Archived: Neil’s Wrestling Rant - archived

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I’ve decided there’s a number of things WWE does right and a number of things it doesn’t and it’s up to me to share with you how I feel the company is performing from an entertainment point of view.

The SummerSlam main event for example was epic. When you think you’ve seen everything, they go and throw in an annihilation like that. Brock Lesnar was dominant and poor Cena, try as he might, just couldn’t get the better of the beast incarnate.

What threw me the most though was just how much sweat came off Lesnar. It was literally pouring down his face and he really didn’t exert himself that much. How can one man sweat so much? Maybe it was main event nerves? Eat. Sleep. Sweat. Repeat.

brock

The match itself was surprising, none of us expected that kind of mauling but whilst it established Brock as a beast and Cena as someone who would never give up (perhaps he should get that on a towel?), it wasn’t a classic encounter for the ages. At last years SummerSlam, Brock took on CM Punk and I was literally blown away by that, ranking it as probably one of the best matches I’ve ever seen. Then we had the really disappointing Lesnar/Taker match and now this against Cena which isn’t really much of a match as you need two sides to make it competitive.

Personally I was surprised Cena didn’t pull out the victory, it seemed a lot was being put on his fifteenth run as champion but it lasted only one PPV. That being said, I think Brock as the champ makes a lot of sense – even if he is on a reduced schedule. The title doesn’t need to be defended at every PPV event, I remember back in the day when some PPVs were headlined by tag team matches – Taker / Austin v Mankind / Kane for example.

Perhaps now we’ll see some more focus on the other divisions of WWE, the tag team, Intercontinental and US titles perhaps meaning something again. I don’t understand why the tag titles haven’t been defended in a while. There was a bunch of great teams nine months ago, now they’ve all lost momentum and fallen by the wayside.

But with a part-time champ, and Survivor Series coming up, maybe we’ll get to see a proper elimination tag match make a comeback? We’ve seen some excellent battles between The Shield and the Wyatts, and The Shield and Evolution so it’d be nice to see a proper four on four elimination tag headline the event.

Speaking of the Shield it’s been clear that WWE wants to push Roman Reigns as their next top star. I don’t think he’s ready. He has poor mic skills and his in ring work is carried by whoever he’s facing. He has, what, three moves? The Superman Punch, that jumping kick from the outside of the ring and the spear. People give Cena stick for more. I understand he’s got the look of a top man, but he hasn’t got anything else.

What about ‘Mr. Money in the Bank’ Seth Rollins? Now here is a chap who has the in-ring ability, isn’t too terrible on a mic, but doesn’t have the look. I really don’t see Rollins making a successful cash in of that briefcase, but I hope that when he does it’s not as forgotten about as Damien Sandow’s attempt last year. Rollins has been putting on some great matches lately with the final member of The Shield, Dean Ambrose.

Dean Ambrose

Now Ambrose, he has it all. The in-ring ability, the mic skills and the look. He’s the anti-hero, the modern day rattlesnake. I’ll admit to not being Ambrose’s biggest fan back in the day but his match with Rollins at SummerSlam was great, I can really see him going the distance.

How about this for an idea? How about Ambrose and Rollins face each other one more time, but Ambrose wants more than to beat Rollins, he wants his briefcase! Ambrose wins, becomes MMITB and goes on to face the champ.

Who the champ will be is another question, in fact, if you look at the WWE roster I really don’t think there are any big name players worthy to challenge Brock. Cena will be back for another stab at it. Orton? I’m so sick of him. Big Show and Mark Henry? You’re joking? Cesaro? Jericho won’t be about, Bray Wyatt doesn’t look like he’d click against Brock / Heyman in either the ring or on the mic. Daniel Bryan is out of action until at least 2015, seriously, who is there?

There is one man coming back now his work promoting a certain movie is over. Bootista. Will WWE give him his promised title shot now and try to push him again as a face? The battle of the big men could be something, but both need to get in ring shape and need to wow us in terms of a fight. That, or by some miracle The Undertaker is fit to wrestle again and not just at WrestleMania. The return of the deadman looking for revenge – that’s a story.

Because that’s what WWE lacks. Stories.

Fans are blamed for not having enough patience, but I say forget them, just tell the story you need to tell. When Daniel Bryan won at WrestleMania, his whole story was over and he had nothing but a pathetic run against Kane. When anyone wins the Intercontinental title there is nothing there, no challenge – I’m hoping this Dolph/Miz story plays out some more. When the Uso’s won the tag titles, they had a feud with the Wyatts but no story. Not like when The Rhodes Brothers were fighting for their careers.

Get some story there, build up a rivalry, you don’t have to listen to the WWE Universe all the time.

Not that they probably do. Whilst the Yes movement was huge and Occupy Raw took over social media, there are still a lot of fans that chant ‘Cena Sucks’ and yet WWE pushes him as champion. And rightly so. Those in the WWE Universe who disapprove of John Cena are ignorant to the decade of hard work and dedication this man has given the company.

Paul Heyman

I agree he might need a little freshening up, and maybe after his recent decimation by BRROCK! LESSNAR! (Imagine best Paul Heyman voice there) will do that, give him a shift into being more edgy or something? But the man will go down in WWE history. Hopefully the Paul Heyman monologue from Monday Night Raw (18/08/14) will do something to spur the Universes’ appreciation? I mean, if Paul Heyman can get behind him, surely the WWE Universe can too?

Paul Heyman is the most delightful thing on WWE TV at the moment, he has such an eloquence in delivery and a history that can be explored in his new documentary, Ladies And Gentlemen, My Name Is Paul Heyman
. It’s a great watch and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Until next time.

Archived: Neil’s Wrestling Rant - archived
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