SEScoops

Category: Editorials and Features

  • 10 Reasons the WWF vs. WCW Invasion Angle Failed (Part 2)

    As promised, here is the second half of the list…

    5. Abundance Of Talent Led To Brand Extension

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    The WWE roster was absolutely stacked following the acquisition of WCW. This was especially true after the top WCW superstars such as Hulk Hogan, Goldberg, and Kevin Nash eventually signed with the company.

    It quickly became apparent that there was too much talent to adequately feature everyone on a weekly basis. This led to the WWE splitting into two separate brands in the form of Raw and SmackDown. The brand extension seemed fresh at first, but it quickly lost traction after superstars were constantly shifted from one brand to the other as a way to increase ratings.

    The brand extension era is characterized by pay-per-views that did not perform as well as those in the Attitude Era, largely because fans did not want to pay to see only half of the roster.

  • 10 Reasons the WWF vs. WCW Invasion Angle Failed (Part 1/2)

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    During the summer of 2001, the WWE was under attack and at risk of a hostile takeover. After finally winning the Monday Night Wars, the WWE had to find a way to integrate the influx of talent that was acquired with the purchase of WCW.

    Their first attempt at doing so would come in the form of the Invasion storyline, which saw former WCW and ECW employees “invading” the WWE in an attempt to take over the company. If this sounds a bit like the nWo’s plot to conquer WCW, well that’s because it is essentially the same story.

    Ultimately, the program forced the WWE to fend off the intruders by forming a coalition to battle Team Alliance, which was led by Shane and Stephanie McMahon, the respective on-screen owners of WCW and ECW at the time.

    Many fans have cited the Invasion storyline as one of the most entertaining periods in recent WWE history, as it featured a number of matchups that had previously been unimaginable. However, there were many aspects of the storyline that could have been handled better, resulting in a program with great potential that was squandered by poor booking. Here are ten reasons why the Invasion storyline was not as memorable as some fans recall.

  • 5 Questions Following Monday’s RAW (6/9)

    This week’s edition of WWE Raw took place in Minneapolis, MN, and featured one of the biggest announcements in recent history. That announcement was of course that WWE Champion Daniel Bryan would be stripped of his title and it would be on the line during the ladder match at Money in the Bank.

    Speaking of the ladder match, Cesaro and Sheamus punched their tickets after winning qualifying matches, and Triple H added Randy Orton to the match, leaving only three remaining spots. As always, a few questions were answered, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following this week’s edition of Raw.

    5. Is Sandow Permanently Buried?

    For what seems like the thousandth week in a row, Damien Sandow was once again tasked with comic relief duty, this time appearing dressed as a ballerina to team with Fandango.

    Sandow was not only once again grossly misused, his winless streak and fall to the bottom of the company also continued. Since unsuccessfully cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase last year against John Cena, it has been downhill for Sandow.

    Let us hope that the next briefcase winner (assuming there are two ladder matches) is better utilized than Sandow was, as the win actually hurt him more than it helped.

    4. Does Cesaro Have a Chance To Win the Title?

    Cesaro qualified for the championship ladder match after hitting RVD with a Neutralizer this Monday. There were rumors a few weeks back that the company was thinking about putting the briefcase on Cesaro (before it was confirmed as a championship title match).

    This leads one to wonder if he has a legitimate chance at winning the title. Having only held the United States Championship, it seems unlikely, but after looking at the confirmed participants, he seems like the early favorite.

    It is unlikely that they would put the title back on Randy Orton already, and the other confirmed participants (Del Rio and Sheamus) will not be walking out with the title either. There are three participants yet to be confirmed, meaning John Cena will likely find a way to get himself into the match and win the title, but one can dream, right?

  • Did Batista Earn Fans’ Respect?

    When it comes to Batista’s latest run, one could argue that management hit him with a bait and switch. He was promised that he would win the Royal Rumble and go on to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. Instead, he was practically booed out of the building after winning the Royal Rumble and ended up tapping out to the Yes Lock at WrestleMania to allow Daniel Bryan to win the championship.

    As most probably know by now, Batista “quit” on this past week’s Raw, as he will be taking a few months off to promote his new movie Guardians of the Galaxy. Upon return after a several year hiatus, Batista represented what many feel is wrong with the current state of the WWE.

    Batista did not win a title after returning, but he was involved in a memorable feud between Evolution and the Shield.
    Batista did not win a title after returning, but he was involved in a memorable feud between Evolution and the Shield.

    Instead of relying on the guys that work day in and day out to headline the biggest pay-per-views of the year, the WWE has instead relied upon part-time superstars such as the Rock and Brock Lesnar to headline their biggest events. The reliance on part-time superstars is one of the reasons a certain someone (*cough* CM Punk *cough*) decided to pack his bags and head home.

    However, despite all of the criticism Batista has received since returning, one has to wonder if he earned the respect of fans. In my opinion, I think it is fair to say that he did just that.

    In the end, Batista was promised the world but was basically handed a half-empty bag of peanuts. Following the Royal Rumble, which featured an extremely hostile Pittsburgh crowd, it became apparent that Batista’s wishes would not be granted. The company was quickly forced to turn him heel, which messed with the dynamics of the WrestleMania main event, which featured a heel champion in the form of Randy Orton.

  • 5 Questions Following Monday’s RAW (6/2)

    This week’s edition of WWE Raw took place in Indianapolis, IN and was the post-Payback episode of the longest running weekly episodic television show in history. The card featured a total of nine matches, including a contest between John Cena and Kane, as well as a Money in the Bank qualifying match between Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio.

    The show also featured two incidents that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the storyline for weeks to come. A lot of questions were answered, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following this week’s edition of Raw.

    5. Is Cesaro Going to Challenge for the Intercontinental Championship?

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    On this week’s Raw, Cesaro abandoned his partner Bad News Barrett, leaving him helpless against the team of RVD and Sheamus. After the match, Cesaro stood on the stage staring at Bad News Barrett, perhaps alluding to an upcoming feud between the two for the IC strap.

    This feud could help both parties, as it would provide Barrett with a worthy opponent to work with, while also allowing Cesaro to challenge for the company’s second most important title. With rumors of Cesaro being the top contender to win the Money in the Bank briefcase, there are a few directions they could take with the King of Swing, and fans would likely welcome any push.

    4. Will WWE Listen to the Fans and Push Dolph Ziggler?

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    One of the biggest injustices of the past year has been Dolph Ziggler’s demotion to the midcard. After finally cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase, Ziggler won the World Heavyweight Championship from Alberto Del Rio on the Raw after WrestleMania last year.

    His reign would ultimately be cut short following a concussion, and after a few harsh words directed at John Cena, Ziggler’s burial was a certainty. He hasn’t been able to claw his way out of the doghouse since, despite calls from fans to give him a push.

    There were chants for Ziggler during the match between Big E and Rusev at Payback, and it seemed like he might finally get back on track during a Money in the Bank qualifying match against Alberto Del Rio on this week’s Raw. The hopes of Ziggler fans around the world were quickly dashed, however, as he was forced to tap out to the Cross Armbreaker and it looks like Dolph has become a permanent fixture at the bottom of the card.

    3. Who Benefited More from Their Feud: John Cena or Bray Wyatt?

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    During their last man standing match at Payback, John Cena literally buried Bray Wyatt after slamming him through a crate that was conveniently placed at the foot of a table.

    Now that it appears their feud is over, one has to wonder which superstar benefited more from the program. It is hard to argue that any victory could put Cena over more. Wyatt used the program to get himself over with the audience, but he ultimately looked weak in each of their contests.

    Wyatt lost two of the three matches, and his one victory came with the help of Harper, Rowan, and a child. Ultimately, Cena did not gain anything from the feud, and Wyatt is just as over as he was before and looked weak throughout, so I would say that neither guy really benefited.

  • The Shield vs. Evolution: A Fitting Conclusion

    Last night, the WWE Universe saw the soldiers overthrow their all-powerful leader, as the Shield destroyed the King of Kings and the rest of Evolution in a six-man tag elimination match.

    The match was likely the last encounter between the two groups. Batista is scheduled to take time off starting tonight and there is little focus on the rivalry in tonight’s preview for Raw, so it seems unlikely that the program will be continued.

    Roman Reigns dominated Evolution last night, ultimately winning the contest by pinning Triple H.
    Roman Reigns dominated Evolution last night, ultimately winning the contest by pinning Triple H.

    With Evolution in their rearview mirror, one has to wonder where the Shield will go from here. They have already feuded with a good portion of the roster, and none of the members are really in line to challenge for a title, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the Hounds of Justice tonight.

    One thing is certain though: all of the members are being booked strong. This was evident last night, as all three members of the group picked up an elimination against Evolution, with Roman Reigns ultimately securing the victory by pinning Triple H after hitting a spear.

    It is obvious that Roman Reigns is being groomed as the first breakout star of the group. There were rumors that he and Triple H are being booked to square off at SummerSlam, but after last night’s emphatic victory by the Shield, that idea seems a bit less likely.

    Assuming last night’s contest is the final time Evolution and the Shield meet, it was a fitting conclusion to a great rivalry. Their first contest at Extreme Rules is without a doubt the match of the year thus far. It appeared that last night’s matchup would surpass their first meeting.

    After all, it had all of the ingredients of a classic match. It had the backstory between the two groups, it had the no-holds barred stipulation that would make the contest more exciting, and it also had a sense of finality due to the fact that most knew Batista was leaving after the event. It failed to live up to the hype of their first meeting, however.

  • WWE Payback 2014 Reaction

    WWE Payback 2014 took place at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois and featured a total of ten matches, including the pre-show. Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella made a shocking decision regarding the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, John Cena and Bray Wyatt left everything they had inside the squared circle (and outside) and Stephanie McMahon addressed the crowd chanting CM Punk’s name.

    Every single match on the card delivered in one way shape or form and the exciting action that took place, mixed in with the hot Chicago crowd made Payback 2014 a night to remember.

    I recapped highlights, expressed my thoughts and have given each match and important segment on the card a letter grade. Please feel free to leave a comment letting me know your overall thoughts on the Payback PPV. I’ll be sure to respond to as many as I can.

    HORNSWOGGLE VS. EL TORITO (HAIR VS. MASK)

    Hornswoggle-vs.-El-Torito
    May the smaller man win

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    – El Torito’s top rope Huricanrana that sent Heath Slater flying into Los Matadores and his 3MB brethren.

    – Hornswoggle’s  Sit-Out Power Bomb.

    – El Torito’s Springboard Moonsault, which resulted in victory.

    REACTION: To quickly some up this match, the crowd chanted “let’s go Hawks” within the first couple minutes and after a well-placed spot, chanted “this is awesome”. El Torito and Hornswoggle’s WeeLC match had tables, step-ladders, mini-chairs; little people ring announcers and commentators – all the ingredients to make a pre-show match memorable. Unfortunately, the two fairly entertaining performers could not live up to their previous bout, but still had a respectable rematch at Payback.

    GRADE: C-

    SHEAMUS (c) VS. CESARO (UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP)

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    Ireland vs. Switzerland

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    – Paul Heyman telling the Chicago crowd where CM Punk is.

    – Sheamus attempts the Battering Ram, but Cesaro catches him with a stiff uppercut.

    – Cesaro’s Brogue Kick reversal turned German Suplex.

    – Sheamus reverses the Neutralizer into White Noise.

    – Sheamus slithers out of the Neutralizer and wins via rollup.

    REACTION: It’s been said before and I’ll say it again – nobody knows how to interact with a hot Chicago crowd like Paul Heyman. The man is a genius and Chicago has too much respect for him, so when he talks, they listen.

    As for the match, it at least exceeded my expectations. I knew that Cesaro and Sheamus would showcase a hard-hitting battle, but these two worked so well with one another and both men compliment the other perfectly. Cesaro’s in-ring style is so unorthodox and so exciting – we can expect him to hit at least one new move per match, which is very intriguing. Sheamus has always been a good worker and solid in the ring and I would love to see this feud continue after Cesaro wins the Money in the Bank briefcase.

    GRADE: A-

    CODY RHODES & GOLDUST VS. RYBAXEL

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    The Big Guy!

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    – Goldust’s Sunset Flip Power Bomb.

    – Ryback catching Cody Rhodes midair and delivering Shell Shock for the victory.

    – Cody tells Goldust that he needs to find a better tag team partner.

    REACTION: The Rhodes Brothers and Rybaxel put forth an above-average tag team match that was fairly exciting. Goldust has been outstanding since his return to the ring last year and pairing him with his brother was and is the perfect role for him.

    I’m hesitant to admit this, but I am slowly becoming a Rybaxel fan. They’re absolutely hilarious. I’m a huge fan of Ryback and think he is one of the funniest and most charismatic superstars on the current roster. Whenever he has a microphone or is on commentary, expect to laugh.  Axel is a good in-ring worker and solid/but his character is bland.

    Now, the bigger story here is the slow dissention of the Rhodes Brothers. WWE is doing a good job with this slow transition instead of Cody just outright attacking Goldust. Everyone can see a Cody vs. Goldust program in the near future; we’re just waiting for WWE to pull the trigger.

    GRADE: B

  • WWE Payback 2014 Preview and Predictions

    [attention]Make sure to join us here Sunday night for our Live Coverage of WWE Payback. Starting at 7:30pm (EST), we’ll have the Chat Room open and will be doing realtime results of the pre-show and pay-per-view.[/attention]

    Early Betting Odds For WWE Payback

    The WWE’s top superstars will seek retribution at this Sunday’s Payback pay-per-view. Two rematches from last month’s Extreme Rules will highlight the card, with the Shield and Evolution meeting in a no-holds barred elimination match, and John Cena and Bray Wyatt meeting once again, this time in a last man standing match.

    Here are my predictions for this Sunday’s event.

    Hornswoggle vs. El Torito (Hair vs. Mask Match)

    These two will once again square off on the pre-show. They actually put on a pretty entertaining match at last month’s event, but I’m afraid this one will suffer because there are no props involved. After some high-flying spots by El Torito to get the crowd pumped up, he will eventually pull off the victory and Hornswoggle’s beautiful mane will be no more.

    Winner: El Torito by pinfall

    Rusev vs. Big E

    Since losing the Intercontinental Title, Big E has entered into a tailspin of sorts. He has lost a few bouts and has not been presented well since losing clean to Bad News Barrett last month.

    He will not take a shot at ending Rusev’s undefeated streak. I expected both superstars to get a chance to show off their strength, and this should be Rusev’s longest bout on the main roster. Ultimately, Big E’s woes will continue and he will be forced to tap out to Rusev’s finisher, the Accolade.

    Winner: Rusev by submission

    Paige (Divas Champion) vs. Alicia Fox

    A divas championship match that actually has a bit of a backstory to it? I never thought I would see the day. Alicia Fox has been booked strong in recent weeks, picking up a clean win over Paige and destroying anything in her path (including ringside employees).

    Fox will dominate this one for the most part, much like she did during their contest on Raw a few weeks back. She will eventually succumb to the champion after losing concentration and showboating, allowing for Paige to take advantage and pick up the win with her scorpion crosslock.

    Winner: Paige by submission

    Sheamus (United States Champion) vs. Cesaro

    This has the chance to be one of the best matches of the night. Both guys are good workers and they should be given a solid 10-15 minutes to show what they are capable of. Expect a number of near falls and high intensity action.

    It seems as if a big push is in store for Cesaro, which would normally lead one to believe that he would slay the Jolly Green Ginger. That will not be the case, however, as there are much bigger plans in store for Cesaro than the United States Championship. Sheamus wins after hitting a Brogue Kick, and Cesaro gets ready to compete in next month’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

    Winner: Sheamus by pinfall

  • Paige: Booked Too Weak?

    Bikini Photos Of WWE Divas Champion Paige

    Paige made perhaps the most memorable debut in Divas history after appearing on Raw a few weeks back and winning the Divas Championship from AJ Lee during her first match on the main roster.

    Since arriving, Paige has been booked as a soft-spoken, overly modest underdog who has had to overcome the odds in order to retain her title. She will once again defend her title this Sunday at Payback against Alicia Fox.

    Fox has been on fire in recent weeks, as she has secured a title shot and has also abused a number of ringside employees along the way. Perhaps most importantly, she earned the title shot by beating the Divas Champion clean two weeks ago on Raw.

    Paige has been consistently booked as an underdog since capturing the Divas Championship.
    Paige has been consistently booked as an underdog since capturing the Divas Championship.

    During the contest, Paige got in very little offense and was dominated by her foe, with Fox ultimately picking up the winning and going on a tangent afterward. The decimation of Paige by Fox makes one wonder if Paige is perhaps being booked too weak.

    It is one thing to be booked as an underdog. Take Daniel Bryan, for example. He had to overcome all odds in order to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. He lost a few matches along the way, but his losses were mostly due to outside interference or circumstances where anyone on the roster would succumb to the odds, such as receiving Sweet Chin Music from the referee of the match.

    Paige, on the other hand, is supposed to be the best Diva in the company because she is of course the champion. She has never looked that way, however, largely because most of her matches consist of her taking most of the damage before picking up a win out of nowhere at the end.

  • Would the Nation of Domination Work in the PG Era?

    Since arriving on the scene, the Bulgarian (now Russian?) Brute (formerly known as Alexander) Rusev has squashed a number of WWE competitors, with a few notable victims including Big E, R-Truth, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston.

    Maybe it is mere coincidence that Rusev has squashed nearly every African American superstar on the roster. Others believe that it is deliberate, with rapper Wale being one celebrity/fan to comment on the situation. Still, others believe that the storyline is a way to reboot the Nation of Domination stable that was popular during the Attitude Era.

    Many believe that a reboot of the popular stable would battle Rusev and Lana.
    Many believe that a reboot of the popular stable would battle Rusev and Lana.

    Whatever the reason for Rusev taking down almost every African American superstar, the real question is whether a Nation of Domination reboot could work during the PG Era.

    As most remember, the Nation of Domination was a stable during the Attitude Era that consisted of Faarooq, Kama Mustafa, D’Lo Brown, and the Rock during its most famous incarnation. Core values of the group included black power and supremacy, as they were loosely modeled after the Nation of Islam and the Black Panther Party.

    The group’s extremist beliefs and promos were often controversial in an era that regularly featured characters such as pimps and porn stars, so one can only imagine how the group would be received in today’s youth-oriented product.

    With that said, I think the group could still be successful if rebooted, but only if booked as a face group. During the Attitude Era, the group was primarily booked as a heel faction, leading to promos where the group would accuse others of racism, while also accusing other African American superstars of not “being black enough” to gain entry into the Nation. It also led to other promos that many believe exhibited overt racism, such as when DX painted their faces black in order to mock their rivals.

    Instances such as the ones just described simply would not fly in today’s WWE, so the stable would have to be toned down a bit. Most importantly, they would have to be booked as a face stable that would not use accusations of racism as a way to draw heat.

  • John Cena and The Usos: A Beneficial Partnership

    When we say Uce, y’all say Cena sucks. Something feels off about that last sentence, but oh well, maybe it will catch on someday.

    Over the past few weeks, fans have been treated to the somewhat unlikely pairing of John Cena and the Usos. The Tag Team Champions initially helped out WWE’s Superman during a six-man tag contest against the Wyatt Family, and have been accompanying him to the ring during his battles with the Wyatt Family ever since.

    Cena and the Usos have enjoyed much success together over the past few weeks.
    Cena and the Usos have enjoyed much success together over the past few weeks.

    At first it seemed like the relationship between Cena and the Usos was a forced one. After all, what did the Usos really have to gain by helping Cena fight his seemingly never-ending battle with Bray Wyatt? It simply seemed as if creative was injecting anyone into the program to keep it fresh for a few more weeks.

    However, as the weeks go on, it seems like it was a very smart move to include the Usos into the Cena/Wyatt program. The most important reason is that it provides the Usos with more exposure.

    It is no secret that the Tag Team Championships have been placed on the backburner. After all, they have not even been defended on an actual pay-per-view telecast since Elimination Chamber and the Usos haven’t had a legitimate feud for the titles since the New Age Outlaws broke down faster than a 1978 Ford Pinto.

    Pairing the Usos with Cena allows them to be on television more frequently, even if they are not defending their titles on a weekly basis. It also allows them to look strong, because Cena is absolutely never booked to look weak, as evidenced by his match against Bray Wyatt at Extreme Rules where it took three superstars and a child to finally take down Cena.

  • Rob Van Dam: Worth Keeping on the Roster?

    Last summer, Mr. Monday Night made his triumphant return to the WWE at Money in the Bank. Since returning, Rob Van Dam has unsuccessfully challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio and will fight Bad News Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship at Payback.

    RVD has wrestled a part-time schedule since returning and has been involved in few meaningful feuds. He obviously isn’t getting any younger, and with a part-time schedule and diminishing skill in the ring, is Rob Van Dam really worth keeping around at this point in his career?

    The case for RVD: Despite not being as versatile as he once was in the ring, RVD can still perform moves that many superstars could only dream of pulling off (the Van Terminator against Del Rio at Night of Champions is just one example).

    It is refreshing to see a Van Terminator in the PG era.
    It is refreshing to see a Van Terminator in the PG era.

    His part-time schedule also means that he is not overexposed. He still gets a decent pop each time he performs, even if he is probably not as popular as in years past, and his limited schedule will ensure that fans do not grow tired of him quickly.

    However, his biggest selling point is that he is putting younger guys over. Whereas some part-time superstars demand a large contract and complete creative control over their character, RVD is much like Chris Jericho in that he is willing to work a part-time schedule while largely putting over the younger talent.

    Fans saw RVD put over Del Rio this past fall and will likely see him do the same against Bad News Barrett at Payback. His act is still fresh, and as long as he continues to put over the next generation, there is no reason to not have him appear occasionally.

  • 5 Potential Tag Team Title Challengers

    It seemed as if the tag team division had been revitalized last year. However, almost as soon as fans started to become excited about the division again, half of the teams were broken up and it has been largely ignored.

    The Usos are the current champions, and I think their pay-per-view exposure shows how confident the WWE is that the Uso brothers will draw. After all, they defended their tag titles on the pre-show at WrestleMania and did not appear in any capacity at Extreme Rules.

    With that said, it would not take much effort to get the division back to where it was at the end of last year. Here are five current or potential tag teams that could help make the division relevant again (or at the very least, get it onto the pay-per-view card).

    rybaxel

    5. Rybaxel – At first, this team seemed like it would go nowhere. They had both just basically flopped while under the tutelage of Paul Heyman, so why would anyone believe that they would fare well without him? Surprisingly, both have improved since leaving Heyman, especially Ryback. He is hilarious on the microphone and can actually be pretty entertaining when he’s allowed to speak. I think the WWE still has plans to push both guys in the future, and a run with the Tag Team Championships could help elevate both superstars.

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    4. Damien Sandow and Dolph Ziggler – These guys have adopted similar personality traits in recent weeks, most notably because both guys seem disgruntled, annoyed, and displeased that their talents are not being properly utilized. Sandow and Ziggler would make a great team if paired together, as both are impressive in the ring and on the mic. There were rumors a while back of a possible stable of disgruntled superstars being formed, including Ziggler and the Miz, but a team of Sandow and Ziggler would work even better and could make the tag title picture exciting again.

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    3. Jack Swagger and Cody Rhodes – It is no secret that Zeb Colter has been trying to recruit a new member to the Real Americans since Cesaro betrayed him a few weeks back. With Cody being the son of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, it would make sense for him to become a Real American. Cody and Goldust are definitely going to part ways soon, with Cody likely being the one to turn heel, so it would provide the perfect opportunity for Cody to align with Swagger and Colter afterward.

  • The Case for Unification

    The undercard singles titles are all chilling across the pond these days, as Bad News Barrett, Sheamus, and Paige all won championships in recent weeks. New champions are a welcome sight in the WWE these days, especially considering how stale the previous champions’ runs had become.

    Dean Ambrose’s reign as United States Champion will likely be the forgotten reign in years to come. He held the title for almost a year while only defending it a few times before finally dropping it to Sheamus during a battle royal a few weeks back.

    The same holds true for Big E and the Intercontinental Championship. Although he did not hold the title as long as Ambrose held his US Championship, his reign was unmemorable and he engaged in no meaningful feuds during his months with the title. As for AJ Lee, her run with the title seemed fresh at first, but she eventually ran out of challengers and it seemed like the right time to crown a new champion.

    Ambrose held the title for almost a year and hardly ever defended it.
    Ambrose held the title for almost a year and hardly ever defended it.

    With recent undercard title reigns being unmemorable, it leads one to wonder if unification is the answer. One of the primary reasons the titles go undefended is because it is difficult to have too many stories going at once, especially meaningful ones that involve championship contests. This leads to champions holding insignificant titles like the US Championship as a way to legitimize or build up the character, but in reality, the title does little because it goes undefended.

    One of the best options would perhaps be to unify the United States and Intercontinental Championships. By unifying the titles into just the Intercontinental Championship, it could make the title seem important again. In the Attitude Era, the title held importance, with fans knowing that most superstars who held the strap were on their way to the main event.

    That is not the case anymore, however, as the title is thrown on random superstars in an attempt to build interest, but then creative puts in no further effort. It is a little sad that the most interesting thing to happen involving the Intercontinental Championship in recent months was a tournament to crown a number one contender that did not even involve the champion at all (except for a few clips showing him standing in the back, angrily looking at a monitor).

  • Daniel Bryan: Hard Times

    The Yes! Movement received the worst possible news this week on Raw, as their unlikely hero announced that he will require neck surgery this Thursday and will be out of action for an indefinite amount of time.

    Early reports indicate that Bryan has a broken neck and will be out for at least one to two months, with his possible returning coming at SummerSlam. This is terrible news for Bryan, who after a long journey finally captured the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.

    It appears that he also will not be appearing on television in any capacity for at least a few weeks, as the attack later in the show by Kane was likely a way to write Bryan off of television while he recovers from surgery at home. This leads one to wonder about the future of the WWE Championship, and also if Bryan can maintain momentum while missing at least a month of time.

    After finally overcoming the Authority at WrestleMania, Daniel Bryan will miss significant time due to injury.
    After finally overcoming the Authority at WrestleMania, Daniel Bryan will miss significant time due to injury.

    As of now, it is being reported that Bryan will not be stripped of the title. This could of course change at any moment, especially if the product becomes stale during his absence. If Bryan ends up missing the maximum amount of time, that seems like a very long time to go with essentially no champion.

    In my opinion, if it is determined that Bryan will miss any more than one month, the Authority should strip him of the title. This could serve a few purposes. First, it would keep momentum strong by having the Authority still trying to hold Bryan down, especially with Stephanie McMahon being the storyline reason Bryan was injured in the first place after unleashing the demon Kane.

    Second, it could allow for someone else to receive a push in Bryan’s absence. Imagine if a tournament were held for the WWE Championship similar to the one just held for an Intercontinental Title match. It could allow for a fresh face to hold the championship for a while and create interesting television over the next few weeks by having qualifying matches on Raw, with the championship match being held at Money in the Bank.

  • Will the WWE Cut Ties with Cable Providers?

    Fans were spared from having to sit through the same John Cena promo that we have all seen a million times last week on Raw. Instead, he was shipped to the WWE Network exclusive program Main Event in an attempt to increase viewership and attract new subscribers.

    Since becoming a Network exclusive, Main Event has received a lot more attention. Prior to re-launching online, the program typically featured two matches that were nothing more than garbage, throwaway contests. However, since becoming a Network program, there have been a few title matches and they have at least made an attempt to have top stars appear (Cena and Hogan immediately come to mind).

    The company has placed more emphasis on Main Event since making it a Network exclusive in a trend that will likely continue.
    The company has placed more emphasis on Main Event since making it a Network exclusive in a trend that will likely continue.

    Although the immediate goal of placing more emphasis on Network-exclusive programs it to reach one million subscribers, I also believe there is a larger goal involved: the company is testing the waters to see if it can cut all ties with cable providers.

    The idea of taking all WWE content to the WWE Network makes sense on one hand. It already appears this is going to happen in the near future with pay-per-views. Cable providers Dish and DirectTV declined to carry this month’s pay-per-view because they were undoubtedly upset that they were losing profits because the WWE chose to circumvent them by starting their own network. It is likely only a matter of time before the others tap out and wrestling fans are forced to subscribe if they hope to (legally) watch the pay-per-view each month.

    Taking Raw to the Network would be a bit more challenging, however. Their contract with USA is expiring at the end of this year and a new deal has not yet been reached. If a new deal is not reached, one of the highest rated programs on television will be finding a new home come fall. They would definitely not attempt to move the program to the Network immediately, but if the next deal falls through, it seems hard to imagine that they would not at least consider doing so.

    After all, there are already reports that they are going to advance storylines on both the Raw Pre-Show and Backstage Pass programs, essentially meaning that Raw has been extended to four hours, with one hour airing exclusively on the WWE Network.

  • Cesaro: Losing Momentum

    Whether you prefer to call him the King of Swing, the Swiss Superman, or even his now-forgotten first name of Antonio, it is hard to deny that Cesaro is one of the most impressive athletes in the WWE today. He has shown on countless occasions that he is not only one of the best technical wrestlers in the company, but that he is also arguably the pound-for-pound strongest competitor as well.

    Unsurprisingly, it did not take Cesaro long to get over with the crowd, especially after joining the Real Americans last fall. One could argue that he almost single handedly got the entire stable over, which is no small task when considering he was able to convince the crowd to cheer a group of xenophobic border protectors.

    Cesaro was over while paired with Jack Swagger, but hasn't gotten the same reactions since leaving the Real Americans.
    Cesaro was over while paired with Jack Swagger, but hasn’t gotten the same reactions since leaving the Real Americans.

    However, since leaving the Real Americans, it seems as if his momentum has waned. It appeared that there were big plans for Cesaro, especially after he was inserted into the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match earlier this year. Fans were showing up each week with “Cesaro Section” signs and were cheering the Real Americans even though they were still being booked as heels.

    He did not win the WWE Championship of course, and is now paired with Paul Heyman. Despite Heyman’s recent failures with Ryback and Curtis Axel, he has a history of putting guys over the top, and Cesaro becoming a Paul Heyman guy seemed like a great idea. However, it does not seem to be working, in my opinion.

    The problem is not Cesaro, but instead Paul Heyman. Instead of promoting Cesaro as the next big thing in the company, he continues to harp on the fact that Brock Lesnar, who is currently absent from television, ended the Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania.

    Heyman goading the crowd is a great way to draw himself heat, but unfortunately it does not do much for Cesaro. In fact, it seems like Cesaro is an afterthought during most of their appearances, as Heyman rambles on about Lesnar for a few minutes and then finally says something like, “Oh yeah, and this guy to my right is also pretty decent too.”

    Therein lies the problem with Heyman as a manager though. He is great at drawing heat, but is usually more concerned with sucking up the limelight instead of promoting the guy he is representing.

  • WWE Extreme Rules 2014 Reaction

    WWE Extreme Rules 2014 took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey and had a pretty solid card for being one of WWE’s “B” PPVs. Daniel Bryan defended his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Kane in an Extreme Rules main event and The Shield and Evolution produced a masterful performance that we’ll be talking about for quite some time.

    There were a total of eight matches that took place at the IZOD Center. I have expressed my thoughts and given each bout a grade as well. Extreme Rules was an above average PPV that had two memorable matches and respectable action in every bout on the card.

    Please feel free to leave a comment letting me know your overall thoughts on the Extreme Rules PPV. I’ll be sure to respond to as mant comments as I can.

    El Torito vs. Hornswoggle (Kickoff WeeLC Match)

    Hornswoggle-Torito

    Match: El Torito flew around the ring and hit Hornswoggle with some athletic moves early on, but Hornswoggle showcased his power game and was a valiant foe from the opening bell.

    El Torito successfully hit a Huricanrana earlier in the match and attempted another one, but Hornswoggle reversed it by catching the bull and executing a massive Power Bomb. The biggest spot of match saw Jinder Mahal and Los Matadores crash through a contraption consisting of both ladders and tables.

    In the end, El Torito reigned victorious after hitting a Rey Mysterio-esque Springboard Seated Senton onto Hornswoggle through a table.

    Reaction: I knew from the start that El Torito vs. Hornswoggle was either going to be dreadful or entertaining as hell, and I’m happy to say that it was the latter. I have to admit, this match was both entertaining and hilarious. There was a midget ring announcer, referee, and three commentary announcers dressed and acting as Michael Cole (Micro Cole), Jerry Lawler (Jerry Smaller) and JBL (JBeLf).

    The crowd seemed to love the action that was going on inside the squared circle and there were some genuinely funny spots. Both 3MB and Los Matadores got involved, but that only enhanced the action as 3MB members crashed through tables and were hit by chairs as well. No joke, this was one of the most extreme matches I have witnessed in quite some time. Hell, the match even garnered a “this is awesome” chant.

    Grade: B-

    RVD vs. Jack Swagger vs. Cesaro (Elimination Match) 

    Match: The first five minutes of the match showcased each competitor’s strengths.  RVD hit a Sunset Flip to Cesaro from the ring apron to the outside of the ring, which looked pretty brutal. Cesaro was taken out of action for some time and Swagger and RVD fought it out in the ring with Swagger getting the upper hand.

    Once Cesaro recovered, he hit Swagger with an impressive Super Plex from the ring apron and as Cesaro was resting/catching a breath, RVD executed a Five Star Frog Splash and pinned Jack Swagger, which eliminated him from the match. It was now down to RVD and Cesaro.

    Cesaro hit three Gutwrench Suplexes, Eddie Guerrero Suplex style, and the crowd loved it. Van Dam went for a kick, but Cesaro reversed it into a German Suplex and got a near-fall. The match turned extreme after RVD brought a trash can into the mix.

    RVD used the trash can to his advantage as he kicked it into Cesaro’s face. RVD then laid the trash can on top of him. Van Dam attempted a Five Star Frog Splash, but Cesaro moved out of the way and RVD smashed his face against the edge of the trash can, which busted him open. Seconds later, Cesaro nailed Van Dam with the Neutralizer (on top of the trash can) and picked an impressive victory.

    Reaction: RVD and Cesaro worked very well with one another and they seemed to love the match they were having. RVD hit his signature stuff and got plenty of near-falls on Cesaro, but the Swiss Superman kicked out of everything Van Dam threw (and kicked) at him. Cesaro won the match cleanly, which was the right move.

    It’s nice to see that Cesaro is the type of wrestler who doesn’t need his manager’s help in order to win matches. Paul Heyman was at ringside motivating his client from start to finish, that’s it. Cesaro will move onto bigger and better things and I for one would pay good money to see a Cesaro vs. Bad News Barrett rivalry.

    Grade: B+

    Alexander Rusev vs. R-Truth & Xavier Woods (Handicap Match) 

    Match: Lana came out to introduce her client and she said that she is dedicating the match to the most powerful man in the world, Vladimir Putin. I mean wow, talk about controversial. I wonder if that was Vince’s idea. Had to be.

    Anyways, before the match even started, Rusev attacked both R-Truth and Xavier Woods. He pretty much destroyed Woods, rendering him unable to compete once the bell officially rung. Instead of a handicap match, it was just Truth vs. Rusev.

    Rusev dominated the entire match, but Truth hit some good offensive moves and even got the Bulgarian Brute down on the mat. Truth hit Rusev with a Scissor Kick, but the he kicked out just before three.

    In the end, Rusev applied the accolade on Truth and made him tap out. Before the submission hold, Rusev hit a running heel kick onto Truth, which was impressive as hell. You could tell that the fans were impressed as I could hear gasps coming from my TV screen.

    Reaction: This was Rusev’s most competitive match yet, but that’s not saying much. The Bulgarian who now resides in Russia, according to Lana, put forth his best performance and was undoubtedly impressive. There was never any question as to who would win this match, but Rusev beating down Woods proves that he and Lana are not only powerful, but smart, and that’s a dangerous combination. It was a little better than your average squash match.

    Grade: C

    Big E (c) vs. Wade Barrett (Intercontinental Championship) 

    Match: After some back and forth, evenly matched action, Big E hit Barrett with a Spear through the ropes and both men crashed onto the floor. From out of nowhere, Barrett nailed Big E with his beautiful Winds of Change signature maneuver and got a near-fall. Barrett journeyed back to his Nexus days and performed his used-to-be-finisher, Wasteland, but Big E kicked out.

    Barrett motioned for the Bull Hammer, but Big E reversed it with a Samoa Joe/Rock Bottom type corner move, but Barrett kicked out. Big E hit a running splash and then pulled down his singlet straps, indicating that it was time for the Big Ending.

    However, Barrett wiggled out of the move, bounced off the ropes and hit Big E with a running Bull Hammer. Bad News Barrett won the match via pin-fall and is the new Intercontinental champion.

    Reaction: Big E was booed before and during the match, but that’s what happens when your Intercontinental champion is booked poorly. The fans were chanting Barrett’s name throughout and booed whenever Big E hit an offensive maneuver. Barrett is finally over with the crowd and has been putting forth top notch performances ever since he beat Rey Mysterio about a month ago.

    I have always been high on Barrett and credit to the performer for taking gimmick destined to fail and making it one of the hottest acts in WWE today. As for the match itself, Big E and Barrett seemed to have a bit of chemistry and had an above-average contest. Barrett is now on the rise and Big E, and his character, needs to be involved in something important in order for fans to care.

    Grade: B-

    The Shield vs. Evolution 

    Match: Before the bell rang, the Shield and Evolution scrapped in the ring. The crowd went wild as the Shield stood their ground and cleared the ring, winning the first battle of the night. Once the bell rang, all hell broke loose.

    Rollins and Triple H started the match and Rollins really took it to the Game. He hit punch after punch, but the Cerebral Assassin eventually gained the upper hand. Evolution showcased some classic heel tag team wrestling, which was refreshing to see. Every time the referee’s back was turned, they were doing something illegal.

    All three members of the Shield attacked Rollins for a good ten minutes. The Architect of the Shield desperately tried to tag Reigns or Ambrose into the match, but Evolution made sure that wasn’t possible. After a long beat-down, Rollins jumped in the air and kicked Orton in the back of the skull and created much needed separation.

    Rollins made a hot tag Dean Ambrose and he cleared house. Ambrose duked it out with Triple H and Ambrose’s selling was out of this world. After being systematically picked apart by all three members of Evolution, Ambrose nailed the Game with an Impaler DDT and made a super-hot tag to Roman Reigns, who went on an absolute tear, taking out all three members of Evolution.

    Reigns, along with Ambrose and Rollins, isolated Batista in the ring and hit him with a Triple Power Bomb. Just as Reigns made the cover and just before the referee counted to three, Orton broke up the count.  Shortly after, Triple H hit Reigns with a Pedigree and Batista, who was the legal man, recovered from the Triple Power Bomb and made the pin, but Reigns kicked out. Just as Reigns recovered from the Pedigree, Orton slithered into the ring and hit him with an RKO. Batista crawled and made the cover, but Rollins unexpectedly saved his friend from being pinned. The crowd went ballistic.

    Batista and Reigns were both in the ring injured while Ambrose/Rollins and Triple H/Orton were scrapping outside. Ambrose wowed the crowd as he ran across both announce tables and took out Triple H and Orton who were outside of the ring beating up Rollins. All four competitors brawled outside of the ring and into the stands.

    Ambrose was being annihilated by Orton and Triple H, but that was until Seth Rollins made the save. Rollins, from out of nowhere, climbed up high in the stands and took a leap of faith in order to save his friend. Rollins beautifully soared through the air and landed on Triple H, Orton and Ambrose. All four men were taken out as the WWE Universe witnessed a truly extreme and memorable moment.

    Back inside the ring, Reigns and Batista recovered from their injuries. Batista nailed Reigns with a Spine Buster and then called for the Batista Bomb. However, Reigns reversed the finisher, hit a Superman Punch and went to the corner. Reigns Speared Batista in half and picked up the win for his team.

    Reaction: The Shield vs. Evolution was a dream match that exceeded its massive expectations. With the brawling in the crowd and all the crazy spots, this seemed like an Attitude Era tag team match. And as DDP would say, that’s a good thing.

    This was arguably the best match of the year and a proving point that the Shield is here to stay and they belong nowhere else but at the top of WWE. All six men involved in the match played their roles to perfection, but Seth Rollins was the standout as he tore the roof off the IZOD Center after jumping from the stands, soaring through the air and landing on both Triple H and Randy Orton.

    The Hounds of Justice are now certified stars. They just beat one of the greatest factions in professional wrestling history and are incredibly over with the crowd. Evolution did a great job making the Shield look like respectable opponents. Orton, Triple H and Batista dominated the match for the most part, but the booking and action that took place will make this six man bout one of the greatest in recent memory.

    Quick question – what do all you guys think of Batista wrestling is Jordan’s? I’m not so sure how I feel about that. Seems kind of ridiculous and Cena-esque, no?

    Grade: A+

    John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt (Steel Cage Match) 

    Cena-WyattMatch: Bray Wyatt took it to Cena early on in the bout, hitting his head into the steel and trying to unleash the demon inside him. After being beat-down, Cena mounted a comeback and smashed Bray’s head off the steel cage. Cena tried to escape by climbing out, but Harper and Rowan blocked his way down.

    After catching Cena climbing the cage a second time, Wyatt danced with the leader of the Cenation and then dropped him with that powerful Rock Bottom type maneuver. Bray got on all fours and did his spider walk in order to escape the cage, but Cena stopped him.

    Throughout the match, Cena tried to escape the cage on four or five occasions, but was met by either Luke Harper or Erick Rowan, who prevented him from escaping. Eventually, Cena threw Harper inside the steel cage and had Rowan injured on top of the cage. Cena worked up enough strength and hit Bray an awesome Attitude Adjustment from the top rope, but Harper broke up the count.

    At that point in time, all three members of the Wyatt Family were knocked out. Cena had a clear path to walk out of the ring and just before his feet touched the floor, the lights went out. In the dark, a chilling voice started singing “He’s got the Whole World” and when the lights came back on; the singer was revealed to be a little kid dressed in a black cloak. The child couldn’t have been older than 10 years old and Cena was absolutely stunned.

    Cena backed away, but by that time Bray recovered and hit Cena with Sister Abigail. Bray, with his eyes wide open, stared at the kid who distracted Cena and embraced him. Bray didn’t pin Cena, he instead walked out of the cage and won the match that way.

    Reaction: The crowd was firmly behind Bray Wyatt from start to finish, but after witnessing that Shield vs. Evolution match, they cooled off quite a bit and didn’t make as much noise as expected. Overall, the match was pretty long, but it was good. It told a phenomenal story.

    Now, I’m not one of these guys who hates on Cena. I think he is a great wrestler, yes, a great wrestler, and one of the best talkers in the game today. I understand the hate Cena receives, but I don’t agree with it for the most part. However, I think Cena was way too protected in this cage match. He had Bray beat on four or five occasions, but Harper and Rowan stepped in and prevented Cena from winning. I’m okay with that happening once or twice, but four or five times is too much.

    Plus, Bray hit Sister Abigail to Cena and had a chance to pin him in the ring. Instead, he opted to walk out of the cage. I know it may not sound like a big deal, but after everything that happened in the match, Bray pinning Cena would have been ideal and the right move. Instead, Bray walked out of the cage, which made him look even weaker than he already looked.

    I understand WWE protecting Cena. They need to protect him because he is the face of the WWE and the number one guy. But, unfortunately, WWE took it a bit too far and protected him so much that it made Bray Wyatt look weak.

    Grade: B

    Paige (c) vs. Tamina Snuka (Divas Title) 

    Match: When the bell rang, Paige wrestled smart. She hit Tamina with some innovative moves and dodged every attack Tamina threw at her. However, Tamina turned the tables by planting Paige with a Super Kick.

    Towards the end of the bout, Paige hit Tamina with a kind of botched Sunset Flip Power Bomb and looked to have gotten a three count, but the referee said it was two. Paige locked in the Scorpion Cross Lock, which forced Tamina to tap out.

    Reaction: Even though Tamina noticeably yelled out spots and botched a few moves along with Paige, this was one of the better Divas bouts we have seen in quite some time. The match lasted longer than six minutes, which has to Divas singles match PPV record.

    Paige hit some innovative moves and did her best working a match with Tamina, but the Samoan just isn’t that great in the ring and it’s obvious to see that. Fans are aching for a Paige and AJ Lee feud, so give it to us, WWE!

    Grade: C+ (for a Divas match)

    Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kane (WWE World Heavyweight Title)

    Match: Bryan didn’t waste any time as he attacked Kane as soon as the match started. Bryan wanted to get revenge after the Big Red Machine put his hands on his new wife, Brie. Bryan hit Kane with a kendo stick, but a swift uppercut from Kane stopped Bryan’s momentum.

    Kane grabbed a chair and hit Bryan multiple times. He set up the former vegan for a Choke Slam, but Bryan wiggled out. Half-way through the bout, Kane had Bryan lying on top of the announce table. Bryan worked up the courage to fight him off and delivered an impressive Tornado DDT off the announce table.

    The fight moved backstage and into the parking lot. After using some props like a car and fire extinguisher, Bryan found a crow bar and nailed Kane across the head with it. The Devil’s Favorite Demon was knocked out cold, but Bryan couldn’t drag his body back to the ring in order to pin him.

    Bryan put on his thinking cap, found a forklift, and drove the forklift with Kane on the vehicle back to the arena. The crowd didn’t seem like they were too into the match, but after Bryan dumped Kane back into the ring and he started the Yes chant, the crowd was finally alive. Bryan jumped from the top of the forklift and executed a beautiful diving head-butt to Kane, but only got a near-fall.

    After gaining the upper hand and Choke Slamming Bryan through the announce table (not the Spanish announce table, surprisingly), Kane pulled out a table, gasoline and a lighter. Kane lit the table on fire and was about to do dastardly things to Bryan. However, Bryan fought Kane off, kicked him in the groin, and pushed him into the flaming table.

    WWE officials had fire extinguishers in hand and sprayed Kane so that he was not on fire anymore. As Kane got back into the ring, Bryan nailed him with his running knee finisher and picked up the win. Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

    Reaction: Daniel Bryan vs. Kane was a respectable main event. It was arguably the second best match on the card and both competitors definitely made use of the “Extreme Rules” rules. The crowd wasn’t as loud as they usually are for Bryan, but once he stood on top of that fork lift and started a “YES” chant, they woke up.

    Bryan driving the fork lift was a bit corny. It didn’t get a big reaction and fans have seen this kind of shenanigans plenty times before. However, Bryan’s flying head-butt off the lift was pretty special. Kane going through a table lit on fire was cool, but it didn’t have that Joey Styles “oh my god” feel to it. Mick Foley vs. Edge at WrestleMania had a much more impactful table-on-fire spot and that’s what I think was missing from this bout. In my opinion, everything happened too fast.

    A Daniel Bryan vs. Kane feud may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’d like to see Stephanie McMahon and Brie play a bigger role. Kane clearly isn’t done with the Dragon and if they want to make things interesting, bring in the hot women!

    Grade: B+

     

    Extreme Rules 2014 Quick Results (winners in bold):

    El Torito vs. Hornswoggle

    RVD vs. Jack Swagger vs. Cesaro

    Alexander Rusev vs. R-Truth & Xavier Woods

    Big E (c) vs. Bad News Barrett (Intercontinental Title)

    The Shield vs. Evolution

    John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt (Steel Cage Match)

    Paige (c) vs. Tamina Snuka (Divas Title)

    Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kane (WWE World Heavyweight Title)

  • WWE Extreme Rules 2014: Expectations Exceeded

    On paper, last night’s card seemed like nothing to write home about. After all, Daniel Bryan was defending his title against a superstar who peaked a decade ago, Bray Wyatt and John Cena were meeting in a rematch from WrestleMania, and other than Evolution vs. the Shield, the rest of the matches seemed like they could turn out to be throwaway contests. The event was basically the furthest thing from a throwaway, however, as it was a well-executed pay-per-view that was filled with worthwhile matches.

    The Hounds of Justice stole the show during the match of the night.
    The Hounds of Justice stole the show during the match of the night.

    Evolution vs. the Shield was the clear highlight of the night, as expected. Each superstar involved in the match put on an excellent show, but the star of the match was without a doubt Seth Rollins. While Triple H, Randy Orton, and Dean Ambrose were battling in the crowd, Rollins dove from the top of the entranceway to take out his Evolution foes, allowing for Roman Reigns to handle Batista in the ring and secure a Shield victory. The match was perfectly executed and is an immediate match of the year contender.

    The main event between Daniel Bryan and Kane greatly exceeded expectations. This one seemed like it could be forgettable, as the outcome was never really in doubt and Kane is not exactly a main event superstar anymore. However, both superstars performed well together and the backstage spots were something that resembled contests from the Attitude Era.

    In the end, the match even involved a flaming table, although the crew botched this spot a bit by running in with the extinguishers before Kane was even on fire, but hey, what can you do? Overall, it was a great culmination to the night and certainly much better than I was anticipating.

  • WWE Extreme Rules 2014: Preview and Predictions

    Expect to see an abundance of chairs, tables, and possibly sledgehammers this Sunday, as the WWE gets extreme during its annual Extreme Rules pay-per-view. There are eight matches scheduled in total, with Daniel Bryan making his first title defense against former tag team partner Kane and Evolution vs. the Shield serving as the headlining matches. Without further ado, here are our predictions for this Sunday’s event.

     

    Hornswoggle-Torito

    WeeLC Match: El Torito vs. Hornswoggle (Pre-Show)

    Michael Hicks: For once there is a match on the pre-show that actually feels like a pre-show match. 3MB finally got their first win in forever last week, so I’m thinking Hornswoggle wins this one after moving out of the way of a diving El Torito, allowing him to crash through a table in a match that should at least be slightly entertaining.

    Winner: Hornswoggle

    Adrian Fylonenko: Surprisingly, El Torito vs. Hornswoggle in the midget version of a TLC match has promise. This bout is either going to be highly entertaining, or dreadfully awful. There is no room in between. I assume that El Torito and Hornswoggle will be accompanied by their “friends” and I have no doubt that they will be involved in the match in some way shape or form.

    It wouldn’t be surprising to see step ladders instead of traditional ladders, and plastic children’s table chairs instead of steel chairs, but when it is all said and done, El Torito, with the help of Los Matadores will stand….tall. I’m guessing this match will be by pin-fall only considering there is no championship on the line.

    El Torito wins after hitting a top rope 450 Splash. You watch.

    Winner: El Torito

    Rusev-Truth-Woods

    Handicap Match: R-Truth and Xavier Woods vs. Alexander Rusev

    Michael: Rusev has been destroying Truth and Woods in recent weeks. There’s absolutely no way he loses this one, as it would only make him look weak, even if it is a handicap match. I’d love to see them give Rusev a few minutes to show what he can do in front of a PPV audience. Unfortunately, I predict that Rusev takes this one in a 3-minute squash match.

    Winner: Alexander Rusev

    Adrian: This could be a pretty decent handicap match if it’s given enough time. Truth and Woods can be entertaining in the ring, but the WWE Universe hasn’t been able to see their stuff in quite some time – due to the fact that they are generally fed to guys like Bray Wyatt and yes, Rusev. However, in a 2-on-1 situation, there is a lot of room to entertain.

    The outcome will always remain the same. Rusev come, Rusev crush, Rusev win, Rusev leave. Alexander Rusev hasn’t wrestled a match on WWE TV that has lasted longer than three minutes, so let’s see what this dude can do in the squared circle.

    Winner: Alexander Rusev

    RVD-Swagger-Cesaro

    Jack Swagger vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro

    Michael: This should definitely be one of the more entertaining matches of the night, as there’s a decent build between the three and they should all work well together. This match could have been entertaining with some sort of stipulation, but what can you do? It seemed like Cesaro was going to win the IC Title tournament before losing to RVD in the semifinals and a win here will serve as his consolation prize. I expect Heyman to get involved in this one to possibly to start an ongoing feud between Cesaro and RVD.

    Winner: Cesaro

    Adrian: With Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena and Evolution vs. Shield on the card, I’m picking this Triple Threat bout to be the (I’m coming atcha like a) dark horse match of the night. We all know it definitely has potential, given the superstars involved and the managers that will be at ring-side. However, I agree with what Chris Jericho said on his most recent podcast. In that it’s very strange to see a Triple Threat match taking place with absolutely nothing on the line except for bragging rights.

    Cesaro is the newest Paul Heyman guy and it’s a phenomenal move for both parties. Cesaro is over, getting better on the mic and is one of the more consistently entertaining performers in the ring and Paul Heyman is one of the greatest wrestling managers/characters of all time. The Swiss Superman is the next big thing in WWE and the only way I can see him losing is if Creative wants to continue a Cesaro/Heyman vs. Swagger/Colter feud. If that’s the case then I’d give the win to RVD, so I am a bit hesitant to pick a winner.

    But, since I must, I will go with my gut and give the win to Cesaro, who will pin Swagger after hitting the Neutralizer. Cesaro pinning RVD could happen too, but I think that Mr. 420 is in the bout to enhance it. He will neither pin, nor be pinned.

    Winner: Cesaro

    Barrett-Big-E

    Intercontinental Championship Match: Big E vs. Bad News Barrett

    Michael: Big E’s title run has become a bit stale and Bad News Barrett has gotten a decent push since returning with his new gimmick. Barrett will take this one clean after hitting the Bull Hammer Elbow, which will not only bring a bit of prestige back to the title, but begin his ascent to the main event level of the company.

    Winner: Bad News Barrett

    Adrian: I don’t know about you, but I love me some Bad News Barrett. I’ve been a big fan of Barrett’s for quite some time and finally, the Brit is connecting with the crowd and getting a big push. In the past three weeks, Barrett has defeated Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus and RVD to earn an Intercontinental Title shot against Big E at Extreme Rules. That has to be Barrett’s most successful month of wrestling in the past three years.

    Unfortunately, Big E has been quiet. Too quiet. It seems like fans have forgotten about him and he is the damn IC champion! WWE has a habit of Barrett needs to continue his momentum and win the Intercontinental Title from Big E. He’s had to look and the talent to be great and now he has the fan support. Look out for Bad News Barrett!

    Winner: Bad News Barrett

  • Extreme Rules 2014: A Noticeable Lack of Extreme

    This Sunday, the WWE will hold its annual Extreme Rules pay-per-view. However, upon glancing at the card, something immediately stands out: a noticeable lack of extreme.

    With the card seemingly set (assuming a Tag Team Championship match between the Usos and Rybaxel isn’t added last minute), only two matches on the entire seven-match card feature stipulations that are even slightly extreme (not counting the inevitable dud between El Torito and Hornswoggle on the pre-show).

    Sunday's contest between Daniel Bryan and Kane is one of only two matches on the card featuring extreme rules.
    Sunday’s contest between Daniel Bryan and Kane is one of only two matches on the card featuring extreme rules.

    Those matches are of course the WWE Championship match between Daniel Bryan and Kane, which will be fought under no-holds barred rules, and the cage match between John Cena and Bray Wyatt. Even the six-man tag between Evolution and the Shield has not been announced as an extreme rules match, although that could change between now and Sunday.

    This Sunday’s card highlights the problem with holding themed pay-per-views. How can the company possibly market an event under the name Extreme Rules and then hold one match that is actually extreme (the WWE Title contest) and one (the cage match) that is billed as extreme, but is in fact usually tamer than the pit at a Justin Bieber concert.

    It is especially difficult during the PG Era to hold an event such as this one, as most of the matches that could have been utilized (first blood match, inferno match, casket match, etc.) are now essentially banned, leaving creative with few options other than a typical no-holds barred match and TLC type matches that are already featured on other pay-per-views throughout the year. In short, the event does not offer anything unique.

  • WWE’s Ability to Turn Organic into Synthetic

    Last night on Raw, the WWE Universe witnessed one of the eeriest sights in company history, as Bray Wyatt was accompanied to the ring by a choir of children who sang his now-signature tune “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

    The promo, although criticized by some, worked very well, in my opinion. It was something fresh, as opposed to the usual “I’m going to kick your ass/No, I’m going to put a boot in your ass” banter that is typical of many WWE feuds. Instead, it added a new psychological dimension to the Cena/Wyatt feud that was already well built prior to last night, as Cena is hinting at a heel turn and has now been betrayed by his most loyal followers, the children.

    The three stooges have applauded Wyatt for his ability to captivate a crowd, but is he as popular as they make him out to be?
    The three stooges have applauded Wyatt for his ability to captivate a crowd, but is he as popular as they make him out to be?

    I do, however, have one concern regarding the future of Mr. Wyatt and his catchy ditty. What worries me is that the WWE is using it too frequently and that it will become stale and forced in no time. After all, this is a company that is notorious for taking something that develops organically and quickly turning it into a synthetic corporate marketing scheme.

    In recent weeks, Wyatt has tried to goad every Raw crowd into singing along. Although he has had moderate success, the crowd last night was basically dead even though there was an entire chorus to sing along with, all while the announcers sat there acting like everyone in attendance was participating. The same was true the past few weeks. In fact, the only crowds that were fully on board were the raucous WrestleMania and post-WrestleMania Raw crowds in New Orleans.

  • Evolution: The Necessity of Adaptation

    Adapt or perish. That is the message Triple H has been sending to the Shield in recent weeks since reforming Evolution. The concept seems simple enough when applied to professional wrestling: either evolve your character over time or quickly become irrelevant.

    However, Triple H should be heeding his own advice, because it appears Evolution is the stable that will need to adapt in the near future in order to survive. With Batista taking some time off after Extreme Rules and Triple H only working a part-time in-ring schedule, Randy Orton will be the only full-time competitor left in Evolution in a few weeks.

    The ultimate goal of the entire Evolution/Shield feud is to set up a contest between Triple H and Roman Reigns sometime this fall, most likely at SummerSlam. If Batista takes a significant amount of time off and Triple H only appears to cut promos, it seems like it will be difficult to drag out the program until August.

    Batista is taking some time off after Extreme Rules, leaving only one full-time competitor in Evolution.
    Batista is taking some time off after Extreme Rules, leaving only one full-time competitor in Evolution.

    Ric Flair is scheduled to appear on Raw this week, meaning he could also be inserted into the program for a brief period of time. I highly doubt that Flair will be around for long though, as he was not originally slated to rejoin Evolution, and considering the fact that he hasn’t shown up to a WWE event sober in months, it seems unlikely that too much importance will be placed on the Nature Boy.

    Flair’s sobriety, or lack thereof, aside, he is also not someone who is going to compete in the ring, so his involvement seems rather pointless, especially when considering that Triple H is basically playing the same managerial role that Flair occupied during the stable’s original incarnation.

  • Alexander Rusev: The Squash Approach

    At first glance, Alexander Rusev seems like a rehash of a character WWE fans have seen countless times: the monster foreign superstar who feasts on unworthy foes while being accompanied by a manager who serves as his mouthpiece.

    Some have contended that the character is so unoriginal that it was completely lifted from a Rocky movie of all places, as he has drawn comparisons to Rocky IV villain Ivan Drago and his wife Ludmilla.

    Despite the fact that many believe he is a recycled, cliché character, Rusev has managed to make his way through the WWE’s NXT division and to the main roster in a relatively short amount of time.

    Rusev has been booked as a monster, but do fans actually view him as one?
    Rusev has been booked as a monster, but do fans actually view him as one?

    Since making his debut on the main roster, Rusev made a brief appearance in this year’s Royal Rumble and has been feasting on jobbers ever since. Unlike some of his critics, I believe that Rusev can be successful at the main level, but only if he is booked differently from similar heels in the past.

    In recent years, the WWE has chosen to rely upon the tried-and-true formula of debuting a monster heel and serving him a hearty portion of heels (see Ryback for example). They expect that if the heel is shoved down fans’ throats long enough by competing in squash matches, they will eventually realize his dominance and he will be over in no time.

    It appears they are attempting to take the same course of action with Rusev, as he has competed against only jobbers and will face R-Truth and Xavier Woods in a handicap match at Extreme Rules. Hell, they even threw Rusev into the coalition of jobbers that worked to beat down the Shield during the 11-on-3 handicap match a few weeks back on Raw.

  • Roman Reigns: Ready for Prime Time?

    When the Shield debuted over a year ago, Roman Reigns was like the shadowy muscle of the group. He was the least featured member of the trio. He was given few lines during their promos. Yet he was always there to deliver a devastating spear or triple powerbomb when needed.

    With the rich indy wrestling history of both Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, it is no surprise that they were expected to carry most of the load during the early days of the stable. After all, Roman Reigns was a former football player and started wrestling in 2010, whereas both Ambrose and Rollins had been wrestling since the early 2000’s.

    Reigns does have a rich family history though, as he is a member of the famous Anoa’i family that includes past superstars such as Yokozuna, Rikishi, and The Rock, so it is not like he was a complete stranger to the world of wrestling.

    After his dominating performance at last year's Survivor Series, it seemed obvious that there were big plans for Roman Reigns.
    After his dominating performance at last year’s Survivor Series, it seemed obvious that there were big plans for Roman Reigns.

    A little over a year ago, it appeared that Dean Ambrose was the member being groomed for a breakout solo career. He was considered the de facto of the group and is the only member of the group to win a solo title while Rollins and Reigns shared the Tag Team Championships.

    Something changed last fall, however, and it appeared that Reigns was the one gaining momentum in the Shield after Ambrose seemed enter a lull. Coincidentally enough, it was as soon as Rollins and Reigns lost their championships that his push began. The first hint that he was going to be a breakout star was at last year’s Survivor Series, where he was the sole survivor and dominated the competition, eliminating four opponents during the contest.

    Reigns later eliminated the most competitors in Royal Rumble history during the 2014 contest and he has not looked back since. With the Shield now entering into a program with the newly reformed Evolution, there are reports that the ultimate goal of the feud is to set up a matchup between Triple H and Roman Reigns at this year’s SummerSlam. The reports make one wonder: is Roman Reigns ready for a massive solo push?