Matt Hardy spoke to WWE 2K about the release of their DLC pack for WWE 2K18 called Enduring Icons, and was able to clear up some details regarding the difference between being Broken and Woken.
Hardy remained in character during the interview, as he has become known for, referring to his previous self as the mortal vessel, and explained that if Woken Matt Hardy were to be featured in WWE 2K18 – he would have between 140% and 150% higher stats.
However the main news came when he was asked about his new persona in WWE. Hardy explained that “we are just starting to scratch the surface” when it comes to being Woken; he further stated that “there is so much potential for so much entertainment, and there’s going to be so much growth within being known as Woken Matt Hardy.”
The mortal vessel known as Matt Hardy then answered the question: how does Broken compare with Woken?
“They are very similar. Basically, Broken Matt broke down the barriers in his mind and could use more of that ability. And returning back home, the reception that we received when we came out at WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, it held my condition, the Broken mind, dormant for a matter of months. And then, after touching the magical creature known as Bray Wyatt, it actually houses Sister Abigail, which I was able to draw from her magic and it reignited the magic within me. So I became Woken and realized all of my broken brilliance.
“It’s very interesting. They are very similar. There’s a little bit of difference because the Woken Wisdom is the second rebirth. Now that my Woken Wisdom has finally been realized and I am conscious of everything that is going on now, I think that the wrestling fans are going to be in for a truly special run.”
Apart from where it matters, in the ring, all signs are pointing towards a dominant invasion of WWE when it comes to Woken Matt Hardy. He continues to create and release videos on his YouTube channel, the latest being an introduction to King Maxel:
Opinion:
When it comes to Matt Hardy and being Woken, more is better. It may seem controversial and ‘gimmicky’ but he needs to become “The Woken Champion” at some point in the next year.
With the progress that is being made in the women’s division, Hell In A Cell, Money In The Bank, Royal Rumble, there has been further evidence to suggest that WWE will include a women’s elimination chamber match on February 25th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Charlotte & Sasha Banks Mainevent PPV
The Second Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match:
Kurt Angle had previously teased fans with the idea of a women’s elimination chamber match when he replied to a comment in a Facebook Q&A session in October 2017.
Only a month away from the RAW brand PPV, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas has released a promotional tweet that suggests the inclusion of a women’s elimination chamber match:
The combination of showing Alexa Bliss on the image and using phrasing that references being inside the chamber itself, rather than just featuring on the PPV, strongly suggests the inclusion of a women’s elimination chamber match.
Opinion:
It’s simple, the more the merrier! Why wouldn’t anyone want a women’s division elimination chamber match? If the division is growing and expanding, as it is, then it makes perfect sense to include these special occasions too.
We all have a fair idea of who is likely to win the 2018 Royal Rumble. Names like Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns and John Cena seem to dominate the top 3 spots on most lists, while Randy Orton, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens float underneath.
However let’s take a moment to explore the unlikely winners, the superstars who could have genuine claims to the grand prize at WrestleMania 34, but probably (definitely) won’t win.
Rusev
Why?
If anyone is deserving of winning the Royal Rumble based on recent form and popularity among fans, this man is surely one of the main contenders. His “Rusev Day” T-shirt sales have topped the merchandise lists, and he appears to have made something out of nothing since joining SmackDown Live.
He is a strong fan favourite, but there’s concern over another feud with Roman Reigns in the future, which might become old very quickly if we remember their battle over the US Title.
Why not?
Rusev VS WWE Champion (currently AJ Styles) – it just doesn’t scream WrestleMania…
He’s not on WWE’s radar as a singles division champion either. However, he is doing good work with Aiden English on the tag-team scene which will hopefully result in a number 1 contender position and, eventually, the titles.
Probability Score: 2/10
Kurt Angle
Why?
Kurt Angle can do no wrong. OK, well sometimes he does mess up… like talking over The Shield entrance music… But the Hall of Fame GM of RAW is celebrated by WWE and represents stability and authority on a weekly basis. He steps up when he needs to and seems to give everything 100%.
Why not?
Kurt Angle VS Universal Champion (currently Brock Lesnar) – Angle and Lesnar has already been done, and no one needs a rematch. As for Strowman or Kane, it just doesn’t seem right. However, I wouldn’t say no to Kurt Angle vs AJ Styles if that were to be arranged.
The main point though, and I hate to say it, is that he’s past his prime, and WWE need to focus on young talent. While Kurt Angle has already been used to boost Jason Jordan, he should continue take a supportive role, not one of the main spots at WrestleMania. WWE’s age problem has already been highlighted, and as much as I enjoy the Olympic gold medalist – it would feel like a backwards step to have Kurt Angle anywhere near a title opportunity.
Probability Score: 3/10
Broken Matt Hardy
Why?
Broken Matt Hardy represents a supernatural force, and has the simplest of all reasons to win the Royal Rumble: DELETE.
While it’s very simple, the story-line is effective and works well with Hardy’s fresh gimmick that no one has ever done in the same way he has in WWE. The Obsolete Champion becomes the Woken Champion, seriously, this stuff writes itself. Now that Matt Hardy owns the intellectual rights to everything “Broken” WWE should let him run wild and free with it.
Why not?
Matt Hardy VS Universal Champion (currently Brock Lesnar) – Matt Hardy just lost to Bray Wyatt at RAW 25… I don’t see him defeating Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman (sorry Kane).
But before considering a match up a champion, Hardy is still tied up in a feud with Bray Wyatt, and unless they are going to bring The Eater of Worlds into a title feud as well (look how that turned out last time, thank you Randy Orton), this will be a no go.
Probability Score: 1/10
Jeff Hardy
Why?
Jeff Hardy VS Universal Champion (currently Brock Lesnar) – I feel as though Jeff Hardy could make a big match like this work. I’m not immediately excited by it, but I think the idea and prospect of the match would build into something more exciting than Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar.
Although Jeff Hardy is out injured at the moment, WWE may want to utilize his abilities in the singles division sooner rather than later. Starting a story-line early before fully returning to official in-ring action may be the best way to do this. With the hard work out of the way, Jeff Hardy can sit back and relax until WrestleMania, shooting promos and getting underneath the skin of the Champion.
What also works about this is Jeff’s ability to move quickly, think on his feet, and cause a surprise without anyone seeing it coming in the rumble match.
Why not?
The question for WWE is, will Jeff Hardy return as he is, or will he come back as Brother Nero? Jeff will add significant value as Brother Nero with Matt Hardy, but they can’t stay in the tag team division forever. So who takes the lead roll? There are a lot of questions that require answers before secure development can take place.
Probability Score: 1.5/10
Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan (Photo Credit: WWE.com)
Why?
Daniel Bryan VS WWE Champion (currently AJ Styles) – Yes. Please.
The rumours are flying, left, right, centre, off centre, diagonal, EVERYWHERE.
Who would say no to Daniel Bryan having one more Royal Rumble appearance, with one more WrestleMania moment?… apart from WWE medical staff…
But on a serious note, it almost feels as though Daniel Bryan has unfinished business in the ring. So much potential waiting to be unleashed. I know he doesn’t help the “WWE Age Problem” that was mentioned with Kurt Angle previously, but I’m willing ignore that if we get AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan in WWE.
Why not?
As stated above, WWE medical staff may have something to say about this one. The main theory that is being concocted on forums is the idea that Bryan’s health concerns are all part of kayfabe. The concept is pretty outrageous and I think it’s more likely that Daniel Bryan’s in-ring career will start back up outside WWE when his contract is over.
The Royal Rumble can be a long, drawn out affair. So to keep things interesting, or just as a bit of fun, here is the SEScoops Royal Rumble Bingo!
Simply download the file here, and follow the instructions to play with friends and family along with to the 2018 Royal Rumble.
1: Only 1 Superstar In The Ring
It’s the classic Stone Cold Steve Austin – 2002 Royal Rumble moment. It’s often seen near the beginning of a Royal Rumble, and of course, it’s always seen at the end.
2: Superstar Cheats Their Way Out Of Being Eliminated
Kofi Kingston, we’re looking at you! Although Kofi’s strategies are always more inventive than anything else, this category covers anyone that takes an alternative strategy to stay in the Rumble.
3: An Unexpected Alliance Is Formed
It may only be for a few seconds, but when you’ve got no other option, sometimes you have to team up with an enemy just to survive that little bit longer. Sadly, one superstar found himself on the end of the shortest alliance in Rumble history as Stone Cold and Triple H combined forces for 3 seconds to eliminate The Hurricane.
4: A Superstar Refuses To Enter The Ring
Our good old friend James Ellsworth provides a perfect example of a superstar who may be a little cautious about entering the Rumble, but others may try a ‘tactical pause’ before getting in the ring.
https://youtu.be/GvYr8H4eUDI?t=17m57s
5: A Superstar Is Eliminated Within 10 Seconds
There are plenty of ambitious superstars who can’t control their excitement and energy, resulting in an early exit from the Rumble.
6: The Royal Rumble Rules are Explained More Than 5 Times
For those who aren’t watching their first Royal Rumble, we don’t need to know the rules every ten minutes. But to be fair, it’s only once a year and it has become a tradition! For those who are new to the Royal Rumble, let me be the first to say:
Contestants are eliminated by leaving the ring over the top rope – with both feet touching the ground
8: A Commentator Changes Their Pick For The Winner
Always looking to be the best on commentary, they’d say anything to show their superior/inside knowledge.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
9: Two Superstars Are Eliminated At The Same Time
Sometimes a feat of strength, other times it’s just an accident! It’s always good to make sure it’s not the last two superstars of the match that get eliminated at the same time, am I right Batista & John Cena!?
10: Accidental Elimination
Wouldn’t want to be the superstar who accidentally gets eliminated at the end of the Rumble match, forcing the boss to come down, tearing his hamstrings in the process, and forcing a restart… Am I right, Batista & John Cena!?
11: A Superstar Leaves The Ring Under The Top Rope
While Chris Jericho captured the longest time spent in Royal Rumble Matches, 2017 saw him outside the ring for quite some time – using his heel persona to build heat and survive that little bit longer, making history in the process.
https://youtu.be/GvYr8H4eUDI?t=9m15s
12: Only One Foot Touches The Ground
This moment alone is highlighted as Royal Rumble greatness. It’s a classic that gets mentioned every year.
13: A Superstar Returns After Being Eliminated
I have no idea how Stone Cold got away with this one, but it helped start the long running feud with Vince McMahon who was on commentary that night.
14: Tag Team Partners Face Each Other
There can only be one winner, which means any tag teams that enter the Royal Rumble, aren’t necessarily looking out for each other.
15: A WWE Legend Returns
Unless it’s Batista, returning legends are unlikely to fair well at the Royal Rumble. Check out Diesel’s return in 2011 below, but also look out for a video of Godfather’s return which was embarrassingly short!
16: Shawn Michaels Is Mentioned By The Commentary Team
He’s a legend for a reason, and WWE commentators won’t let you forget it on the night of the Royal Rumble!
Leading up to WrestleMania 33, The Miz was involved with sketches that saw him take on the role of John Cena on WWE; all that was missing from the impersonation was Cena’s physique. The Miz was joined by his wife, Maryse who portrayed Nikki Bella.
While the mockery saw immediate success, a recent interview with Sports Illustrated’s “Extra Mustard” highlighted The Miz’s cautious approach to the idea.
At the first the A-List superstar didn’t want to do it, he thought that it wouldn’t be very good and that it wouldn’t be memorable. Having already seen Kurt Angle do a perfect imitation of John Cena, it’s not surprising that The Miz thought this way.
The Miz later started to change his mind as he experimented with different styles of Cena’s voice and catch phrases while on the road. The indicator that the idea was worth running with came from Maryse, who is apparently hard to make laugh.
“If Maryse laughs at something, then it’s funny because she doesn’t laugh at anything. So I was like, ‘Hmm, this is something. And then I started thinking of ideas on what it would be and I was like, ‘alright we got something here.”
The Miz highlighted Maryse’s impression of Nikki as the key to opening up a simple gimmick into a running theme. The other important factor that The Miz pinpointed was the production value and dedication; the way the editors worked to match the segments with Total Bellas, making everything as realistic as possible.
According to the former Intercontinental Champion, the reaction to John Cena & Nikki Bella VS The Miz & Maryse at WrestleMania 33 was extremely negative. He explained that fans were expecting John Cena VS The Undertaker, with The Miz taking on AJ Styles. However, the A-List superstar appeared to claim that his build up to WrestleMania 33 turned the pessimistic fan base on it’s head as the match became one that “everyone’s looking forward to seeing.”
The Miz also showed a softer side to his usual heel/self-centered persona as he credited Cena’s proposal to Nikki Bella, which completed the story arc “perfectly”.
Opinion/Discussion:
What is the best/funniest impression that has featured on WWE? I’m just going to mention one name to spark it off… The Big Show.
Since Paige’s devastating injury at a live event on December 28th, many have spoken about the balance between career drive/passion and the health risks that are present with every match in professional wrestling.
Natalya is the latest to do so when she spoke with Sporting News about Paige’s injury and the harsh reality that faces each WWE superstar when they enter the ring.
The 18-year veteran explained that while WWE is entertainment, it’s also extremely physical. However, this should be contrasted with the fact that anything can happen in life, and that life is full of risks, whether you’re working in a wrestling ring or not.
Natalya said that since she doesn’t know the exact details of Paige’s injury, the best course of action for anyone is to wait for the former Diva’s Champion, or WWE, to give a statement regarding the situation and future.
Making Reference to her husband, Tyson Kidd who suffered a career ending injury, Natalya mentions how a career choice with WWE provides both ups and downs, but the key is to take each day as it comes.
“What we do is physical and Paige is one of the most talented female superstars I’ve ever been in the ring with. So, I have nothing but respect for her and, obviously, my husband Tyson Kidd, who was extremely talented in the ring. I also know that we take everything one day at a time and I’m grateful for all the good time that we’ve had together in the ring.”
Opinion:
Natalya’s advice, to give Paige and WWE time, comes across as very supportive and optimistic, which contrasts with a lot of other reports that do not read well for Paige’s in-ring career.
It’s also good to point out Paige’s social media remains on the positive side as she posted this tweet on January 16th:
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque promoted the upcoming 25th Anniversary of RAW by answering a host of questions surrounding the event.
The Game started off by describing the palpable energy that is shared between the fans, talent, and management in the WWE Universe. He described the awe that is experienced when thinking about the longevity and consistency of RAW over 25 years, especially when reminiscing about the first episode which he watched from his home in 1993.
When asked about managing expectations of the fans and talent, Levesque revealed the secret sauce to RAW’s success. He explained that the show has always been made to meet the expectations of the fanbase, encouraging and including them to be part of what is happening.
However, Triple H also described the difficulties that he faced when arranging the episode that has to celebrate 25 years of coverage.
The first problem is trying to fit everything into a 3 hour show:
“When you take 25 years of memorable moments and characters, trying to boil that down to a three-hour Raw episode being simulcast and in two places, how do you whittle that down to certain people and times and events?”
It’s not physically possible to celebrate everything and everyone in a 3 hour show, but social media and YouTube can be used to help with this issue, as shown by this top 10 list of RAW’s most extreme moments:
The second difficulty that The Game will have to deal with, is remembering that the world keeps on spinning. Even after the 25th Anniversary episode of RAW, he won’t be given a chance to relax. Levesque described how Vince McMahon took his headset off at the end of last year’s WrestleMania, and was immediately handed the script for the following night on RAW; but at the same time, The Game highlighted the importance of celebrating the next 25 years as well.
The third, and most interesting, issue that Triple H discussed was not being able to include those who had passed on or those who weren’t able to attend. While Levesque shows sadness towards those who are no longer here, he emphasized the importance of celebrating the living and the now, as well as repeating the impossibility of including everyone in the show.
“I wish they were, but it’s been 25 years, so people who had a big contribution unfortunately are no longer here. But no different than anything else in life, the celebration is for living and now. It’s the excitement for what the people who are here now have accomplished. It doesn’t mean that the other people didn’t contribute in dramatic ways. Again, 25 years, we’re gonna miss stuff, and I wish everybody could participate in it and celebrate with us, but it just can’t be.”
Opinion:
The more I read the last quote above, the more I question how controversial this statement could be. It appears like a blanket policy that is being used so that WWE doesn’t celebrate anyone who has passed away, which means they miss out big names from RAW’s history. However, this also allows WWE to steer clear of controversial names that they’ve hidden from the Network too. It seems a shame, and a little disrespectful, not to have some form of montage that celebrates moments from those passed on, but I can understand their reluctance to do so – even if I don’t necessarily agree with it.
Triple H recently spoke to USA Today’s “For The Win” to promote the historic episode of RAW, where he highlighted and praised the careers of these two commentary giants.
Some people just have chemistry with each other
The Game pinpointed Lawler’s knowledge and understanding of the business, as well as his ability to turn situations on their head with humour, or the inflection of his voice. Contrast that with ‘the straight man’ attitude and persona of JR, and it makes an extremely effective duo. Triple H explained that while Lawler has his excitement and energy, JR provides the intensity, passion, and a sense of realism.
“I would see JR […] on the edge of his seat like every fan in the arena, because at the end of the day he’s just a fan and he was going crazy for what we did, but that’s what made him so good. When you put that energy that he and Jerry [brought] together, it was magical.”
Moreover, it’s their dedication beyond being commentators which is also admirable.
Jim Ross recently appeared on the Unsanction Podcast, where he discussed Shelton Benjamin, as well as disagreements with Vince McMahon.
The commentary legend explained that Shelton Benjamin was a top worker, but the timing always seemed to be off whenever he was in a position to win a heavyweight championship title. Ross continued by describing Benjamin’s ability on the mic as his main downfall.
But JR was also able to be critical of himself:
“I wasn’t the easiest guy to manage. The story about McMahon used to give J.R. hell; he did sometimes. But guess what, guys? I deserved it sometimes. I deserved to get my ass taken to the woodshed. I’m not infallible, I’m a human being, I have strong opinions, and sometimes I forget who my audience is. And also, I was like one of those guys that I don’t like now and disagreed with every damn thing you say – if you don’t agree with everything I say, you’re an idiot, and I used to think that.”
It’s clear to see that Triple H’s praise seems to be mirrored by Jim Ross’ attitude towards his own work, career, and passion:
“If you’re asking if I could carry the mail on today’s WWE product, absolutely. I like to consider myself a 40-plus year broadcaster. I’ve done boxing, I’ve done MMA, I’ve done NFL, I’ve done XFL. I’d like to think I’m a broadcaster/storyteller. And I believe that if I couldn’t adapt, it’d be on me, not on the product. Because product’s what it is. I’ve done everything from WrestleMania to Smokey Mountain Wrestling. It’s all different man.”
Opinion/Discussion:
Is the combination of Jim Ross and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler the ultimate commentary team in professional wrestling, let alone just WWE?
The veteran superstar, Al Snow, has featured on The Steve Austin Show, where he discussed Matt Hardy’s winning formula found in the Broken persona, as well as the industry as a whole.
The detailed podcast is well worth a listen, given the opportunity, as Al Snow goes into some detail, with disagreements about the style and purpose of professional wrestling. Below are just some of the highlights that are worth noting.
The main concept that Al Snow disagrees with centers around the professional wrestling industry. Snow states that many in the industry say that “wrestling has changed” and is focused primarily on putting on a performance. From his perspective, Al Snow disagrees and explains that wrestling has always been and should always be about competition and fighting for a championship, and to be the best. Why else would you have titles to compete for?
“Give the audience what they paid to believe, which is that it’s a real competition, that the outcome has gravity to it, that the guys are prizefighters no different than a boxer or an MMA fighter in that they actually try to win, not just put on a physical performance. And the wrestlers worldwide have gotten so far away from that concept that makes you wonder.”
The 6-time Hardcore Champion explains that modern day professionals use this excuse to cover up weak psychology or execution.
It isn’t clear exactly who Al Snow is referring to, whether his words are a sweeping statement which covers the entire industry, or if he is singling out a mid-card selection; but as a trainer, he’s extremely passionate about the topic either way.
Later in the podcast the two legends discuss kayfabe, with Matt Hardy being used as the ultimate example.
“Matt Hardy got over so well when he did his ‘broken’ thing in TNA was because he never broke character. He never gave the audience anything other than what he sold them. He sold them a ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy every time he was in public.”
Snow’s comments go against the flow of someone like Austin Creed, who uses a behind-the-scenes approach to engage the audience in his own YouTube channel UpUpDownDown. Creed hosts videogame tournaments on SmackDown Live and RAW, where both heels and faces appear outside of their in-ring persona. Although Snow didn’t comment on this specifically, it is easy to see how something like UpUpDownDown can break kayfabe.
Al also praises Matt Hardy for utilising several easy to grasp and clear points within his persona; this enables anyone to describe him in a clear-cut setence, rather than a confusing and convoluted paragraph.
“You need that character that they can relate to because they can’t physically relate to what we do in the ring. But now, and that was the thing, I think, with Matt. For years, he was solid. He was always kind of just in the background with Jeff, but you couldn’t define him. You couldn’t turn to somebody and go, ‘there’s this guy, Matt Hardy, and he’s A, B, C, D, E.’ But now, you can turn to them and say, ‘wow, there’s this guy – he’s crazy! He talks with this weird accent. His hair’s all messed up.'”
Opinion/Discussion:
Is Al Snow correct in what he’s saying? Has Wrestling changed, or is it an excuse used by those who haven’t seen the success they expected?
Posted January 16th, 2018 in WWE, News. Tagged: Al Snow.
It’s easy to get caught in the hype before a 30 man Royal Rumble event; with the potential for anyone on the roster to enter the ring, it’s an event which holds almost infinite possibilities.
However, we all know that sometimes, things just don’t click, and the much anticipated Royal Rumble can be overshadowed by a previous match on the same night. Perhaps 2 superstars put together something special, or maybe the main event collapses into a predictable or botched affair.
Either way, here is a reminder of 3 matches that completely eclipsed their main event counterparts at the Royal Rumble PPV.
2015 – Brock Lesnar (c) vs John Cena vs Seth Rollins
Royal Rumble Winner: Roman Reigns
In the midst of WWE’s push for Roman Reigns to be the number 1 face of the company, of course he was going to win the next Royal Rumble. Unfortunately for Roman, not everyone in the WWE Universe enjoyed his push; the crowd at the 2015 Royal Rumble hardly ‘popped’ when Reigns was declared the winner.
Compare the sound of Roman Reigns winning the Royal Rumble to the sound of Rollins putting Lesnar through a table… no contest.
But that’s not all, the overall story lines and feuds are much more appealing from Rollins’ perspective.
Although the rumble match was entertaining, the bitter aftertaste of Roman’s win soured the event, leaving the destruction and mayhem of Brock Lesnar vs John Cena vs Seth Rollins as the ultimate star that night.
2013 – The Rock vs CM Punk (c)
Royal Rumble Winner: John Cena
Whether a Rumble is predictable or not, if the winner doesn’t excite the crowd, it’s not going to be remembered as a great match. Sadly, having already experienced this match as the main event of Wrestlemania a year before, John Cena vs The Rock was not what the WWE Universe wanted at the end of The Royal Rumble in 2013.
Especially since The Rock VS CM Punk had been teased in July a year earlier!
Challenge Presented, Challenge Accepted:
Two Promo Kings Go To War:
The Rock’s Sharpshooter:
As well as the quality of wrestling on show from these two superstars, this match featured a tactical sabotage from The Shield, an appearance from Vince McMahon, AND a restart. Essentially, this was a rollercoaster with an outrageous number of twists and turns that no rumble could compete with.
2003 – Kurt Angle (c) vs Chris Benoit
Royal Rumble Winner: Brock Lesnar
This is just a great match, and while the Royal Rumble saw a young Brock Lesnar making his way in WWE, nothing compares to Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in 2003.
Understandably, a dark cloud hovers over anything that concerns Chris Benoit. Looking past the tragic events and focusing purely on professional wrestling, there is no doubt about this match featuring.
The two masters of submissions had great chemistry and put together a fast paced battle full of counters, and counters to those counters, with both superstars looking to use their signature holds that they became famous for.
It’s almost worth advising against watching the highlight reel beneath as it doesn’t do justice to this spectacle.
2000-2003 were golden years for Royal Rumble PPVs. There were so many superstars working in, or building to their prime during this era. And while I’d love to single out Cactus Jack vs Triple H, or almost every match involving The Rock or Chris Jericho during this time, it’s Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in 2003 that get the nod.
Other Honorable Mentions:
John Cena vs AJ Styles (2017)
A contender for match of the year in 2017, this entry was extremely close to making the main list. But even though I was personally disappointed with a Randy Orton victory, the competitors involved were all valuable in some way, even James Ellsworth. Correction: especially James Ellsworth.
Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (2001)
If Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit features, it’d hard to leave out this ladder match from 2001. This chaos filled spectacle, which is hard to watch when thinking about Benoit and potential head injuries, just falls short due to highly rated rumble match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t43VEeTwwAk
Triple H vs Cactus Jack (2000)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I’d love to have this match featured in the list. But you can’t escape the controversy behind The Big Show’s attempted elimination of The Rock. Anyway, skip to 2:10 of this promo and enjoy the shock and horror on Triple H’s face as Mankind becomes Cactus Jack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw8GlbtRGsg
The Rock vs Chris Jericho (2002)
This match went in and out of the main feature so many times I became dizzy. It has twists, turns, and Jericho providing the perfect masterclass in how to be a heel. The only reason it’s not in the list is because the 2002 Royal Rumble match is also extremely good.
There’s no hiding Braun Strowman’s physicality, demand for respect, and desire to destroy everything.
But does The Monster Among Men have what it takes last in WWE, or will he be just another big guy? As a guest on Uproxx’s With Spandex Podcast, The Big Show has given his take on Braun Strowman’s career potential in WWE.
The Big Show explained that Strowman has all the right qualities to make it as one of the all-time greats, as long as he stays healthy.
He’s got the right attitude, he’s got the right intensity and hunger for it, and he understands there’s times to be a monster, and there’s also times to make other guys look good.
The Big Show explained that it’s easy to make yourself look good, but the true greats work to make others look good. He furthered this with a three step philosophy when approaching any match:
Get the match over,
Get your opponent over,
Then get yourself over.
The Big Show also emphasised the importance of versatility when it comes to big men in WWE. Being dependable against any opponent, whether they are 5’2” or 7′. And according to the veteran, Braun Strowman shows great promise and potential when moving forward.
As one of the long standing superstars in the WWE who has worked with The Undertaker throughout their career, the usual question of The Dead Man’s career was also mentioned. The Big Show was very clear with his answer, which was actually quite shocking:
“No, man, I’m telling you: the Undertaker, they don’t call him ‘The Phenom’ for nothing bro, I’m telling you. An Undertaker at 30 percent is better than most everybody else at 90 percent, I’ll tell you that much. If that makes any sense at all. He’s just that damn good.”
Opinion:
While most know what match they would want The Undertaker to return for, is it possible that WWE may set-up Braun Strowman to take on The Dead Man?
Finn Balor, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows recently reformed The Balor Club in WWE. As one of the leading groups in NJPW, The [Balor] Club will be looking to dominate the RAW locker room, in the same way that The Shield has done in the past.
While The Balor Club already houses a formidable offense, another WWE superstar wants to join and expand the reunion, creating what could be the most lethal group in WWE.
In an interview with IGN News, AJ Styles has described his admiration towards the newly reformed group on RAW.
Styles explained that the combination of Balor, Anderson and Gallows is special and unique because they were the three original founders of The Club back in NJPW. Even though AJ Styles got the chance to part of The Club in WWE when he first arrived, he expressed a desire and interest to be part of something even more special with Finn Balor.
Unfortunately, AJ Styles added in some realism into the interview as he explained that nothing is in the pipe-line at the moment with him on SmackDown Live and The Balor Club on RAW. However he is also very optimistic about making something happen in the future.
Opinion/Discussion:
Does the use of The Club in WWE cross too many boundaries between companies? Or perhaps it’s perfect for NJPW who would welcome US fans that want to find out more?
Just incase you missed it!… RAW is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this month, and WWE have promised some big names to join the celebration.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Nia Jax commented on who she would most like to face in a match at the 25th Anniversary edition of RAW.
Nia explained that she would love to get in the ring with Bull Nakano who was her hero growing up, and “the definition of a badass woman”. Looking back at Nakano’s wrestling matches, Nia describes them as revolutionary – but without the benefit of the spotlight that modern day superstars of the women’s division are given.
Nia Jax offered thanks to those women of Nakano’s generation, for paving the way and enabling her, and other female superstars, to access new and exciting opportunities.
Jax also expressed love for the stiff Japanese style that Nakano featured, comparing it to women in UFC:
“You have women in UFC who are kicking the crap out of each other. If you look at what they were doing back then, you wouldn’t want to be on the end of one of those backfists or the way they hit each other.”
Opinion:
Looking back at these matches, it’s easy to see a comparison between Nia Jax and Bull Nakano. But one key difference is Nakano’s use of submissions which Nia lacks. If she found or used a submission would that enable Nia Jax to become a dominant force in WWE?
Posted January 14th, 2018 in WWE, News. Tagged: Nia Jax.
Having already made significant progress in 2017, the women’s division has certainly kicked off 2018 with huge promise and potential for even greater success.
Below is a few examples of how Women in WWE have moved forward during 2017:
With NXT, returning legends, and invasions, it’s clear that the women’s division has been expanding and growing with depth, enabling the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble.
And while it’s natural to single out one or two superstars who have made the most impact in WWE, Alexa Bliss emphasised the importance and value of unity within the women’s division during an interview on 96.9 The Fox with Jim Lambert.
Alexa highlighted Stephanie McMahon’s involvement in announcing the historic match on January 28th, and explained that she loves the fact that every woman is involved.
“It was great that Becky [Lynch] and I had a cage match and a tables match. It’s great that Sasha [Banks] and Charlotte had the first-ever Hell in a Cell match, but it took every woman to get here, and the fact that every woman is included on this historic match, I think it’s that much bigger. And, bigger for the women’s evolution, because it took everyone to get there, the fact that everyone’s included is what I love about it.”
Alexa Bliss isn’t wrong either; every woman in the WWE is vital to the survival and development of the division. If one member of the locker room leaves, there needs to be significant depth to sustain and meet expectations from the WWE Universe.
Implementing historic matches like The Royal Rumble and Money In The Bank won’t have value if they are dropped from the schedule later down the line. Therefore it’s clear to see that WWE are confident with their development plans for the division and, more importantly, those plans are working.
Opinion:
The main question on my mind is: Tag Team Championships. The only thing holding this back is depth in the locker room, but it seems as though this is something WWE are working on. It’s only a matter of time.
2018’s first episode of RAW saw a lot happen. It was a surprisingly hard hitting show that continued to build up to the Royal Rumble on 28th January. Check out the SEScoops Takeaways From RAW for more details.
The final part of the show focused on the triple threat match for the Universal Championship which will take place at the Royal Rumble between Brock Lesnar, Kane, and Braun Strowman.
Prior to this, Kane had approached Braun Strowman backstage to arrange a plan against Brock Lesnar, however Strowman made it clear that he is more than capable of handling the triple threat match on his own.
According to Ryan Clark of ewrestlingnews.com: after Brock Lesnar and Kane had their coming together, as shown above, Braun Strowman entered the ring and called out Kane. The two superstars brawled, but Kane took things a step further by hitting Strowman with a chair and then setting up a table. Unfortunately for Kane, Strowman was able to counter a choke-slam and proceeded to use his running power-slam to put Kane through his own table.
Some WWE fans have suggested that this is wasted material which should at least be aired on the Network. However, much like the time AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens for the US Title at MSG, this off air brawl gives an extra special incentive for those who attend WWE events.
Carmella and Big Cass have been in a long term relationship since their time working together in NXT. They recently featured in Total Divas and have been looking to move to LA.
Here is the moment that Big Cass was introduced on the show:
Unfortunately they both have different ideas as to where they want to live their lives. Big Cass is set on New York, while Carmella is pushing for a move to LA.
The relationship seems to have come to a stop though as Carmella removed all mention of Big Cass from her instagram account, as well as unfollowing the 7-foot superstar on Twitter. While nothing has been confirmed, these are not good signs for their relationship.
It’s understandable that this isn’t ‘Wrestling News’, however it might be worth considering how a break-up could impact their careers and trajectories moving forward.
With Big Cass injured, he had potential to re-invent himself and move over to the SmackDown Live brand as a new competitor, rather than returning to RAW. This move would have been extremely positive, as he could join Carmella on Team Blue. But if it is true that they are no longer together, a move to SmackDown Live could cause friction backstage. But at the same time: return to RAW may remind fans of his not-so-popular heel turn before becoming injured.
Carmella may not be as worried since she holds the Money In The Bank contract which means that she will always be close behind the SmackDown Live Women’s Champion, and a key part of the title scene moving forward.
Having put on one of the great matches of the year, John Cena was too preoccupied with AJ Styles to enter the Royal Rumble in 2017.
However 2018 has offered him a fresh opportunity as a free agent. It has become common place for Superstars and General Managers to use Twitter to reveal key information to the WWE Universe, and today is no different. Cena took to Twitter to publicly announce the beginning of his journey to WrestleMania history before tonight’s episode of RAW.
A sunny morning on the first day of 2018. Possibilities are endless, opportunities are plentiful. Time to #EarnTheDay because on January 28th, I’m entering the #RoyalRumble match and earning a chance at history @WrestleMania! #Raw
While some will be hoping to see Cena clinch that 17th WWE Championship, there are plenty of rumours online that seem to be praying for him to face The Undertaker in April.
One of the supports for those rumours is Dave Meltzer, who suggests that Cena’s WrestleMania opponent will be much bigger than a shot at the WWE Championship against AJ Styles. Further details have not been given, and we are left to speculate what that could mean for April.
While Cena took on a ‘cameo-like’ role at Survivor Series, it’s clear that WWE have massive plans for him heading into WrestleMania season. The other side to this rumour is: if Meltzer is saying that John Cena is not AJ Styles’ opponent at WrestleMania, is the WWE Universe getting their dream AJ Styles VS Shinsuke Nakamura showdown?
Yup… WWE’s really going for it this year with the whole “Top Whatevers Of 2017”. This time it’s with GIFs. To be fair, WWE did launch their own library of GIFs at GIPHY.com/WWE, so it is understandable that they want to highlight and promote its existence.
Anyway… for those interested, here is WWE’s top 10 GIFs of 2017 (REALLY!?)
10: Triple H’s nod of approval regarding this list.
If you made it this far… well done! You’ll notice that this was written with a healthy dose of sarcasm, so to make this a little bit more worthwhile, if/when you leave a comment… use only GIFs!!
If you don’t use a GIF… that’s ok… not much will happen. But come on, where’s the fun in that!?
Oh, and no, it doesn’t have to be from WWE’s giphy.com channel…
On December 18th, a triple threat match for the Universal Championship was set for 2018’s first PPV of the year: The Royal Rumble at the Wells Fargo Centre in Philadelphia.
Since that decision was made, Kane has been interviewed by The Miami Herald ahead of 2018’s first episode of RAW. Check out the highlights of the interview below:
On His Royal Rumble Title Match:
“It’s an opportunity for me to become champion again, which those are rare and at this point in my career, I didn’t know if I’d see another one, frankly. So, it’s a great opportunity for me. I’m in the ring with two monsters – make it three, if you include me – but that doesn’t happen very often for me. It doesn’t happen very often where I go into a match feeling I’m somewhat outgunned, which may be the case here when you have guys like Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman. There’s going to be a lot of beef in that ring. And the amazing thing about those two guys is they’re just so awesomely athletic for their size. I mean, you hear people say ‘Oh, he’s a great athlete, for his size,’ but these guys are great athletes, doesn’t matter what size they are.”
Kane’s Current Status With WWE:
“I feel I still go out and perform at a very high level every night. I tell people as long as I’m doing that, as long as I’m having fun doing what I’m doing, I will continue. When you look at the overall picture, I think that a lot of what I try to do now is help the younger guys refine their craft as much as possible. We have some tremendous talent that is on the main roster, of course, people [from] NXT coming up, I think the future is very bright for WWE.”
The Rock Considering A Presidential Run In 2024 & If Kane Would Consider Joining The Rock On The Ticket:
“I think he would be insane to run for President. I’m going to leave that there. He’s doing pretty well in movies, and if I were him, I don’t think I would do that. And I would absolutely turn down that nomination on my part. I’m pretty happy where I’m at.”
You can check out the videos of the interview, and Kane discussing his own political ventures, below:
(Transcription courtesy of WrestlingInc)
Posted January 1st, 2018 in WWE, News. Tagged: Kane.
It’s that time of year when social media feeds are filled with “What a year 2017 was…” as well as the standard “New Year, New Me!” resolution posts. Superstars across the globe have also taken to this and created their own New Year posts, celebrating 2017 and hoping for the best in 2018. Here are some of the highlights (or not) that have been put together:
Making history as the FIRST ever & TWO TIME undisputed Ms MITB was by far my favorite moment of 2017. To those of you who hated on everything I did this year, stay tuned for what I’m about to do in 2018… I’m just getting started! ??? pic.twitter.com/yToFQhT6Jy
While Carmella and Sasha Banks’s posts seem reasonably normal for what you would expect, English performers put together something a little bit special (peculiar?) to celebrate 2017:
While not on TV as much as when he returned, Luke Gallows is a work-horse of WWE. He’s seen success across multiple companies, and has become a reliable ‘go to’ talent to support those around him.
For anyone who wants a recap of his career, here’s Luke Gallows with Corey Graves on Superstar Ink:
Gallows also featured on a recent episode of The Steve Austin Show. Here are some of the highlights:
How Gallows Scrambled To Get A Job In WWE:
“I called Tommy Dreamer and Johnny Ace every week, like, ‘Hey guys, you should probably hire me – I’m pretty good.’ I was having the bulls–t matches in West Virginia against guys in furniture stores and stuff! Terrible! So finally they were opening Deep South and I think they needed to fill it and I wouldn’t leave them alone, so I somehow got my ass in there after three years of terrible indies.”
Before then, Gallows featured on WWE’s Tough Enough…
Pitching A HillBilly Gimmick:
“They bring in Henry Godwinn and my partner eventually ended up being Terry Gordy’s son, Ray Gordy. And the way that happened was Michael [Hayes] brought Henry back and they were going to be the new Godwinns with Henry and Ray. And Ray was always really cool to me, sold me these Tex Slazenger boots. I wore them around for a while. And something happened with him. He had to leave the company. I don’t know what it was, but whatever. But they needed a partner, so some guys from TNA, some old school guys came in, but they couldn’t match this hillbilly thing, so I just watched, like, Larry The Cable Guy stuff and Bill Engvall. I got material for this stuff and I asked ‘Doctor’ Tom Prichard, who I always had a great relationship with, ‘can I please do something with Ray?’ because I know I’ve got nothing. They just killed this weird gimmick that I had. We cut a couple of promos and they loved it!”
Traveling In WWE:
“It’s always us and a rotating third or fourth. We get each other so [well] from when we first clicked, so sometimes Finn Bálor, sometimes Curt Hawkins. We were on SmackDown, so it was always AJ [Styles]. And then, we had Jinder [Mahal] for a while and he left to go to SmackDown and blew up. And we always do good, but we’re always together no matter what. I just think AJ and Jinder put up with us because we were funny and silly when we were reading.”
Impact Wrestling:
“It was fun. I don’t want to bury anybody there. It was a lot of fun and I had a lot of fun. It was just really different coming out of WWE because I went from bulls–t indies to the WWE. Then I left and I got fired right after my 26th birthday. I was a young cat. I started wrestling when I was just 18 [years old], so I was like, ‘this is not a bad thing – this is a good thing. I’m going to go everywhere and then hopefully go back.’ So I had a lot of fun there. I didn’t make a lot of money, but it was a lot of fun. It was a one-year run and then they were having their issues or whatever.”
Working With Hulk Hogan:
“Oh man, Hulk was awesome. I always say because I started so young and I loved wrestling so much, I’ve met a lot of guys that were a little bit of a letdown.”
This interview with Steve Austin, as well as the other features in the article, show just how much of a dedicated wrestler Gallows is, and how hard he works behind the scenes and in the locker room. It may seem like the WWE personas of Gallows and Anderson just search for ‘nerds’ to beat up, but the insights available show there’s more to it. While this is (or should be) true of all professional wrestlers, it appears as though Luke Gallows has as much of a role backstage as he does when entering the ring.
A comprehensive review of the top 10 professional wrestlers of 2017 has been released by Sports Illustrated. The detailed article, written by Justin Barrasso, features what qualifiers have been used, as well as explaining each entry.
Below is the final list, as well as a selection of highlights from the feature:
Barrasso begins by providing a description of what qualities are assessed when making the decisions, as well as highlighting notable omissions:
“For this top 10 list, the format was based on a combination of work rate, drawing ability, and overall impact on the business in 2017.”
“A wrestler’s skill at consistently elevating his opponent was also emphasized. Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest of all-time, and an integral part of his brilliance was his ability to make you believe in the man standing across from him in the ring.”
Superstars that don’t feature on the list include:
Finn Balor
Shinsuke Nakamura
Tetsuya Naito
Christopher Daniels
Trevor Lee
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Brock Lesnar
Barrasso explains that while Brock Lesnar can easily draw a crowd, his success was primarily down to his opponents.
“Lesnar shined in his Survivor Series encounter with AJ Styles, but that was courtesy of Styles.”
Top 10 Wrestlers of The Year 2017:
10: Keith Lee
“Keith Lee is a modern day mix of Samoa Joe and Bam Bam Bigelow. He transitioned in 2017 from an afterthought in Ring of Honor to a workhorse across the independent scene, delivering moves that most super heavyweights only dream of hitting.”
“A closer look at Lee’s work from this year showed a focus on his timing. He is a student of the game, moves exceptionally well, but also redefined his body from the beginning of the year to the end.”
9: Cody Rhodes
“Rhodes took a considerable risk, but he has successfully parlayed his family name and WWE credentials into far greater star magnitude than he ever achieved with the “WWE machine” behind him. He had memorable encounters with Christopher Daniels in Ring of Honor and even Kazuchika Okada in the main event of the AXS TV G1 Climax Special in July. The sky is the limit for Cody in 2018, starting with his date at Wrestle Kingdom 12 with Kota Ibushi.”
8: Matt Riddle
“Riddle is not selfish and does not eat people up in the ring, but he is also able to protect himself and his own aura. He is a phenomenal ambassador for independent wrestling, and there is a reason his merchandise lines were so long at shows in 2017.”
7: Kevin Owens
Photo Credit: WWE.com
“Owens was consistently overshadowed by various other storylines that WWE chose to highlight throughout the year, but he constantly delivered compelling work in the ring. That feat is nearly impossible to achieve in WWE, as the weekly television grind overexposes talent to the point where the extraordinary becomes ordinary.”
“Owens made everything he did meaningful, cementing himself as a top heel in the business during 2017.”
6: Kazuchika Okada
“Okada steered the ship during New Japan’s maiden voyage into the United States for its G1 Special in the USA on AXS TV in July, where he worked with Cody Rhodes. Okada’s work is so finely-tuned and compelling that the match was Rhodes’ best match of the year, where it fell somewhere closer to the tenth best match of Okada’s year.”
5: Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman delivering a Running Powerslam to Brock Lesnar at WWE No Mercy 2017. (Photo Credit: WWE.com)
“Outside of his No Mercy match with Brock Lesnar, which was a complete and utter failure, Strowman added intrigue with an ambulance match with Reigns, which took place after the spot on Raw where he flipped an ambulance, and even withstood a trip inside a garbage truck. WWE’s booking philosophy is built around delivering memorable moments to its fans, and Strowman created more than anyone else in 2017.”
4: John Cena
“Despite looking past-his-prime at the Survivor Series-which was largely the result of being surrounded by the likes of Finn Balor, Bobby Roode, and Braun Strowman-Cena has played a role in the most memorable matches of 2017, including his Royal Rumble win over AJ Styles, as well as a SmackDown loss to Shinsuke Nakamura and a compelling feud with Roman Reigns.”
3: Roman Reigns
“Reigns also succeeded in a variety of matches. The Fatal 5-Way at Extreme Rules, Fatal 4-Way at SummerSlam, and ambulance match are all part of his 2017 resume, and he even closed out the year with compelling television bouts with Cesaro and even Jason Jordan. To add to all of that, Reigns and Braun Strowman combined to deliver the feud of the year.”
2: AJ Styles
AJ Styles celebrating after winning the United States Championship at WWE Live Event
“Styles made every match entertaining, whether it was the Money in the Bank ladder match, a two-on-one affair against the Singh Brothers in November, or a match on SmackDown against The Miz in January. Styles started and ended 2017 as WWE champion, but was placed in lackluster feuds throughout the year with McMahon, Baron Corbin, and most recently Jinder Mahal.”
1: Kenny Omega
Photo Credit: SI.com
“Unlike Styles and Reigns, who have the WWE wagon entrenched firmly behind them, Omega has created his own buzz in America. Along with some of the best bouts of the year, an ability to enhance his opponent, and a must-see intangible, Kenny Omega is Sports Illustrated’s Wrestler of the Year for 2017.”
Check out the full feature by Justin Barrasso here at si.com with further details and explanations for each of the entries on this list.
Alongside their list of the top 25 matches of 2017, WWE have released another list that details a further 10 matches which could have also featured.
Some of the main highlights from the list include:
Johnny Gargano VS Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III)
Neville VS Gentleman Jack Gallagher for the Cruiserweight Championship (Fastlane)
Alexa Bliss VS Mickie James for the RAW Women’s Championship (TLC)
Women’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match (SmackDown Live 27th June)
Pete Dunne VS Mark Andrews (United Kingdom Championship Tournament Semi Finals)
Kairi Sane VS Bianca Belair (Mae Young Classic Second Round)
However, there are other matches that seem slightly more questionable:
Luke Harper VS Randy Orton (Elimination Chamber)
After breaking away from The Wyatt Family, Luke Harper found greater freedom and potential for success, before fading away and returning as a Bludgeon Brother later in the year. And although Harper’s match against Randy Orton was notable, the encounter with AJ Styles seems slightly more worthy of note:
Shinsuke Nakamura VS Dolph Ziggler (SmackDown Live 20th June)
This match between Nakamura and Ziggler seemed much more like a sigh of relief as the beginning of the feud failed to live up to expectations as Shinsuke made his main roster debut at Backlash. Thankfully they both managed to pull everything together on June 20th’s SmackDown Live.
Enzo Amore VS Kalisto for the Cruiserweight Championship (RAW 9th October)
This shoe-horned title match was put together after Neville walked out on the company, and it appears as though it only made this list out of respect to Kalisto and the unique circumstance surrounding the match, rather than the quality of wrestling on show from both competitors.
WWE supplemented this entry with a quote from Kalisto to mark the occasion:
“That was one of the first times I closed down Raw. It was breathtaking. When I get moments like that, I always try to take full advantage and give my all, everything I have, so I can make sure I can perform at my best. Being there, in that moment, was very surreal. It was one of the best days of my life. I feel like I opened the door for everybody to get an opportunity at the Cruiserweight Title. I closed down that clause. That moment when everybody started celebrating, it made me happy. It made me smile that everybody had an opportunity. Who knows? Maybe 205 Live can close down a pay-per-view. My dream is to have a Ladder Match at WrestleMania where all the Cruiserweights can display their true art.”
Sami Zayn VS Braun Strowman Last Man Standing Match (RAW 2nd January)
As the final entry, I want to make a pun using Strowman’s “I’m not finished with you” tag-line, but the whole Sami Zayn proving himself against Braun Strowman was a painful feud that dragged. The emphasis that WWE are pushing with this entry is Zayn’s ability to last 10 minutes before losing to Strowman, and it says a lot that this was Sami Zayn’s only highlight in 2017 that was pinpointed by WWE.
Opinion:
Personally, I would be much more interested in a list that was put together by viewer votes. Ratings and reviews will have made up a key part of the decision making process for both this and the previous list of Top 25 Matches In 2017. However, with the focus being on underrated matches, it may have been more interesting to seek out the direct views of the fans.
Roman Reigns first won the Intercontinental Championship from The Miz on 22nd November’s edition of RAW:
Fast forward a month, and Reigns found himself able to retain his title against Samoa Joe after he used his Champions advantage to full effect, being disqualified. He was later fined by WWE for pushing the referee official.
Kurt Angle has now arranged a rematch as Reigns is set to take on Samoa Joe during 2018’s first episode of RAW. Angle has also added the stipulation that Roman Reigns will lose his Intercontinental title if he loses the match via disqualification.
It’s also worth noting that The Miz has been cleared to return to the ring, after fulfilling his role in the next edition of The Marine franchise with Becky Lynch and Shawn Michaels. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him return and make the match a triple threat. as he never claimed his contractual rematch.
WWE have released a promotional video ahead of the 25th anniversary of their Monday night show, RAW. The video features the retro RAW intro with an updated roster to maximize nostalgia and open the door for younger fans to experience a part of what WWE was like 25 years ago.
Compare that to the current RAW intro video and, call me old fashioned, I think I prefer the old one!
The special edition of the show is set to take place on 22nd January at the location of the very first episode of RAW in Manhattan. The anniversary show will feature WWE Superstars past and present, but will be the third “historic” show in less than a month as RAW also aired on Christmas Day and New Years Day for the first time ever this year.
Add that to the Royal Rumble on 28th January, and it’s looking like a pretty full on month for the red brand; not to mention the following RAW ppv Elimination Chamber on the 25th of February. If you’re not a fan of the RAW roster or the longer slot that it holds, the first part of 2018 could be quite painful and slow.
However, WWE will be sure to cash in on the nostalgia kicks on the RAW anniversary, with potential implications for the Royal Rumble on the following Sunday. The upside of having so many RAW shows: WWE have to keep things fresh and entertaining to boost or maintain good numbers in case it becomes stale and repetitive. Surely?
Opinion:
Don’t forget, WWE announced that there wouldn’t be any Superstar Shakeups in 2017. If they wanted to set up any matches for WrestleMania, now is the time put things in place, otherwise there won’t be another draft until after the main event of 2018.
Bonus:
Here is a collection of intros from 2002-2006 for extra nostalgia, or just to make you cringe.
