The hottest event of the summer is practically hours away at this point. The card is set, the matches have been hyped, and it’s time to sit back and enjoy the show (after making a few predictions, of course). Here are my predictions for this Sunday’s pay-per-view.
AJ Lee (Divas Champion) vs. Paige
Paige has been a thorn in AJ Lee’s side since arriving on the main roster, especially since turning heel. She has had the upper hand on the champ over the past few weeks, even pushing her off of the stage on SmackDown at one point. Although Paige has been booked strong, the company realizes AJ Lee is the most marketable Diva on the roster right now. She retains after forcing Paige to tap out to the Black Widow.
Result: AJ Lee by submission
The Miz (Intercontinental Champion) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Since his return, the Miz has sort of fallen flat with the audience, especially since picking up the title at last month’s Battleground. Over the past year, it’s safe to assume Dolph Ziggler will lose any match of even moderate significance, but this could be different, as he has been booked strong and is still over with the fans.
The company is trying to promote the Miz’s dud of a movie that will soon be gracing dollar bins across the country, but I think they realize his title reign isn’t catching on. Dolph Ziggler will pick up the upset victory on Sunday after hitting a Zig Zag in what will likely be one of the shorter matches on the card.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler by pinfall
Jack Swagger vs. Rusev (Flag Match)
Call me crazy, but this is perhaps my most anticipated match on the card. The feud has been built very well and given adequate time to develop. Fans still aren’t entirely sure of what the rules will be for this one, but I’m assuming it’s going to involve the winning wrestler grabbing his country’s flag and waving it proudly in the center of the ring to end the contest.
This is the perfect opportunity for Swagger to go over Rusev and extend the feud a bit longer. He doesn’t have to pin the Bulgarian Brute to win so he won’t look as weak as he would if he lost via pinfall or submission. Expect the managers to also play a role in this one, and expect Swagger to walk out victorious to set up a rubber match at Night of Champions.
Winner: Jack Swagger
Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt
Much like the Rusev/Swagger feud, this program has also been given a proper build. The promo/interview the two cut last week on Raw was awesome and really hyped the match well.
Jericho won last month after hitting Wyatt with a Code Breaker. It will be even tougher for Wyatt this time around, as both Harper and Rowan are banned from ringside. This will likely be a back-and-forth contest with several near falls, with the in-ring work hopefully being a little more polished than last month’s affair. There’s no way Wyatt loses again, however, and will walk out victorious after forcing Y2J to succumb to Sister Abigail.
The following are highlights of a new Xfinity interview with Seth Rollins:
Onda: You’re no stranger to being the bad guy, to being disliked by wrestling fans. In a way, was this getting back into your comfort zone?
Rollins: I don’t know if that was really ever a thought. It was mostly just a way to separate myself from the other two, separate myself from the pack and really try to stand out and be the guy that everyone is gonna be talking about. That was the goal the whole time, and I think we accomplished that goal. Whether or not I’m more comfortable in this role is yet to be determined, but like you said, I’m definitely no stranger to this position, so we’ll see how it all comes together.
Onda: Based on the win-loss record of past “Money in the Bank” briefcase holders, you are likely to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Do you ever think, “Oh my god, I’m going to be WWE Champion” or do you not let those thoughts creep in?
Rollins: I don’t know if I think “Oh my god, I’m going to be WWE Champion” – I think there was a moment after I grabbed that briefcase, the night that I did it, where I sat by myself and reflected upon exactly what it meant to win that. I don’t say, “Oh, my god.” I say, “Damn right, I’m about to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion someday.” Having that to look forward to is pretty awesome.
Onda: The WWE Universe is craving a brutal, knock-down drag-out between you and Ambrose, and some fans are pessimistic that a Lumberjack Match – in which the ring will be surrounded by other WWE superstars – will satisfy that craving. What would you say to those people?
Rollins: I would tell them to order “SummerSlam.” Get their eyes on it, because if they’re expecting anything less than a knock-down drag-out bar fight, then they’re completely mistaken. We’ve been at each other for months over this, and the premise of the Lumberjack Match is to keep the two opponents in the ring together. A lot of people might be worried about what the involvement of the lumberjacks might be, but essentially it’s gonna keep us in the same 20-by-20, 400-square-foot space, and that’s something we haven’t see yet from me and Ambrose. And I can guarantee you it won’t be the least bit disappointing.
Onda: As a member of The Authority, you are in a position that puts you in the company of WWE’s greatest minds and veterans. What do you learn from them on a weekly basis?
Rollins: You learn how to be successful and how to stay successful. Stephanie is a McMahon. She knows all of the ruthless and cunning things that must be done to stay at the very top. And she’s a woman. And to be a woman at the top is not always the easiest thing, and some may say it’s more difficult than to be a man on top. She’s been able to excel in that role. Triple H – “The Game,” the “Cerebral Assassin” – that’s a nickname [announcer] Jim Ross gave to him based on the way he operates in the ring, but I think it has as much to do with the way he operates outside of the ring and how he conducts himself. Learning those things – how to carry yourself, how to be the top guy, the man in our industry – those are the things I’ve picked up from Triple H and Randy Orton. Those are the guys who have been to the mountain top and know what it’s like to hold that spot. That’s where I wanna be, and there’s no better person or people to learn from.
Onda: Are you crazy enough to cash in on Brock Lesnar?
Rollins: I don’t think Brock’s gonna come out of that match (with John Cena at SummerSlam) looking too pretty either. I didn’t say, “Let’s see the condition of Cena.” I said, “Let’s see the condition of the champion.” Whoever the champion is at “SummerSlam” after that main event, they better watch out, because if the time is right and it feels good… you never know.
[Editor’s Note: This article contains a spoiler from tonight’s SmackDown taping. Please refrain from reading until after the program if you wish to avoid.]
Since the breakup of the Shield a few months back, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose have been at each other’s throats, while Roman Reigns splintered off to do his own thing without worrying too much about being stabbed in the back.
The two have engaged in a bitter program that has seen Seth Rollins win the Money in the Bank contract, Dean Ambrose emerge from a car’s trunk, and a match at Battleground that was supposed to happen but was cancelled last minute.
The advertised match at Battleground did not take place. Fans are hoping to finally see the former partners square off next Sunday.
Along the way, Ambrose has been booked as a lunatic hell bent on exacting revenge at any cost, while Rollins has acted as a corporate stooge. The two are once again scheduled to square off at SummerSlam, with the hope being that the match actually takes place this time around.
Last week on Raw, Ambrose and Rollins competed in a beat the clock challenge, with the winner having the ability to choose the stipulation for their match at SummerSlam. Ambrose eventually won after defeating Alberto Del Rio and distracting Seth Rollins during his match with Heath Slater, ultimately causing Rollins to lose the contest in a major upset.
The Lunatic Fringe unveiled his stipulation at this week’s SmackDown taping that will air tonight on SyFy. After all of the betrayal, treachery, and destruction so far in this program, one would have expected Ambrose to choose a match that would allow him to destroy Rollins in the most violent manner possible.
Last night’s Raw was held in the supposedly great state of Texas. Fans in attendance were treated to the return of Mark Henry, as well as an entertaining contest between Dean Ambrose and Alberto Del Rio.
Although John Cena and Brock Lesnar were both notably absent on Sunday, the WWE did their best to promote the SummerSlam main event. As always, a few questions were answered on Monday, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following Monday’s Raw.
5. Did Fans Witness the Burial of Cesaro?
It is no secret that the WWE has no idea what to do with Cesaro right now. Once one of the most over superstars in the company, Cesaro has been relegated to minor roles since the return of Brock Lesnar. After failing to join the Authority a few weeks back, Cesaro has been in a slump, once again losing to Dolph Ziggler in a short match on Monday.
There are rumors that Cesaro’s push is being limited because the company wants to focus on pushing Roman Reigns. It makes sense to want to promote a young superstar, but others who got over on their own should not be punished as a result. Let us hope that the company soon finds something for Cesaro instead of wasting his talent.
4. Which Stipulation Will Dean Ambrose Choose?
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins competed in a beat the clock challenge last night, with the winner having the ability to choose the stipulation for their match at SummerSlam. Ambrose won after a long battle with Alberto Del Rio, and also assured Seth Rollins would not win his match with Heath Slater.
The Lunatic Fringe now gets to choose the stipulation at tonight’s SmackDown taping (check in tonight for spoilers if you’re too eager to wait until Friday). He will probably choose something typical like a no-holds barred match, but here’s to hoping he chooses a ladder match for the contract. Which stipulation do you think Ambrose will choose?
Part-time WWE Superstar Batista spoke to the The Huffington Post ‘s UK site this week to promote his new movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. He spoke about a number of topics, including the funniest rib ever played on him, Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling promotion, NXT and much more. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
If The Anti-Batista Chants Were Really Just Disgruntled Daniel Bryan Fans:
“You could have fooled the hell out of me! They channelled their rage right in my direction. I can’t put my finger on it, it was crazy. I don’t get wrestling now. I’ve kind of completely taken my finger off the pulse. It’s a different audience which I don’t understand. It’s strange though, it’s really just the TV audience because when we get into the live events it’s a completely different audience and they come just to watch the show. It’s weird, the TV crowd seems like they come to be the show rather than to watch and interact with the show. It’s like they want to steal the show, so I’m just totally confused.”
The Undertaker’s Streak Ending at WrestleMania:
“It sucked! Honestly, I thought it sucked. I haven’t really talked much about it but I think it was a bad decision, a horrible decision. I don’t have any say in the matter but to me, watching as a fan, it made me sick. Brock Lesnar beating him didn’t seem to work and it really wasn’t good that Brock left the day after. I just don’t see how that made sense at all. I don’t think anyone wanted to see the streak broken and it just didn’t make sense to me.”
The Shield Breaking Up & Which Member Has The Most Potential:
“It’s similar to my take on the Undertaker. I guess there comes a point where you have to send them their separate ways but – and it’s just my opinion – I don’t think they were ready. I don’t think they’re ready to fly solo. I realise where they’re going and that WWE will push Roman Reigns straight to the top. However for me, Dean Ambrose is by far the most talented in that group and I think eventually if they just give him the spotlight then he’s going to shine. As soon as he touches a mic everyone else can just sit down as he’s magic on it. So It remains to be seen, I think they’re all talented but to me Dean was the star of that group. I think Roman looks like the star of that group but I don’t think he’s nearly as talented as Dean.”
Last night’s Raw was held in Houston, TX, and a few superstars on the roster certainly had problems. In total, eight matches were held and a few matches were confirmed for SummerSlam.
With Stephanie McMahon and Brie Bella set for SummerSlam, a few questions were answered last night, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following Monday’s Raw.
5. Will Orton And Reigns Disappoint?
The Viper unleashed a devastating attack on Roman Reigns last night, delivering two RKO’s and driving Reigns through the announce table. This match is all but set in stone for SummerSlam and should be one of the most anticipated contests on the card.
However, recent reports indicate that the match could be a bust. The WWE has been running this match at live shows in recent weeks and fan reviews seem to indicate that Orton and Reigns have not been working well together. Although many think this will disappoint, I think they will work things out and put on a great contest, and the build so far has actually been pretty solid.
4. Was It Time To End Bo’s Streak?
The most shocking moment of last night’s Raw was probably Bo Dallas being pinned clean by R-Truth. It seems odd that the WWE would end Bo’s undefeated streak after talking it up over the past few weeks.
I think it will be a good move in the long run though. Undefeated streaks have pretty much always been a no-win situation for bookers. They can now have Dallas lose clean on occasion without having to discuss an undefeated streak, and the loss brought out a vicious side in Bo, which could add another dimension to his character. The only problem was that it looked like Dallas could sneak his way into an Intercontinental Title match SummerSlam, but that seems to be off the table now.
The latest word going around this weekend is that the rumored Stephanie McMahon vs. Brie Bella match may be saved for the Night Of Champions pay-per-view in September, as opposed to the SummerSlam show in August. More should be known based on how they follow-up on the angle at RAW tonight.
As far as the Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins and AJ Lee vs. Paige matches at SummerSlam, it is believed that both will be a gimmick match of some sort.
Finally, there is talk of the WWE Tag-Team Championship match at SummerSlam being a fatal four-way with The Usos defending against Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, as well as two other tag-teams.
– After last night’s RAW went off the air, a dark match main-event took place which featured Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns defeating Seth Rollins and Kane via disqualification.
– The following are the RAW Fallout videos for last night’s show.
It was announced on the post-Battleground edition of WWE RAW that Triple H would reveal his plan for John Cena’s opponent for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view.
Top 4 SummerSlam Matches Revealed
After many teases, it was revealed that Triple H’s “plan A” was Randy Orton, his “plan B” was Seth Rollins, but by the end of the night, “The Game” was convinced by Paul Heyman to go with “plan C,” which is Brock Lesnar.
So there you have it, after weeks of rumors, it has been confirmed that SummerSlam this year will be headlined by John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Seth Rollins is Mr. Money in the Bank after grabbing the briefcase this past June, but the talk among WWE fans has more to do with another former Shield member in Roman Reigns.
According to reports, the plan for WrestleMania’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship match will be between Reigns and Brock Lesnar. This would occur after Lesnar defeats John Cena for the title at SummerSlam. That means that Lesnar will hold the main gold for over seven months.
However, one must wonder what this means for the Authority’s Plan B – Seth Rollins. Mr. Money in the Bank has a guaranteed title shot that he can cash in anytime before June 29th, 2015. Usually, when someone is holding the briefcase, the entire WWE Universe can’t help, but try to predict when the cash in will occur.
Since the focus seems to be on Reigns for WrestleMania 31, perhaps Rollins doesn’t cash in until spring 2015. He does have until late June so he doesn’t need to cash in before the show of shows. In fact, it would make more sense for him to do so.
Rollins isn’t going to cash in on Lesnar. The Best Incarnate is handpicked by Triple H to defeat Cena for the title. Rollins is another Authority guy so unless he is turning babyface, it’s not going to happen. Also, Lesnar has to have a long title reign. He ended Undertaker’s streak. WWE needs to give him an equally credible run as champion. Six to eight months would do the job.
Let’s also not forget what would happen if Rollins cashed in at or after WrestleMania. If Reigns does become WWE World Heavyweight Champion, you are seeing a former Shield member cash in on another former Shield member. Right now, Rollins is feuding with the third Shield member in Dean Ambrose. By June 2015, we would be seeing Rollins feud with both former friends he turned on.
It remains to be seen when exactly Rollins will cash in. He can repeat Dolph Ziggler from the night after WrestleMania 29 when he cashed in on Alberto Del Rio to become World Heavyweight Champion. Or perhaps Rollins will become the first WWE Superstar to ever cash in at the show of shows.
Regardless when, if the reports are true, Rollins won’t be cashing in Money in the Bank anytime soon and that would be best for business.
How do you think Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins will play in WWE’s plans for Roman Reigns? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Seth Guttenplan is a math and computer technology teacher for special education students in New Jersey. In his free time, Seth writes about wrestling for Camel Clutch Blog and SEScoops. Follow Seth on twitter @sethgutt
WWE held its annual Battleground pay-per-view last night. It was the second incarnation of the event and featured a total of six matches on the actual card and two additional matches on the pre-show.
On paper, the event looked more than solid and seemed like it would be one of the best shows of the year. Things quickly took a turn for the worse, however, and the WWE dropped a massive turd on its fans last night. The event was clearly slopped together and featured some of the laziest storytelling fans will ever encounter.
Lana and Rusev received some serious heat last night after referencing the recent Malaysia Airlines crash. It will be interesting to see if the WWE takes a step back after receiving criticism from multiple news outlets.
The company also pulled a total bait and switch on fans that paid to see the event. The most anticipated match of the night for many was Seth Rollins squaring off with former Shield partner Dean Ambrose. Prior to the event, the match had been heavily advertised and was clearly one of the main reasons fans were tuning in.
Instead of holding the match, however, Triple H cancelled the contest and threw Dean Ambrose out of the building, eventually awarding the victory to Seth Rollins due to forfeit. Fans were expecting an absolute classic of a matchup, but instead were treated to a few backstage brawl segments that were nothing special, and amounted to the same thing fans can see for free each week on Raw.
Last night, the WWE basically told the fans that this matchup was too good to take place at a crummy pay-per-view such as Battleground and will be saved for SummerSlam. Honestly, fans should feel cheated after what they saw with the Ambrose/Rollins program last night.
– Unless plans change, which they always could and often do, the working plan coming out of last night’s WWE Battleground pay-per-view is for Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose to finally have their big match at SummerSlam, while Roman Reigns and Randy Orton are scheduled to break off into a singles program at the big summer event.
– The following is a post-Battleground backstage interview with the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena.
The top superstars in the WWE will compete at this Sunday’s Battleground pay-per-view. Headlining the event is a fatal four-way matchup for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
In all, there are eight matches scheduled for the event, and nearly all of the company’s titles will be up for grabs. Here are my predictions for Sunday’s Battleground.
Cameron vs. Naomi (Pre-Show Match)
These two have been at each other’s throats since the breakup of the Funkadactyls. Cameron has become increasingly problematic for Naomi, as she continues to rack up wins and have success in the Divas division. I think Naomi will finally put the Funkadactyls by hitting the Rear View for the win.
Winner: Naomi by pinfall
Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal
This should be one of the most exciting matches of the night, as a number of viable contenders will be battling to become the new Intercontinental Champion. Bad News Barrett will also be on hand to present the title to the new champ.
It would appear that only a few of the entrants have a legitimate chance at winning the title, including Sheamus, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler and Bo Dallas. I think it comes down to Dallas and Cesaro at the end, with Cesaro ultimately coming out on top. An attack or provocation by Barrett could also turn Cesaro face once again and start a feud, as it appears his days as a Heyman guy are nearly over.
Winner: Cesaro
The Usos (Tag Team Champions) vs. The Wyatt Family (2-Out-Of-3 Falls Match)
These two teams have been battling one another for what seems like forever at this point. I think this is the point where the Wyatt Family finally breaks through and strikes gold. The teams will split the first two falls before the Wyatt Family becomes the new Tag Team Champions after Luke Harper hits a clothesline to win the third fall.
Winner: Wyatt Family by pinfall
AJ Lee (Divas Champion) vs. Paige
I’m not really sure what the plan is with this one. It appeared that they were trying hard for a double turn on the night of AJ Lee’s return, but the crowd wasn’t really having it. The two have now developed into so-called “frenemies.”
This should be a close matchup that will hopefully receive at least five to ten minutes. AJ Lee will struggle throughout, but will ultimately come out on top after locking in the Black Widow and forcing Paige to tap out. Don’t be surprised if Paige attacks AJ after the match in an attempt to turn her heel.
Dean Ambrose recently appeared on the local CBS Radio affiliate in Boston to promote this Sunday’s WWE Battleground pay-per-view.
During the discussion, Ambrose spoke about an infamous internet nickname he is known for, “titty-master,” which he obtained after writing the words on his wrist at a WWE live event last year.
Regarding the nickname, Ambrose said “that’s why I don’t do the internet very much.”
The former Shield member also spoke about his feud with Seth Rollins. “I don’t think this is going to be the end,” said Ambrose. “I think me and him are going to be at each other’s throats and tearing it up and having spectacular matches for years and years down the line, but you’re going to get to see the first one this Sunday.”
MMANEWS.COM: Jim Ross To Work For UFC? Is Brock Lesnar Retired From MMA? [>>]
WWE announced Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair as “co-hosts” for an upcoming non-televised live event in San Jose, California.
The show, which takes place on August 16th, will feature the kick-off of ticket sales for WrestleMania 31.
Already scheduled for the card are the following matches:
– John Cena vs. Kane [Street Fight]
– Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns
– Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt [Ric Flair as Special Referee[
– Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose
Triple H, Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins all recently took part in a new WWE.com article that looks at the company’s signing of Japanese star KENTA.
Triple H offered the following comments: “He just signed with us. I was there when he had his tryout at the Performance Center and I met with him there. We’ve been working on this for a while. His training will start when he gets here. The thing is, you can be a big star anyplace else in the world. That gets you in the door. What you do once you get here is a whole different ballgame. He’s no different than anybody else once he walks through the door of the Performance Center.”
Daniel Bryan said: “Kenta has wrestled in the United States, Europe and Mexico. He knows how to switch his styles up with what WWE is doing, so the sky is the limit for him. He has worked hard at speaking English. I don’t necessarily think he should be doing long interviews, but if you told him to, he would be able to do it within a year or two because he’s so smart. And the big thing is, he’s cool. It’s like when you meet The Rock, he’s cool. Kenta’s just cool, and somehow it translates in the United States. When people see him and meet him, they’re just like, ‘Man, this guy’s cool.'”
Seth Rollins said: “The sky’s the limit for him. He’s got unlimited potential based on his skill set. He’s not the prototypical WWE Superstar. He’s not Hulk Hogan and he’s not John Cena, but he has a certain charisma about him that’s completely different than what anybody else has in the company right now. He’s got an opportunity to bring a different style to the game in an era when MMA is very prominent. Guys his size who hit as hard as he does are very popular and can connect with an audience.”
– Bray Wyatt required a lot of work on his eye to make it look presentable for last night’s RAW. As previously reported, Wyatt was busted open the hard way by Ric Flair at Saturday night’s WWE Live Event.
When he arrived at the arena for RAW, his eye was almost completely swollen shut. WWE’s medical staff had to drain the swelling and a lot of make-up was applied for his segment with Chris Jericho.
– After having an injury scare during the main event of Monday’s RAW, Seth Rollins is not expected to miss any ring time. He landed badly on his knee after being thrown out of the ring by Roman Reigns and had to be helped to the back by WWE staff. When he got backstage, he was able to walk around and luckily it was not anything serious.
– Dean Ambrose did not suffer any significant injuries as a result of the beatdown he took from Randy Orton and Kane on RAW. He did cut his mouth from the attack but that’s it.
* RAW REACTION: Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts
– After Monday’s WWE RAW from Richmond, Virginia went off the air, John Cena and Roman Reigns continued celebrating in the ring. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan attempted attack them but Cena and Reigns cleared the ring. Cena and Reigns continued celebrating, with Cena leaving first and the show ending with Reigns in the ring.
– It appears that Seth Rollins might have suffered a knee injury during the main event of RAW. Rollins was clotheslined to the floor by Roman Reigns and appeared to land badly. He clutched his knee and wasn’t shown on camera after that.
A fan who was in attendance sent word that the referee threw up the “X” sign and WWE medics had to help him to the back. We’ll post an update when it becomes available.
When Lebron James made the announcement that he was leaving the Miami Heat to rejoin his home state Cleveland Cavaliers, one couldn’t help but immediately make comparisons to Seth Rollins and WWE’s Shield faction.
James’ choice to leave the Miami Heat can be seen as a way of him turning his back and former teammates Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. In the four years the trio played together, they reached the NBA Finals every year, winning the championship on two occasions. All three took pay cuts in order for the Heat to be able to sign the trio in the summer of 2010. James made his decision then on an ESPN special that made him appear to be a villain, turning his back on Cleveland.
Meanwhile in WWE, fans witnessed the end of the trio of Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, collectively known as The Shield. At the conclusion of Raw the night after Payback, Rollins turned his back on Reigns and Ambrose, attacking them with a chair. Rollins aligned himself with Triple H and the Authority. It turned out well for Rollins as he would go on to win the Money in the Bank briefcase at the end of June.
These two scenarios in pro basketball and wrestling are not as similar as the memes and GIFs suggest. In the GIF, James’ head is on Rollins’ body as he attacks Wade (whose face is on Reigns’ body) and Bosh (whose face is on Ambrose’s body) looks on in disgust.
In reality, Wade and Bosh are much more understanding than Reigns and Ambrose. Rightfully so too. Wade and Bosh have both made statements stating that they still consider themselves brothers. Both former teammates understood why James was returning to Cleveland. Not only is that where he began his career, but James is from Ohio. Every NBA player dreams of winning a championship with their home team.
On the other hand, Rollins left The Shield to join the bad guys. He turned heel. James was already a heel. If anything, James signing with the Cavaliers was a babyface turn. He took less money to go home. However, just like how Rollins won the Money in the Bank briefcase in hopes of becoming WWE World Heavyweight Champion, James hopes his change leads to some gold as well.
So while the comparisons are fun to discuss and make memes and GIFs out of it, they were very different. James didn’t turn on Wade and Bosh. Rollins turned on Reigns and Ambrose. James, Wade and Bosh will all be happy next year. James will be starting on a team with three other former number one draft picks. Wade and Bosh will see their numbers go up with James out of the picture.
Rollins is going to go face to face against his former teammate, Ambrose, at WWE Battleground. Perhaps, we could see Heat versus Cavaliers during the NBA Playoffs in 2015. Until then, the comparisons will continue.
What are your thoughts on the comparison between Lebron James leaving the Heat and Seth Rollins turning on the Shield? Please share your comments in the section below.
Seth Guttenplan is a math and computer technology teacher for special education students in New Jersey. In his free time, Seth writes about wrestling for Camel Clutch Blog and SEScoops. Follow Seth on twitter @sethgutt
The following are highlights of a recent Fayetteville Observer interview with Seth Rollins:
What’s something viewers don’t get to see but you wish they did?
Rollins: The one thing I think that’s very under the radar and is kind of underappreciated about what we do is that wrestling is really an art form. It’s a super-unique interactive medium of storytelling. It’s part script, part improvisation. There’s so much that goes into the presentation of what we do. The crew that works behind the scenes that doesn’t get any of the credit is amazing. They work nonstop. There’s no rest. There’s no off season.
What are you doing an hour before you take the stage?
Rollins: If it’s a match, I’m pretty focused. I’m going over moves in my head and thinking about how I want to accomplish them. When it’s a promo show, I’m thinking about the words I want to say or the ideas I want to get across. I imagine the wave of emotion that I want to take the crowd on.
Your real name is Colby Lopez. Tell me about your stage name, Seth Rollins.
Rollins: Seth Rollins is a little bit of an ode to an idol of mine, Henry Rollins. He’s the leader of one of my favorite bands, Black Flag. Seth is just a name that I liked.
What does the future hold for Seth Rollins?
Rollins: During the next couple of years, I plan on being even better than this year, which is saying a lot, because 2014 has been the best year of my career. I just want to be the man.
The main event for this coming Monday’s RAW will be a six-man tag-team match, as John Cena, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose will team up to take on the trio of Seth Rollins, Randy Orton and Kane.
Also scheduled for Monday’s RAW are Sami Zayn, Charlotte and Adrian Neville, who are expected to work dark matches, as well as the return of Ric Flair.
The following are highlights of a new Norfolk Navy Flagship interview with Seth Rollins:
Favorite memories from the indies: “The friends that I made there – now being able to see my friends here working with me. Guys like Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, and you’ve got Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville down in NXT – watching people grow and being a part of that. I enjoyed my time on the indies very much.”
Working with Triple H: “There is a wealth of knowledge in this company. Being side by side with the COO and (13-time) World Champion, the guy who has pretty much done it all in this business, having him as a mentor is something that you can’t buy. If you’re not learning something every single day, you’re messing up.”
Adapting to his new theme song: “It took me a little while, even just walking down the ramp instead of through the crowd is a little weird at first. With the music, you have to find out how it flows with your entrance. I think now, after about a month or so, it’s starting to catch on and I kind of like the way it feels.”
The blonde streak in his hair: “When I was down in NXT, there were a lot of guys with long dark hair – Roman Reigns, Adam Rose, Bo Dallas. I needed to do something to set myself apart a little bit. If you’re seeing the show for the first time and there are five guys with long dark hair, it’s going to be difficult to remember who is who.”
Tonight’s episode of Raw took place in Montreal, Canada and featured a total of eleven matches, including a first ever one-on-one meeting between the WWE World Heavyweight champion John Cena and Money in the Bank briefcase holder Seth Rollins.
Canadian icon and WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart graced the WWE Universe with his presence and cut a promo. Of course, he brought up the Montreal Screw Job, but it was a nice moment. Also, WWE continued to promote current on-going storylines leading up to Battleground.
Last week’s episode of Raw was one of the best and most exciting in recent history. Did this edition live up to last week’s high standards? Without further ado, here are highlights, lowlights and my random thoughts on the 7/7/2014 edition of Monday Night Raw:
BEST MATCH: The opening bout between the Usos and the Wyatt Family was the best match of the night. There were two other matches that could have stolen the show, but they failed to do so for a couple of reasons. First, Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose gave it their best effort, but it was clear to see that the two didn’t have very much chemistry, at least when it comes to singles action. Also, the Dean Ambrose botch wasn’t a crowd-pleasing moment.
Chris Jericho vs. the Miz could have been special, but the match didn’t last as long as I hoped. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins had the most promise, but they weren’t given enough time to do anything memorable and the obvious interference by Kane and Randy Orton ruined the match for me.
What was your favorite match of the night?
WORST MATCH: AJ Lee/Paige vs. Naomi/Cameron was the worst match of the night. Aside from the main event and the tag team match between the Usos and the Wyatt Family, there weren’t any real standout matches. However, this bout stood out for all the wrong reasons and it was a poor showing amongst the four Divas involved. Bo Dallas vs. El Torito was a close second for the worst match of the night award because at least the crowd was somewhat into it.
The worst segment of the night was the Nikki Bella/Alicia Fox disaster, but I don’t think there was an opening bell and nobody was declared the winner. Therefore, Idon’t consider this to be a match; otherwise, it would have won the award.
UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Kofi Kingston defeating Cesaro was the upset of the night. I know that Kofi defeated Cesaro last week on Raw, but I didn’t expect him to do it again and I don’t think the fans/crowd did either. I see Cesaro winning the Intercontinental Title at Battleground and Kingston falling into obscurity once again, but at least Kofi is living in the moment now.
To quote the great Mike Adamle, Kofi be Jamaican me crazy.
MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: I expected Randy Orton to defeat Dean Ambrose in their match tonight, but I was anticipating Seth Rollins to screw Ambrose over, resulting in Ambrose losing cleanly. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Ambrose has been really hot as of late and Rollins costing him the match would have protected Ambrose a bit more. Also, it would have spiced things up and furthered the Ambrose/Rollins feud.
Seth Rollins spoke with The Ottawa Sun this week to promote Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Winning Money In the Bank:
“It’s crazy. It’s very surreal. This is the goal, it’s where we all want to be. I had to stop and absorb the moment — appreciate the sacrifices and time that were put into it. The cream always rises. I feel pretty good about where I am. It’s a very awesome vote of confidence to be in this position, to be here two years after I started. Some may say it’s quick, I say, for me it’s right on schedule.”
Feuding with Dean Ambrose:
“Good friends, better enemies. Having that psycho following on my trail is not something anybody would look forward to.”
Connecting with fans:
“When we try to be booed or cheered, we’re trying to garner attention. If you’re getting no reaction, you’re doing something wrong. It’s sure good go have them boo me.”