It’s amazing how big the “it” factor is when it isn’t there. All the technical in-ring brilliance in the world won’t matter if you are missing “it” (I’m looking at you, Dean Malenko, amongst others).
Agree with STC that the NXT roster is too deep. And where were the tag team champions?! The show was short enough that WWE could have cut a package (really, do you need packages recounting the feud on a PPV - I never understood that) and given a 10-12 minute tag team match.
Lastly, my inner-Cornette is starting to break through on the high spots off the top rope/top of the house. I really liked the Shirai/Flair/Ripley match, but Shirai milked the top of the set too long forcing Flair/Ripley to just stand there stupidly waiting. Wrestlers need to hit those spots faster so that we can suspend disbelief and think the targets were surprised. But with the way she milked it, Flair/Ripley could have gone to concessions, gotten a soda, and returned. That’s the spot that stood out to me most this show, but I noticed it in the six-way too, and on every multi-person match. The frequency has really exposed the business, and have taken away moves that should appear special. HHH, or whomever is planning the overall show, needs to lay down a law - something like “3 dives total” (and I’m not including top rope spots like the moonsault). Make them count. AEW, which is even worse about this, doesn’t appear to have an overall show plan in that sense, and needs it even more.
Heyman may be a wrestling genius, but he was kicked out for the same reason he was relieved of running ECW, in that he didn’t have the write-ups done in time for the show. Guess that means Aleister Black, Austin Theory, and all the Hispanic wrestlers are going to lose their push.
They were going to lose their pushes anyway. They aren’t the type of wrestlers Vince likes, and Vince always has final say. Maybe Theory, but he’s short, which means he has to be at least 5 times more over than Corbin to be given a chance, and he’s only twice - 3 times at best - more over than Corbin.
But yes, Heyman has always been an unorganized mess. One would think WWE would know this and pair him with someone to keep him on track and let him be creative. But that’s how a smart business would run, rather than one simply looking for a revolving door of scapegoats.
Supposedly the burial of Heyman is starting. The U.S. Title match between Apollo and Andrade is now likely to be on the pre-show. Who knows what other petty stupidity Vince and crew have in mind for “Heyman’s Guys”. It’s not like anyone was being built up prior to Heyman. I understand Heyman’s a mess, but at least he knows how to get performers over organically. You know, as opposed to selling a match by one person throwing piss in another person’s face.
Well, I for one enjoyed The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever, between Edge and Randy Orton, even though I think the title is still hyperbole. I was afraid WWE would troll us by making it end in 5 minutes with a disqualification, and thankfully they instead made it go 45 minutes of high drama and psychology.
It was a great match (though I think Daniel Bryan versus A.J. Styles on Smackdown was even better), but not the greatest. But if that’s what the boss wants to call it, that is what it will be called.
Lashley v McIntyre was really good but ruined by the finish. And the Street Profits / Viking Raiders stuff was just trippy fun. Had nothing to do with wrestling, but had me grinning despite that. Too bad they jobbed both Raiders to Lashley last Monday. It’s a lack of forethought that’s been troubling WWE for 3 decades. They job out their 2ndary title and tag title champions/top contenders regularly.
ETA: Apparently Edge tore his tricep in that match. Long recovery. So much for a SummerSlam rubber match.
Usually, I scoff at the “OMG, <insert name here> is turning heel” headlines in my newsfeed, because swerves are sometimes last minute booker decisions and depend on a number of factors, such as injuries, audience interest, and ways to end angles that go nowhere. In this case however, the speculation works because of serendipity.
What really sucks is that Edge apparently suffered his injury during the reshoots. If they had just had a traditional live match, it might not have happened.
The board picked the wrong weekend to disappear for a few days, because a lot has happened in terms of sexual misconduct/assault/harassment allegations being raised against a number of wrestlers.
Among other things, Jack Gallagher has been fired from WWE, and Jordan Devlin, Travis Banks, Ligero, Velveteen Dream, and Matt Riddle are under investigation for sexual assault and grooming (though in Riddle’s case it appears he may have been a victim of cyberstalking.) Joey Ryan has been fired from Impact over multiple assault allegations and MLW has let one of its announcers go for sexting with underage individuals. A number of OVW alumni have come forward saying that, in exchange for a push, Jim Cornette would pressure them to have sex with his wife while he watched. AEW has sent Jimmy Havoc to rehab over reports that he self-harms and threatened suicide as a way of bullying women he was involved with.
More allegations are likely coming, and I’m shocked, but I can’t say I’m surprised.
Gallagher hasn’t just been fired, but completely ghosted. With the new allegations and text messages, if be surprised if VD will be around much longer. Supposedly WWE knew of Riddle’s allegations and thought the matter settled.
I remember when Ultimate Warrior ranted that Hulk Hogan offered his wife to him for sex. It sounded like another one of UW’s delusions, but in this case true.
I’m sure lots of hookups go on backstage, like when Paige videoed herself doing the nasty with Xavier Woods. Cornette talks about all the “ring rats” that Ricky Morton bumped uglies with. On the comics front, Warren Ellis has been outed as a groomer, and he’s copped to behaving badly without going into specifics. There’s more Louie CKs and Harvey Weinsteins being exposed lately.
I hate to read these accounts, and I’m sure I believe most of them, but I hope that no one is getting thrown into the world of baseless twitter accusations.
It’s weird because I hope most of the accusations are false, but them being false is bad for a whole host of other reasons than if they’re all true…which is also terrible.
Apropos of nothing: I’m watching the Shawn Michaels/Steve Austin WWF Title match at WrestleMania XIV, in which Mike Tyson fast-counted Michaels and then knocked him out. Did they ever explain why Tyson turned on Michaels?
It was probably a way to have Austin win without Michaels looking like a chump. Plus, it would be “just desserts” for Michaels winning in a fast count over Bret Hart for the world title, even though it was Vince’s call.
Renee Young has covid, and PWInsider is reporting that at least two dozen WWE personnel, including in-ring talent and production, have tested positive.
It’s worth noting that Jon Moxley missed this week’s episode of Dynamite because of a potential covid contact - which, now that we know it was his wife, means he’ll probably be missing his title match at Fyter Fest next week.