said I still had a very “meh” reaction to Edge winning the Rumble this year. Bryan vs. Reigns is still a way better story than Edge vs. Reigns but in no way shape or form is everyone behind Bryan the way they were in 2013-2014. And it this stage in his career Bryan seems very content not taking the spot from someone else. I think the leaked plans for Randy Orton vs Batista as the Main Event of Wrestlemania XXX had already soured a lot of people going into the Rumble, the fact that Vince McMahon genuinely thought that was a satisfactory Main Event that people would be excited to see. I know Batista himself has often said he felt it was a mistake to have him return as a face, but I tend to disagree. It was cool and refreshing to see him back at that time, and if he'd had just returned and had a seemingly upper-mid card Wrestlemania Match with somebody (even Triple H), I'm pretty sure it would have gone down well. It's just the fact that Bryan was legitimately red hot, everyone could see it, and Batista was unfortunately representative of the typical WWE machine type, and after returning and instantly being thrusted into supposedly winning the World Title, it went down horrifically. The difference with Edge this year though, is that there isn't really any other options that are head and shoulders above the other in terms of having serious heat on them this Wrestlemania season. Bryan is a fan favourite, sure, but he's been the subject of 50/50 booking for eternity now, and is happy just to help and work with elevating others. Plus, it's another unique COVID year with no real live audience, so nobody is really massively invested right now anyway. It's clear there was no real large or long term plan for Wrestlemania this year again. They kind of just went with Edge pretty late before the Rumble, as it seemed a good enough option, and the other Title Match was a scramble. Add to the fact there's no Triple H, Undertaker, Rock, Cena feud, it kind of doesn't really matter. I'm sure if a Big E or somebody was truly massively over right now, they'd have been given one of the shots, simple as that. But it was a throwaway year for virtually the entire roster. Roman Reigns and Randy Orton are literally the only ones who made any serious legit steps forward.
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Post by Dan on Mar 3, 2021 3:51:21 GMT -5
While I'm all for Lashley being WWE Champion since it's something fresh, the whole situation with the way it's playing out sits a little uneasy with me, and I don't mean the way he went over Miz. The whole Title picture headed into Wrestlemania has been an absolute last minute scramble. They're literally making this up week by week as they go along. They've had Drew McIntyre more or less hold the WWE Championship for the entire year since Wrestlemania 36, and he's gone clean over the likes of Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, and Randy Orton. You'd have thought with Edge winning the Rumble and having the programme with Roman, that McIntyre would potentially be given a Wrestlemania Match with maybe John Cena, or Shane McMahon, since it looks like they're going that route with him taking over the direction Roman previously had. I initially thought around the time of the Rumble that it could potentially be leading to a Drew McIntyre vs Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg Triple Threat Match even. But the way they've hotshotted this Title around now just makes no sense. I understand you had to have Miz take the Title from Drew in cheap fashion, as you couldn't really put Lashley over clean on Drew. But where is the payoff in this debacle at Wrestlemania now? We either get Bobby Lashley vs Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley vs Drew McIntyre, or a Triple Threat, and with all those solutions, it would have made the absolute most sense for Lashley to be the one to win the Title at Wrestlemania, rather than have the moment on Raw. Him finally overcoming the 16 year chase and having his crowning moment was where the value was in all of this. So now, we either get Lashley retaining, which ultimately doesn't do much since he's already the Champion. Drew could win it back and have his proper Wrestlemania moment he never got last year, but ultimately we've already just seen a year of him with the Belt. Or Lesnar wins it, which whilst would be good to see, would only hotshot the Title even more. The whole thing is a complete mess. Lashley vs Lesnar as a Singles Match is probably more unique to see, but I can't see them removing Drew from the whole Title picture after holding it for the past year and just going clean over Goldberg last month to cement himself further. If Vince wants to do Bobby Lashley Vs. Brock Lesnar he is going to wait till next year's WrestleMania where they have a big crowed and it doesn't need to be a title match. Nobody wants to see Brock Lesnar near the title, he doesn't need the title. I'm not so sure, I think you'd need to strike while the iron is hot. The whole Title picture is in a state of hotshot transition right now, so it wouldn't be too left field to just have the one on one Match with Lesnar at this years Wrestlemania. I don't see it being something that needs to be particularly saved for an 80k crowd, it's not The Rock vs Roman Reigns, or The Rock vs Brock Lesnar, or Roman Reigns vs Goldberg etc. It's a Wrestlemania Match for sure, but more akin to Brock Lesnar vs Drew McIntyre. Plus, if you want to do it at next years, you'd more or less have to keep the strap on Lashley for the whole year to keep him looking as unbeatable as possible, and which by that point you're booked into a corner as Lashley has already held it for a year and everybody would be fairly tired of it, or he drops it to Lesnar who shows up once in a blue moon.
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Post by Dan on Mar 2, 2021 14:41:01 GMT -5
While I'm all for Lashley being WWE Champion since it's something fresh, the whole situation with the way it's playing out sits a little uneasy with me, and I don't mean the way he went over Miz. The whole Title picture headed into Wrestlemania has been an absolute last minute scramble. They're literally making this up week by week as they go along.
They've had Drew McIntyre more or less hold the WWE Championship for the entire year since Wrestlemania 36, and he's gone clean over the likes of Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, and Randy Orton. You'd have thought with Edge winning the Rumble and having the programme with Roman, that McIntyre would potentially be given a Wrestlemania Match with maybe John Cena, or Shane McMahon, since it looks like they're going that route with him taking over the direction Roman previously had. I initially thought around the time of the Rumble that it could potentially be leading to a Drew McIntyre vs Brock Lesnar vs Goldberg Triple Threat Match even.
But the way they've hotshotted this Title around now just makes no sense. I understand you had to have Miz take the Title from Drew in cheap fashion, as you couldn't really put Lashley over clean on Drew. But where is the payoff in this debacle at Wrestlemania now? We either get Bobby Lashley vs Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley vs Drew McIntyre, or a Triple Threat, and with all those solutions, it would have made the absolute most sense for Lashley to be the one to win the Title at Wrestlemania, rather than have the moment on Raw. Him finally overcoming the 16 year chase and having his crowning moment was where the value was in all of this.
So now, we either get Lashley retaining, which ultimately doesn't do much since he's already the Champion. Drew could win it back and have his proper Wrestlemania moment he never got last year, but ultimately we've already just seen a year of him with the Belt. Or Lesnar wins it, which whilst would be good to see, would only hotshot the Title even more. The whole thing is a complete mess. Lashley vs Lesnar as a Singles Match is probably more unique to see, but I can't see them removing Drew from the whole Title picture after holding it for the past year and just going clean over Goldberg last month to cement himself further.
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Post by Dan on Feb 22, 2021 19:49:48 GMT -5
If the champ isn’t okay to go, the challenger wins by forfeit. But asking the champ if he’s okay isn’t a new thing, they’ve done it for plenty of cash-ins over the years to make the beaten/down babyface look brave and stoic. They were giving him way too much time to recover. As soon as the Miz said he was cashing in and handed the ref the contract the ref should have called for the bell. It had to be 30 seconds to a minute of the ref asking if he was ok. Which was way to long. It was almost as bad as the end of the last man standing match where the ref didn’t know what to do with the count when Heyman couldn’t unlock the cuffs and Roman couldn’t stand Up. I actually disagree a little here. I get what you're saying in the sense that they are giving him too much time to realistically physically recover, but I think the reason for it is to actually draw out the suspense of the viewer. A big part of a cash in now has become about if he's actually going to cash it in or not. We see so many times an attempt to cash in, but the ref never gets around to ringing the bell, so I think that 30 second momentary suspense is to get the viewer engaged to see if it's really going to happen or not. That way, when the bell rings, you're then like wow, it's happening. You then get one kick out, and you think he's blown it, and then he gets the win after and there comes the shock factor. That all forms a much more compelling story, than just a surprise out of no where attack and instant cash in.
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Post by Dan on Feb 22, 2021 6:05:52 GMT -5
It's all starting to get a bit messy now. I thought Drew would win, go on to face Sheamus at Fastlane, and then have a Wrestlemania Match with a Shane McMahon or John Cena. I thought Lashley dropping the United States Championship would be to free him up so that he could potentially face Brock Lesnar. But now we have The Miz as Champion, Lashley now in the picture with McIntyre, and Sheamus still there. I would be shocked if Miz doesn't drop the Title even before Fastlane, was kind of glad to see it happen though, even with the false tease of Drew kicking out at first.
I think they just genuinely know that it's still a bit of a stretch to get McIntyre all the way to Wrestlemania, so they're just going to play around for the time being. Worst case is that they never really did have a plan for McIntyre at Wrestlemania even now, and they end up just doing some sort of random Fatal Four Way. I'm not a fan of McIntyre, I find him and his run incredibly bland, but it bothers be about the lack of plan heading to Wrestlemania.
The only other alternative, is that we somehow end up getting a Lashley vs Drew McIntyre vs Brock lesnar WWE Championship Triple Threat at Wrestlemania.
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Post by Dan on Feb 20, 2021 18:18:29 GMT -5
I feel like Cesaro might get granted the win in the Chamber here, to finally get his shot, and then even look as though he might have stung Roman only to just come up short. Ultimately, it's a forgettable show and just another step to get to the Roman vs Edge Wrestlemania Match, so they may as well try and give a temporary momentary boost to Cesaro, who out of those in the Chamber, would probably benefit from it the most.
Drew is obviously winning the Raw one, which seems a random throw together. We should hopefully see some sort of step up in terms of Fiend interaction/distractions to Orton here.
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Post by Dan on Feb 20, 2021 18:11:34 GMT -5
Surprised they already let Edge and Roman engage in spears this far out from Wrestlemania. With the whole spear vs spear angle, you'd have thought this would be one of the main things to protect until then, to see who's was more impactful etc and how one would take the other one's. But I guess they'd have leant on that more had it been Roman Reigns vs Goldberg. The lack of star power and general direction heading into Wrestlemania 37 has to be the weakest there's been in well over two decades. Every year for the last decade everyone claims “it’s the weakest build!” The difference is is that this year there isn't even any hotshot late big draw matches thrown together. We used to mainly moan about the build being weak in regards to the actual physical build of feuds (e.g. Undertaker matches becoming built upon mainly weekly video packages, the odd promo here or there, and them relying on just the names on the match to sell the feud as opposed to any real creative). This year we don't even have that, and while I get that it's good they are stearing away from Triple H, Brock Lesnar etc, it means that there should be some really good creative build in place throughout the card of the current talent that they do have who might not necessarily have the drawing power of part timers, to try and make it seem important. But quite literally all they have is Fiend vs Orton, and Edge, who they're literally using as their one and only asset, hence his heavy involvement on all shows. Drew McIntyre has been their WWE Champion for more or less the entire year, they hotshot fed him Goldberg just a few months out from Wrestlemania, and yet whoever he faces at Wrestlemania it's clear was just a last minute choice. The entire roster across all shows is literally 50/50 booked, and nobody has any heat whatsoever.
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Post by Dan on Feb 20, 2021 8:32:34 GMT -5
Surprised they already let Edge and Roman engage in spears this far out from Wrestlemania. With the whole spear vs spear angle, you'd have thought this would be one of the main things to protect until then, to see who's was more impactful etc and how one would take the other one's. But I guess they'd have leant on that more had it been Roman Reigns vs Goldberg.
The lack of star power and general direction heading into Wrestlemania 37 has to be the weakest there's been in well over two decades.
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Post by Dan on Feb 20, 2021 8:29:27 GMT -5
I definitely remember at the time thinking how random it was that Hardcore Holly was suddenly challenging for the WWE Championship, and found it even more bizarre when the Match at the Royal Rumble was that short (it makes sense on all levels now, but at the time we'd never really had that before). It was even weirder when following the feud he just more or less vanished into obscurity again. It was definitely a sign of things to follow that year though, with the likes of JBL and Eddie Guerrero then transitioning into Main Eventer's.
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Post by Dan on Feb 18, 2021 9:29:11 GMT -5
Bryan in 2014 (and if not then 2015) is the obvious choice for me. I always thought Punk should have won in 2011, Del Rio was an awful choice. 2010 timeline — Orton wins title from Sheamus at Summerslam, Barrett wins title from Orton at SVS with Cena’s forced help. Cena escapes Nexus and wins title from Barrett at Rumble. Punk vs. Cena main event Mania 27 for the WWE Title, throw in Rock if you need to but he was needed more so because Miz had no star power. Styles should have won this year. I wouldn’t have wasted Styles/McIntyre at TLC and saved it for Mania. Or Styles vs. someone at Mania. Drews face schtick is starting to wear on me. He’s becoming more generic babyface and less badass as the days go on. I found myself excited to see Sheamus of all people kick him in the head the other week. Agree with all of this. Chris Jericho in 2012, as others have said, would have been a nice accolade for him. I definitely think they could have had AJ Styles win it the year he debuted, it would have made him a huge babyface star to even those who weren't familiar with him at the time, to have him not only a surprise entrant, but to go on and win it and Main Event Wrestlemania. But Roman, again. I also think they should have had Undertaker return and win it in 2006. Rey Mysterio vs Randy Orton could quite easily have just been a normal match on the Wrestlemania 22 card, and you could have then had Kurt Angle vs Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship, with Undertaker winning his for World Title in a long time that year rather than at the following year at Wrestlemania 23. Or, you could even have flipped the scenario and had Kurt Angle, as peak Wrestling Machine, win the Rumble, and challenge Undertaker (who beat Mark Henry for the Title at the Rumble) at Wrestlemania 22, and then you'd still be able to stick to Undertaker winning it and challenging Batista the following year without having a repeat. It definitely made more sense to have Kurt Angle vs Undertaker at Wrestlemania 22 for the Title, especially as the year prior Angle had had the classic with Shawn Michaels. Peak Wrestling Machine Kurt Angle with Rumble winning momentem gunning for the World Title, vs Undertaker's Streak, would have been huge. Kurt Angle vs Triple H should then have followed at '23.
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Post by Dan on Feb 14, 2021 16:09:15 GMT -5
Watching that Daniel Bryan/Cesaro/Paul Heyman segment on Talking Smack, and man, whilst vouching for Cesaro's lack of opportunities, the irony is that that segment alone really highlighted the exact reason as to why he hasn't had any. He may as well have not even been there. He was standing there like a third wheel with a couple on a date. Bryan is charismatic and full of energy, and Cesaro (despite how good of a worker he is in the ring), is nothing but awkward and uncomfortable on the mic. I can't help but think he would be awesome in NXT as a heel, a little like Ciampa. Develop some personality.
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Post by Dan on Feb 13, 2021 8:30:05 GMT -5
That Gargano segment was brilliant. He is so so good. The 'beautiful day music video' line was classic. I wish this sort of thing was happening on the Main Roster though, he'd be one of the best they have right now for sure. That being said, he's a very likeable heel due to his comedy, which I guess isn't a great sign of a heel, but man he'd be so over right now.
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Post by Dan on Feb 11, 2021 7:01:23 GMT -5
I definitely think it's detrimental to them once they make it to the main roster. I feel like all the fans have already experienced a few years long journey with most guys, gotten them over organically, and then by the time they make the main roster we've already kind of had the journey with them. They're hot for literally the first few weeks, and then the novelty has worn off. Finn Balor was the prime example.
Part of the beauty about getting over on the main roster is the fans rallying behind someone and naturally pushing them as they grow. The trouble with everybody coming from NXT is that we've already experienced it all on that show. Sure, it's great that they have the chance to have fresh matches with new superstars, but in terms of being over, we're already burnt out by the time it happens. The Raw and Smackdown rosters are as stacked as they've ever been talent wise, and yet we have this huge pool of generic 50/50 booking, with nobody really standing out above another one. Having said all of that, NXT makes them, and without it, they wouldn't get to the main roster as established and accomplished as they are.
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Post by Dan on Feb 9, 2021 14:43:59 GMT -5
Hard not to think about Brock from his initial run. He left WrestleMania XIX triumphant as champion (albeit concussed) and seemed destined to be their franchise player in the main event scene for years to come. Of course, he would be gone the very next year and booed out of the building after one of the worst WrestleMania matches ever. I always find myself fascinated with his first stint in WWE because it was so dominant and explosive for a short period of time and then it suddenly was over. Just like an F5 tornado poetically enough. I guess technically on paper he was still facing Goldberg in what was supposed to be an Interpromotional Dream Match, but I get what you mean in terms of how things actually panned out. Rise, Eddie Guerrero. Went from filling a spot in a WWE Tag Team Championship 3 Way Match at Wrestlemania XIX, to beating Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship and closing out the biggest Wrestlemania of all time (at that point) showering in confetti. Given the stacked nature of the card in 2003, and the likes of Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Stone Cold, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Triple H, Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho all in the Main Event picture, nobody would have predicted that. Rise, Chris Benoit. The exact same as above, though was partnering with Rhyno at Wrestlemania XIX. Though technically you could say he went on to Fall, by filling a spot in the MITB Ladder Match the following year at Wrestlemania 21, though it was an inaugural MITB and a fairly unique deal at the time.
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Post by Dan on Feb 9, 2021 14:31:29 GMT -5
Yeah there's a documentary on the Network about Evolution, and it does a fairly in depth piece with Mark Jindrak on how he was pencilled in once Batista got injured, but he was often immature and rubbed Triple H the wrong way. The group was perfect as it was IMO.
I like the idea that Nitro and Mercury could have switched to Raw and added themselves into the Group, but I would only have had them as an addition to the existing four, not a replacement. I think the Group did lack a legitimate Tag Team, despite the fact Batista and Flair won the Gold. I'd liked to have seen Flair kept purely as the Manager role, and perhaps used once or twice on a rare special match occasion. Batista would have been the muscle, Orton the prodigy and future, Nitro and Mercury the World Tag Champs, and Triple H the World Heavyweight Champion.
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Post by Dan on Feb 9, 2021 14:21:23 GMT -5
I'd imagine that once things begin to lift, there would actually be an immediate spike in interest and most shows would sell out, purely from the fact that people would have been kept away for so long and missed the live experience. It makes you think how much the WWE Talent must be loving it this year, having over a year completely off the road to rest and rejuvenate their bodies.
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