Roman Reigns we hardly knew Ye!

I just realized today that it's been about 2 weeks since I last viewed any wrestling from WWE and to be honest I'm not all that bothered.  I still listen to podcasts and peruse the wrestling news websites so I have a general understanding of whats going on with the current storylines and who is set to fight at TLC this weekend.  Usually if this were the case I'd make sure I had at least watched the go-home Raw before watching a PPV but I'm not going to bother as I don't have time and I will just go ahead and watch TLC anyway.

The reason I don't feel the need to watch the shows before the PPV is because I don't feel I'm missing out on anything.  I know the matches that are on the card and that in 6 months time no one will remember or care what the stories were that got them there.  I'd actually not be surprised if no-one cared this time next month and here is my fear of why that is..... Wrestlemania Season Magul!

So next month sees the Royal Rumble.  This has always been my favourite PPV of the year however the last few years it has left a bitter taste in the mouth.  Now unlike most people I wasn't all that bothered that Daniel Bryan didn't win in 2014 or 2015 but I wasn't a big fan of how either one went down.  Both years the winner was virtually announced before the event even took place in Batista and then Roman Reigns and the reaction of the fans kind of soured the whole thing.  Rather than build the superstars up beforehand WWE now seem intent on using the period between the Rumble and Wrestlemania to sell the legitimacy of their main event.

I can understand why WWE were naive when it came to Batista as he had been in that position before but having been away for 4 years it required a bigger build up.  Roman Reigns was completely untested before winning the Rumble last year and the fans simply resented WWE for assuming they should care.

WWE needs to start using the full twelve months to build superstars' momentum so that by the time the road to Wrestlemania is upon us we are already at full speed.  The company needs to start playing to the best of their ability for the whole season not just holding off 'til the Play-offs.

Thanks for reading!

AP

This all feels a little familiar

It's been a while since I wrote anything to do with WWE.  I have just looked back at my previous posts and I think the reason for that mainly lies with the fact that I have really struggled to get over the loss of CM Punk and simply can't believe that it is almost 2 years since he walked out on the company.

CM Punk saw the loss of a superstar who knew how to make the most of a microphone and gave a masterclass in how to use it to connect with the fans.  He was REAL.  This is something that seems to be completely lacking from today's crop.

In my opinion the best and most popular superstars were an extension of themselves.  I always felt when Bret Hart, Shawn Micheals and Steve Austin spoke it was coming from deep inside them.  That they had harnessed a part of there own psyche that felt that everything that happened on a Monday night to their character was in fact real.  They lived in the moment which in turn lead the fans to live it with them.

When you go to a theater to watch a play you are asked to be quiet and you comply.  And it's quite easy because you know you are watching actors playing parts.  You can still get swept along with the story but you are not going to stand up in the middle of Macbeth and shout "he did it!" because you know it won't affect the outcome.

In WWE there used to be a belief as a fan that you were interacting with the show.  The superstars were people just like us and we lived their experiences with them.  Now when I watch the show I can see the fans aren't invested in the action because they are sitting watching a play.  It is my belief that the reason that the YES chant was so popular was the fans were just begging for an opportunity to interact with the show and Daniel Bryan was one of the few people who knew how important that was.

A few weeks ago Roman Reigns was asked by Triple H to join the evil Authority.  This would have been the perfect opportunity for Roman to interact with the live crowd and ask them what they though a-la Stone Cold. Instead he stuck to the script and instead he said he was going the hard route but due to a lack of character development it didn't really bother people either way.

Micro management is killing today's product and there are no longer the guys who have the guts to challenge it. I only watch the one hour Raw show now because three hours of pre-written dialogue and hopeless comedy is just a waste of my time.  I really hope for the return of Daniel Bryan but he alone cannot save this ship.  I say let the wrestlers loose like 1997 and see what happens.  You may lose a few along the way but this is the best way to establish some REAL superstars.

AP

How to play The Game (CM Punk's return)

We are one week removed from CM Punk walking out on WWE.  I could write about my opinion on this but lets face it, it would be one more to add to the millions of opinions and theories that have already been expressed over the last few days. What I want to focus on is the apparent issues that this situation has revealed regarding Triple H as an executive.

I understand that I am working off the rumour mill here but that is the job of pretty much every writer in wrestling.  What seems to apparent from the Punk situation however is that Triple H feels disrespected and this could hinder the eventual return of the "Best in the World".  The thing is as a promoter, Triple H now has to put any issues of pride to the side... for good.

From what is being said Vince McMahon is very keen to get CM Punk back as soon as possible.  This is because Vince know what is (ironically) best for business.  And that is how Vince as always worked.  There is no doubt he has had personal issues with Superstars in the past but if McMahon let pride get in the way, we may have never seen the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan or even Shawn Michaels after their issues with the management.  Vince brought them back into the fold because he knew it would get the interest that the company needed and create the revenue which in the end is what it's all about for the management.

The Game seems to be the of the opposite mind set and seems reluctant to push for a CM Punk return.  Triple H needs to realise that this isn't the mafia.  There is really no such thing as disrespecting the boss in the wrestling world.  Throughout the decades promoters have always been "shat on" but they get over it and if a wrestler is going to make them money then they put their personal feelings aside and book the damn wrestler.

I'm not saying this is how Triple H always does business but it's a dangerous president to set when one of your biggest talents walks out and you shut the door for a return just because you feel disrespected.  The door should always be open for a wrestler to return because WWE is a business and you can't pay the bills with respect.

AP

@AngryAndroid83

Is CM Punk stalling?

Wrestlemania 29 saw the culmination of the hottest period in CM Punks career.  This all started 3 weeks before the Money in the Bank pay-per-view 2011 when punk made his famous "Best in the World" shoot, live on Raw.  It lead to the biggest win in his a career as he defeated John Cena in the main event of MITB for the WWE Championship, in his home town of Chicago. 

After this CM Punk would become a 2 time WWE Champion and have the longest title reign in modern history.  During this time CM punk did battle with Cena, Chris Jericho and The Rock, amongst others.  It would also see him join forces with his long time real life supporter Paul Heyman, creating a villainous and highly entertaining double act.  After 434 days as WWE Champion, Punk lost his title to The Rock.  This was not the end for Punk however.  His next challenge was to beat the illustrious streak of the Undertaker at Wrestlemania.  He failed.

After Wrestlemania CM Punk took some time off.  Punk returned to action on June 16th at WWE Payback in a successful outing against Chris Jericho.  After telling Paul Heyman he no longer wanted him to accompany Punk to the ring, a furious Heyman turned on Punk and set the Beast Brock Lesnar on him which created a red hot feud that lasted right through the summer, culminating with a classic encounter with Lesnar at Summerslam.  Despite losing, the match did CM Punk a world of good but really should have ended the feud with Heyman.  This is where the wheels start to come off.

 

Since Summerslam, Punk has had a handicap match with Heyman and his protege Curtis Axel which ended with the bore fest that is Ryback driving Punk through a table allowing Heyman to pick up the win.  This resulted in a Punk vs Ryback match at the next pay-per-view, Battleground.  This was one of the most unconvincing performances by Punk since his return in June.  So bad in fact that neither man used their signature finisher and the finish came after CM Punk delivered a low-blow behind the referee's back. A 1998 finish if ever I saw one.

The problem is that every opponent that Punk has faced since Lesnar, seems to have less heat with the fans.  This is resulting in CM Punk's momentum being considerably decreased.  If WWE don't finish this Heyman feud soon Punk will find himself in the same position he was at Wrestlemania 27.  Stealing the show but not the title....

AP

@AngryAndroid83

Still The Game...

Okay, so in my last article I ripped on Triple H pretty heavily but I have to say, over the past few weeks, I am really starting to enjoy his on-air contributions.

So what is the reason for this U-turn?  Well it has to probably be the refreshing commitment Triple H has shown since Wrestlemania.  For the past few years, The Game has appeared for a few weeks before his big match, hyped it up, then as soon as the match is done it's "Goodbye Game"!  This has been far from the case however, since Wrestlemania.

With the absence of CM Punk, WWE needed a real big name to keep the star power in their shows and Triple H has not disappointed.  After a high calibre match with Brock Lesnar at extreme rules, there is no sign of Triple H moving back behind the desk...

In fact Triple H's on screen persona has actually embraced the role of executive, which actually seems to sit a bit more easy as it is common knowledge to most fans, what his position is within WWE.  It has to be said, the on-screen power struggle between he and Vince McMahon has made for pretty entertaining viewing.  The stop-start scenario involving Curtis Axle actually reminded me of an Attitude era angel in it's unpredictable and bizarre nature.

Hopefully Triple H will take on this "TV boss" role full time.  He seems to be the only thing that is saving the Vickie Guerrero/Brad Maddox segments.  In the meantime, it will be interesting to see where the McMahon/Helmsley battle for supremacy goes.  It also seems to be giving new life to Vince.  For old-school fans like me this is what I like to see and it gets me asking the old "How much of this is real?".  For that I thank Triple H.  Keep it up, Game!

AP

Did WWE Wrestlemania 29 matter?

So another Wrestlemania has come and gone.  But has anything actually changed after the biggest event in the pro wrestling calender?

In years gone by Wrestlemania was seen as the showcase to create new top level superstars but it has to be said that this years event hasn't really done that.

When I first started watching WWE in the early 90s the main event of Wrestlemania was usually the crowning moment of the new top star.  At Wrestlemania X it was Bret Hart, at Wrestlemania XII it was Shawn Micheals and at Wrestlemania XIV it was none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin.  The past two Wrestlemania main events have both been Rock vs. Cena.  Two men who have already achieved top level stardom.  So what was the point?

The first Rock vs. Cena match was something that did benefit the WWE.  It was as big as Hogan vs. Rock in 2002 and created great interest in WWE around the world and in mainstream media.  However it has to be said that this year's main event had no real benefit to the company.  Cena's victory does not move him up the ranks of WWE because he is already their top guy.  If WWE had put any other superstar against The Rock or Cena, a victory for that superstar could have put them to the forefront. Someone like Ryback or Jack Swagger could really benefit from this.

WWE had enough big names at this years Mania to have pushed some new stars.  Instead, we got three main event level matches where all six men competing were already established stars.  The results of Undertaker vs. Punk, Lesnar vs. HHH and Rock vs. Cena are almost irrelevant when it comes to the long term future of the company.

We shall see what stars will rise to the top over the coming months but it looks like WWE missed a trick this year.

AP

An Alternate WWE Wrestlemania 29

Greetings readers!

If you read my last article you would be aware of my predictions for Wrestlemania 29.  Predictions, that to be quite honest, were the easiest to make in years.  After Cena defeated CM Punk in what was an outstanding main event on Raw (25 February) pretty much everything I thought has been confirmed.  However this blog is not about what is going to happen but what should have happened.  Here is my opinion on what could have made an unpredictable and exciting Wrestlemania....

Instead of John Cena winning the Royal Rumble match, Ryback should have been given the nod.  This would automatically push him to the very top and create a new star, which the WWE needs.  At WM29 he could have challenged the Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship.  With Ryback's outstanding strength, he could have won the title in spectacular fashion.  A memorable title match and a new star created....

Brock Lesnar could have interfered in The Rock's WWE title match at the Royal Rumble.  This would lead to the Brock vs. Rock match that has been talked about since the former UFC's return last April.  It is also a rematch that has been ten years in the making.  It also saves us from a repeat of the "flop of a lifetime" match between Rock and Cena.  Okay it wasn't that bad but I know which I would rather see....

In my opinion the CM Punk vs. Undertaker match could still go ahead but with Lesnar's interference at the Rumble, Punk would still be champion.  A title vs. streak match could make for the ultimate Main Event.  The other option would be to pit the Deadman against John Cena.  Whatever you think the match may look like it would like, the last thing it would be is predictable.

Anyway they were just a few ideas I wanted to throw out there.  Hope you enjoyed reading them, and maybe it got you thinking.

Enjoy Wrestlemania peeps!

AP