Table of Contents
Once I hit the “Publish” button and make this column accessible for the general public to learn, we will probably be 38 days away from WrestleMania. Clearly, that is speculated to be the most important and greatest time of 12 months for WWE. That is after they pull out all of the stops, attempting to ship the most important and craziest present(s) of the 12 months. It’s while you often see the part-timers coming in for his or her one-off matches, celebrities exhibiting up, and plenty of main matches.
Thus far, we’re seeing plenty of that for this 12 months’s version of WrestleMania. As of this second, there are 4 matches which have been formally introduced for the present…
- Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar – Winner Takes All Match for the Common & WWE Titles
- Charlotte Aptitude vs Ronda Rousey – Smackdown Girls’s Title Match
- Becky Lynch vs Bianca Belair – Uncooked Girls’s Title Match
- Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio vs The Miz & Logan Paul
The primary three matches are enormous, WrestleMania principal occasion matches, certainly. Whether or not any of us prefer it or not, the fourth match goes to herald mainstream media consideration due to Logan Paul’s participation, and everyone knows how a lot Vince McMahon loves that sort of factor.
Now, let’s have a look at the matches which are being rumored to 1 extent or one other…
- Edge vs AJ Kinds
- “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin vs Kevin Owens
- Sami Zayn vs Johnny Knoxville – Intercontinental Title Match
- Drew McIntyre vs Blissful Corbin
- The Usos vs The Viking Raiders – Smackdown Tag Staff Title Match
- Naomi vs Sonya Deville
Fairly the combination there. The primary match is a possible Match Of The 12 months candidate that includes two males who’ve by no means confronted one another earlier than. Then you could have an all-time nice that will be wrestling his first match in almost 20 years. Subsequent, you could have extra movie star participation that’s going to get much more mainstream media consideration. Then… issues just about collapse while you’re on the lookout for reward. That’s probably not the purpose I’m making right here, although.
If you have a look at the WrestleMania card, each of the formally introduced and rumored varieties, and choose them based mostly on completely nothing however what the potential match high quality goes to be… there’s quite a bit to look ahead to. It’s solely while you have a look at issues somewhat deeper, as most wrestling followers are likely to do, that you just run into issues.
I’ve made it very clear that I’m an enormous Brock Lesnar fan. The chaotic nature of what’s about to occur subsequent while you hear the opening second of his entrance music is almost unequalled over the past 20 years. He’s quite a bit higher performer, each within the ring and on the mic, than he’s usually given credit score for. I’m nonetheless blissful to see him, particularly on this new face position, the place he appears to be having the time of his life on the market. With that stated, I can’t stand how WWE has dealt with his reserving. I perceive that there must be a high-quality line in terms of the way you deal with Brock. He’s one of the bodily intimidating and dominant athletes to ever stay on this planet, so having him wrestle in nothing however 30-minute marathon matches doesn’t appear to make a ton of sense. Nevertheless, placing him in these UFC-style matches the place issues are going to finish in two minutes is basically beginning to put on skinny. Having him steamroll by means of all people, irrespective of the chances, doesn’t precisely make individuals wish to hold watching. We’ve seen that he can do rather well in longer matches. SummerSlam 2019 in opposition to Seth Rollins? The match went over 13 minutes and was extremely enjoyable. Survivor Collection 2018 in opposition to Daniel Bryan? Almost 19 minutes lengthy, and it ended up being probably the greatest WWE matches of the 12 months. Survivor Collection 2017 in opposition to AJ Kinds? quarter-hour. SummerSlam 2017 in opposition to Samoa Joe, Roman Reigns, and Braun Strowman? 21 minutes. Fastlane 2016 in opposition to Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose? 17 minutes. Hell In A Cell 2015 in opposition to The Undertaker? 18 minutes. SummerSlam 2015 in opposition to The Undertaker? 17 minutes.
I may go on, however you get the purpose. All “lengthy” matches, and all actually entertaining to look at.
I want that was my solely situation involving Brock Lesnar on the trail to WrestleMania this 12 months.
Of us, I’m unsure when you’ve observed this or not, however… WWE certain likes to attempt to shoehorn Brock into title footage, irrespective of the associated fee, and irrespective of who else is concerned.
Loopy, proper?
It has been stated earlier than, however the firm was actually backed right into a nook at Day 1, however as an alternative of discovering a artistic method out of that nook… they merely turned to face the wall and started bashing their head in opposition to it repeatedly. When Roman Reigns examined optimistic for COVID and wanted to be pulled from the present on the final minute, it left Brock Lesnar with no match. As one of many largest stars within the firm, and one of many largest attracts, the corporate needed to put him someplace on the present. Including him to the 4-Approach for the WWE Title made excellent sense. He added star energy and extra unpredictability to the match, and it was a match he may lose with out being pinned, so he may stay robust for when he would ultimately get his match in opposition to Reigns.
It was such a easy factor to tug off. Brock may’ve been Brock within the match, taking everybody to Suplex Metropolis and leaving trails of destruction at each flip. That’s all high-quality and dandy. Huge E had factor going because the WWE Champion, and that might’ve continued with a win right here. A win that, as was stated, may’ve come in opposition to another person within the match to “shield” Brock. As an alternative, we bought the polar fucking reverse determination. Not solely did Brock win the match to develop into the brand new champion, he pinned Huge E to do it.
It didn’t make sense then, and it doesn’t make sense now.
WWE was given an “out” to make up for it, inserting Lesnar in a title match in opposition to Bobby Lashley on the Royal Rumble occasion. Resulting from interference from Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman, Lashley would defeat Lesnar to develop into the brand new WWE Champion. Lastly! The whole lot may get again to regular now… Lesnar units his sights on Reigns for a WrestleMania showdown, and the Uncooked principal occasion employees may deal with the Uncooked principal occasion title. Good.
So… what occurred?
Lesnar is put into the WWE Title Elimination Chamber… and he wins it, changing into the champion once more.
Why?
Why?!?
Positive, it was a match the place Brock would’ve wanted to be pinned to be eradicated from, however that was a simple sufficient resolution. You will have Reigns and The Usos able to make Lesnar’s life depressing. ESPECIALLY WITH THE FUCKING CHAMBER NEEDING TO BE OPENED UP WHEN BOBBY LASHLEY WAS INJURED. As soon as the door was opened, it will’ve been ridiculously straightforward to have Reigns and The Usos enter the Chamber to destroy Brock and trigger him to be eradicated.
Now we’re on the verge of getting Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. It’s a match that’s sufficiently big for Mania all by itself, with nothing on the road. For those who completely, positively want a title on the road, Roman’s Common Title is sensible, as he has been champion for such a very long time now that all the pieces has added status.
You realize what the match didn’t want?
Each the Common and WWE Titles on the road, with the winner taking each of them.
That’s precisely what we’re getting, although.
WHY?!?
As I stated, Reigns vs Lesnar doesn’t want a title of any type hooked up to it, however I fully perceive why the Common Title can be concerned. If we have been getting Reigns vs Lesnar for the Common Title, that will open the door for a “principal occasion” WWE Title match to be added to the cardboard for that weekend, making WrestleMania even greater.
Now, is that this going to harm the match high quality that Reigns and Lesnar will ship? No, and that’s the issue I’m speaking about right here. WWE has a world-class expertise roster, filled with an insane stage of expertise. They’re capable of put matches on tv and pay-per-view (I’m going to name it that eternally) and have these matches prove nicely. Sadly, the journey to get to these matches, and the stretches of time between the matches, are tough as a result of WWE has misplaced the flexibility to inform a coherent story.
I’ve been a WWE fan for a protracted, very long time. I used to be a fan after they have been going by means of each sort of battle you possibly can consider, and I used to be a fan after they have been on high of the world. I’ve seen some actually unhealthy artistic stretches, however proper now, we’re in the course of one of many worst stretches that I’ve ever seen.
Suppose again to any “unhealthy” 12 months that WWE had. I don’t care what metric you’re utilizing to find out that it was a nasty 12 months. Struggling to promote pay-per-views. Lame characters and gimmicks throughout your tv. No matter. What quite a bit… perhaps most… perhaps all… of these years have in widespread is that the corporate bought its shit collectively throughout “WrestleMania Season.” The largest matches have been put collectively, full with the perfect tales behind them. In these years, issues perked up fairly a bit in January, main as much as the Royal Rumble, after which all the way in which into late-March or early-April, when WrestleMania occurred. Then, you’d get an exceptional episode of Uncooked on the night time after Mania… after which shit would return to being unhealthy out of nowhere. It was irritating, to say the least.
I’m not seeing that this 12 months.
It isn’t simply the Brock Lesnar scenario. Bear in mind again to once I stated that Roman vs Brock didn’t should be for 2 titles, which might’ve allowed for an additional big-time match for the WWE Title to happen at Mania? You could possibly say a really comparable factor about what is going on with the Intercontinental Title. As acknowledged earlier, the rumor is that new champion Sami Zayn will probably be defending the title in opposition to Johnny Knoxville. I’ve no issues in any respect with the match happening. It is sensible, and I belief Zayn and Knoxville sufficient to make it enjoyable, however why within the bloody hell does it must have the Intercontinental Title hooked up to it?!?!? Put the match on the present. That’s nice. With out the title concerned there, although, you may have one other match on the present be for the belt, and that… say it with me… makes WrestleMania even greater.
For those who lookup and down the WWE roster proper now, you’re going to have a tough time discovering individuals which are being written and dealt with nicely proper now. Charlotte Aptitude is among the largest stars within the firm, however she’s the feminine model of Brock Lesnar in terms of WWE all the time, all the time, all the time needing to have her concerned in a title image, to the detriment of everybody else round. Blissful Corbin and Madcap Moss are among the worst characters in current reminiscence, to the purpose the place individuals (myself included) would moderately mute their televisions after they’re on the display. Bobby Lashley was a heel that was a face who was a heel that was a face who was a heel. The 24/7 Title exists. Veer is coming extra, and for longer, than Peter North and Ron Jeremy of their primes. Huge E may as nicely be decrease case e at this level. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander are in The Harm Enterprise, besides that there is no such thing as a Harm Enterprise, however there’s a Harm Enterprise that they’re representing, though there is no such thing as a Harm Enterprise. Folks develop into royalty and may’t assist however speak like Peppa Fucking Pig abruptly. Liv Morgan cries greater than a 13-year-old woman assembly Justin Bieber or regardless of the 2022 model of Justin Bieber is. For those who’re a champion aside from Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar, you’re in all probability going to lose nearly each non-title match you could have. Wrestler A beat Wrestler B on tv this week, so Wrestler B beats Wrestler A on tv subsequent week.
The checklist goes on and on.
I do know what plenty of you’re considering proper now. WWE doesn’t care, as a result of there’s no purpose for them to. They’re making extra money now than they ever have earlier than, even within the peak years of Steve Austin, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, or every other draw within the historical past of the corporate. As a lot as individuals love AEW, they don’t seem to be a menace to WWE in any way proper now. You may level to no matter scores demographic you wish to. All that issues to Vince McMahon is that this… in 2021, WWE introduced in almost $1.1 billion in income, and over $180 million in web revenue. Each of these numbers are report highs for the corporate. AEW, as compared, seems to be to have introduced in near $85 million in income for 2021. That’s a very good quantity, however it took two or three weeks in a standard month for WWE to make that.
Sure, it’s true that WWE doesn’t care if their writing is nice, good, first rate, subpar, poor, or the rest on no matter scale you possibly can consider. Except you’re somebody who thinks WWE is placing on an amazing product, that’s a serious drawback. Nothing’s going to vary until Vince McMahon dies or if WWE is offered.
It’s actually unusual to be mere weeks away from WWE’s largest present of the 12 months, however to not have the standard stage of pleasure as a fan. To know that nothing issues… that storytelling is totally irrelevant within the grand scheme of issues… is a tragic feeling. You nearly should deal with the WWE product like among the unique unbiased promotions, the place there was little-to-no deal with tales and it nearly appeared like randomized matches up and down the cardboard. The reveals have been enjoyable so far as match high quality goes, however that’s so far as it went. If I watch an episode of Uncooked, I can see enjoyable matches with the likes of AJ Kinds, Damian Priest, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Chad Gable, Rey Mysterio, and on and on and on. The identical will be stated about Cesaro, Roman Reigns, Ricochet, Sami Zayn, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, and many others. on Smackdown. I simply can’t assist however take into consideration how superb the reveals can be if Vince McMahon, Bruce Prichard, Kevin Dunn and the like have been all Thanos’d from the planet.
These is likely to be well-known final phrases, however I’ve loads of religion in WrestleMania being present this 12 months. On paper, there are a number of matches which have potential to be mentioned on year-end lists. I’m simply fearful in regards to the path that the corporate is headed proper now. It scares me that we’re at the place we’re at proper now, and we haven’t even hit the annual post-Mania lull.
I wish to hear from you, ReaderLand, however I’ve a particular query to ask you. For these of you that watch WWE, I wish to hear some optimistic issues from you. What present storylines are you having fun with proper now? Once more, I’m speaking storylines, not the precise matches themselves. Are you having fun with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline? Do you dig watching Bianca Belair chase Becky Lynch? Hit me up within the feedback part beneath, or on Twitter (@HustleTheSavage), and let me know what’s in your thoughts.
Weekly Energy Rankings
- Trent Barretta vs Jay White: Not that he was unhealthy earlier than or something, however it’s loopy how good Trent has been since coming back from harm. He’s in super form, and is wrestling with an enormous chip on his shoulder. He seems to be like somebody who could be a main participant in AEW.
- Lee Moriarty vs Bryan Danielson: For lots of people, this was the primary actual time they’ve had the chance to see what Lee Moriarty can do in a wrestling ring, and he didn’t disappoint them in any respect. Dealing with the person who many really feel is among the greatest performers within the historical past of the enterprise, Moriarty regarded like he belonged in there. After an ideal match, we additionally bought the continuation of the story between Danielson and Jon Moxley, with Mox mainly saying that he must face Danielson once more earlier than he may even take into consideration teaming up with him. If we’re getting Moxley vs Danielson at Revolution, that might be one thing particular.
- Tommaso Ciampa vs Dolph Ziggler: Dolph appears to have new ardour since exhibiting up in NXT, and that may solely be factor, each for him and the model transferring ahead. It doesn’t matter if his keep is a short lived one. He’s going to assist elevate the individuals he’s working with.
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs Sami Zayn: As a lot as I really like Nakamura, I’m glad to see him drop the Intercontinental Title. He was the champion for just below 17 years, and he defended the title precisely zero occasions in that span. Perhaps a brand new champion can breathe new life right into a title that actually wants it. In all probability not, however hey, crazier issues have occurred.
- RKBro vs SethKO: A lot enjoyable. It’s wild to see the chemistry that these two groups have, contemplating that they’re all solo acts who have been simply thrown collectively.
- CM Punk’s Promo: A lot of ardour, and a nostalgic journey by means of his profession. I believe the perfect half in regards to the promo was MJF popping out and, for the primary time, having nothing to say in response, nearly scared at what was being laid out earlier than him. That made Punk’s phrases much more highly effective and much more significant.
- Bianca Belair vs Doudrop: Am I mistaken to suppose that Doudrop is all the pieces WWE needed Nia Jax to be, solely significantly better? I’m unsure how a lot of a ceiling she has with that title, however she has been so spectacular since being turned free.
- Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin: Pillar-on-Pillar violence!
- Ricochet vs Sheamus: This matches in with what I wrote about up high. You see that these two are going through one another, and you recognize you’re getting match. It doesn’t matter that neither man has had storyline written for them since 1994. They only exit and have good matches each week in opposition to any and all people.
- Nikita Lyons: *seems to be on the digital camera like Tyler James Williams on Abbott Elementary*
This Week’s Playlist: “Love’s Practice” by Silk Sonic… “MAGIC” by Vince Staples… “Dangerous Habits” by Ed Sheeran & Convey Me The Horizon… “For The Squadron” by SAINt JHN… “505” by Arctic Monkeys… “Neurotic” by Three Days Grace & Lukas Rossi… “Make Consider” by Memphis Might Hearth… “In The Air Tonight” by State Of Mine… “Misplaced In The Grandeur” by KoRn… “The Steeple” by Halestorm… “Take Time” by Samm Henshaw & Tobe Nwigwe… “Your Love” by The Outfield… “Inform It To My Coronary heart” by Taylor Dayne… “Again In Black” by AC/DC… “Perhaps She’ll Dream Of Me” by The Overseas Alternate… “What Everyone Is aware of” by Marc Dorsey… “Let’s Chill” by Man… “Incredible 4” by Cam’ron, Huge Pun, N.O.R.E. & Canibus… “What The Beat” by Eminem, Royce Da 5’9″ & Methodology Man… “A Milli” by Lil Wayne & Cory Gunz… “In Bloom” by Nirvana… “Lithium” by Nirvana… “Eternally And Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis… “Watermelon Crawl” by Tracy Byrd… “Vacation Street” by Lindsey Buckingham
