WWE Raw: The Hell in a Cell Go-Home
October 20, 2015 7:27 AM - Season 24, Episode 6 - Subscribe
Austin! Taker! Lesnar! Malenko! Finlay! Michaels! Flair! SHIELD REUNION!
Well, kind of a Shield reunion. The writers decide to address the Rollins face turn rumors more or less head-on, and he plays his heel card perfectly, abandoning Ambrose and Reigns to take a pointless DQ loss to the Wyatts. Oh, and Erick Rowan returns, apparently to sub for Luke Harper, with no explanation.
On the undercard, Owens hits a sweet pop-up powerbomb on Mark Henry to prep for Ryback at Hell in a Cell; the New Day falls victim to LOLCENAWINS; Rusev and Ziggler and Cesaro and Neville and Barrett and Sheamus are marking time; and Charlotte and Nikki Bella are ready for their rematch despite Sasha Banks being the most over woman in the company.
So what's it look like for HiaC?
Rollins vs. THEDEMONKANE for the WWE World Heavyweight World Championship of the World: If THEDEMONKANE loses,Awesome Eddie Haskell Corporate Kane is fired as Director of Operations. The real question is whether Rollins can drag four stars out of a 48-year-old man on what's gotta be about his third retirement tour.
The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar in the Demonic Structure: The second HiaC match between these two (Lesnar retained the Smackdown-only WWE Championship at No Mercy 2002) and probably the last time we'll see them in a ring together. Lesnar has never been in a HiaC match against anyone else, while this will be Taker's lucky thirteenth. See above re dragging stars out of an old man.
Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella for the (*sigh*) Divas Championship: WWE doesn't have the stones to put this one in the Cell, and there are no other women's matches currently on the card, so maybe Sasha will run in and be awesome all over the place.
Kevin Owens vs. Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship: Nothing significant at stake here, because it's the Intercontinental Championship.
John Cena vs. Tony B. Determined for the United States Championship: The Open Challenge on a PPV? With rumors of Cena wanting to be The Face That Takes A Break Over The Holidays (and possibly filming a non-WWE TV show), this could be the start of a new US reign by someone else, but who? BUT WHO, MAGGLE?
Totally unrelated note: Randy Orton is not currently scheduled for a match. Neither is recent callup Tyler Breeze.
The New Day vs. the Dudley Boyz for the Tag Team Championship: The Boyz have earned their pops, but the Day is firing on all cylinders and widely hailed as the best thing on Raw week-to-week.
Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt in the Slightly Less Demonic But More Backwoods Culty Structure: This match will likely be the official start of Reigns' second main-event push (all rumors point to him winning at WM32), but the smarks can hope that Wyatt at least looks fearsome.
Well, kind of a Shield reunion. The writers decide to address the Rollins face turn rumors more or less head-on, and he plays his heel card perfectly, abandoning Ambrose and Reigns to take a pointless DQ loss to the Wyatts. Oh, and Erick Rowan returns, apparently to sub for Luke Harper, with no explanation.
On the undercard, Owens hits a sweet pop-up powerbomb on Mark Henry to prep for Ryback at Hell in a Cell; the New Day falls victim to LOLCENAWINS; Rusev and Ziggler and Cesaro and Neville and Barrett and Sheamus are marking time; and Charlotte and Nikki Bella are ready for their rematch despite Sasha Banks being the most over woman in the company.
So what's it look like for HiaC?
Rollins vs. THEDEMONKANE for the WWE World Heavyweight World Championship of the World: If THEDEMONKANE loses,
The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar in the Demonic Structure: The second HiaC match between these two (Lesnar retained the Smackdown-only WWE Championship at No Mercy 2002) and probably the last time we'll see them in a ring together. Lesnar has never been in a HiaC match against anyone else, while this will be Taker's lucky thirteenth. See above re dragging stars out of an old man.
Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella for the (*sigh*) Divas Championship: WWE doesn't have the stones to put this one in the Cell, and there are no other women's matches currently on the card, so maybe Sasha will run in and be awesome all over the place.
Kevin Owens vs. Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship: Nothing significant at stake here, because it's the Intercontinental Championship.
John Cena vs. Tony B. Determined for the United States Championship: The Open Challenge on a PPV? With rumors of Cena wanting to be The Face That Takes A Break Over The Holidays (and possibly filming a non-WWE TV show), this could be the start of a new US reign by someone else, but who? BUT WHO, MAGGLE?
Totally unrelated note: Randy Orton is not currently scheduled for a match. Neither is recent callup Tyler Breeze.
The New Day vs. the Dudley Boyz for the Tag Team Championship: The Boyz have earned their pops, but the Day is firing on all cylinders and widely hailed as the best thing on Raw week-to-week.
Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt in the Slightly Less Demonic But More Backwoods Culty Structure: This match will likely be the official start of Reigns' second main-event push (all rumors point to him winning at WM32), but the smarks can hope that Wyatt at least looks fearsome.
Last night's NXT was nothing to write home about, with Asuka deathmurdering some Australian, Alexa Bliss going over some other Australian clean (seriously, is Australia a hotbed of women's wrestling or did WWE just hire every last one of them?), Enzo & Big Cass beating Dash & Dawson and then getting beat the fuck down, the pointless blowoff to the pointless Corbin-Rhyno feud, and the debut of multiple TNA/NWA tag team champion James Storm outta nowhere.
At 38 years old, Storm is an odd signing for NXT -- almost as much a "Screw you, TNA, we do what we want and we take your people whenever" as a serious development prospect.
posted by Etrigan at 6:11 AM on October 22, 2015
At 38 years old, Storm is an odd signing for NXT -- almost as much a "Screw you, TNA, we do what we want and we take your people whenever" as a serious development prospect.
posted by Etrigan at 6:11 AM on October 22, 2015
Randy Orton injured his shoulder taking the garbage out.
posted by Etrigan at 1:06 PM on October 22, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 1:06 PM on October 22, 2015
David "The Masked Man" Shoemaker turns in another of his excellent monthly Grantland columns, this one on the nostalgia trap that's keeping the current generation from really grabbing the brass ring.
posted by Etrigan at 11:55 AM on October 23, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 11:55 AM on October 23, 2015
So here's something: Going back to Respect one of my thoughts that got completely forgotten in the midst of the main event was that the New World's Greatest Tag Team (I like to think the shirt looks like an oldschool nWo shirt but says nWGTt or something) had a match with Rhyno/Corbin which I would easily call my favorite match involving either Rhyno or Corbin. Like, I genuinely enjoyed it, which I'm not sure I can say about any other Rhyno or Corbin match in NXT (and I'd have to think a long way back to figure out the last time I enjoyed a Rhyno match that much anywhere). And given how little I thought of the Rhyno/Corbin match this week, means maybe nWGTt are not only great, but are already able to carry other teams to really good tag matches? I know, a bit apples and oranges, but I thought the semifinal match was better than the Dusty Classic final match, so I don't know.
Anyone want to toss out a "I think it will be"/"I wish it would be" pair of guesses for Cena's opponent? Even having read the rumors earlier in the week, I don't feel like I have a great guess. I'll say Think it will be Ambrose, Wish it would be Ryder. (I swear it's like they took everyone I thought it might be and stuck them into that six man no reason tag match. And I like a lot of those guys, but I don't see WWE double booking any of them in a PPV. Maybe I'll be wrong!)
posted by jermsplan at 12:45 PM on October 23, 2015
Anyone want to toss out a "I think it will be"/"I wish it would be" pair of guesses for Cena's opponent? Even having read the rumors earlier in the week, I don't feel like I have a great guess. I'll say Think it will be Ambrose, Wish it would be Ryder. (I swear it's like they took everyone I thought it might be and stuck them into that six man no reason tag match. And I like a lot of those guys, but I don't see WWE double booking any of them in a PPV. Maybe I'll be wrong!)
posted by jermsplan at 12:45 PM on October 23, 2015
If they were planning this out farther, I would actually go with one of the faces from the pre-show match:
Ambrose could be a last-minute rebooking, or one of the Wyatt Family just to keep them in a storyline (but then, I've always been a big fan of Four Horsemen-style "We have all the belts" heeldom, so it would be nice to see Wyatt leading U.S. Champ Strowman, Tag Champs Harper and Rowan, some other Icon Champ that he bespells, and going after Roman Reigns post-WM32).
Dark Horse: Tyler Breeze. What better way to make a big "NXT is the next generation" impact than Breeze as U.S. Champ and Owens as Icon Champ simultaneously?
What I'd most love to see is someone totally out of left field. Zack Ryder would be great. Baron Corbin or a heeled-out Samoa Joe tearing through the midcard would be acceptable.
posted by Etrigan at 1:06 PM on October 23, 2015
- Cena is allegedly a big fan of Cesaro and might want to give him the rub on the way out.
- Ziggler could turn heel on the pre-show and then cheat over Cena
- Neville needs something, anything to do, and wrestling twice is a huge face move, especially for a smaller guy who can really sell the David vs. Goliath angle.
- Rusev's U.S. title run was pretty good, and if they need a better Lana face turn away from him, "I don't need you to be a champion!" would work.
- Sheamus is probably the least good option, but just imagine him having a U.S. Open Challenge Slash MitB Briefcase Challenge: every week, someone gets a shot at one or the other, and occasionally he loses, but then immediately offers up the other thing as an incentive to get a rematch.
- Barrett... see Neville re needing something to do. Also, he could do the same sort of "Title or Crown" challenge choice.
Ambrose could be a last-minute rebooking, or one of the Wyatt Family just to keep them in a storyline (but then, I've always been a big fan of Four Horsemen-style "We have all the belts" heeldom, so it would be nice to see Wyatt leading U.S. Champ Strowman, Tag Champs Harper and Rowan, some other Icon Champ that he bespells, and going after Roman Reigns post-WM32).
Dark Horse: Tyler Breeze. What better way to make a big "NXT is the next generation" impact than Breeze as U.S. Champ and Owens as Icon Champ simultaneously?
What I'd most love to see is someone totally out of left field. Zack Ryder would be great. Baron Corbin or a heeled-out Samoa Joe tearing through the midcard would be acceptable.
posted by Etrigan at 1:06 PM on October 23, 2015
So I'm super amused and just want to point out that I asked if anyone wanted to name two wrestlers (though obviously there was room for explanation) and Etrigan and brianrobot wrote something like 500 words about who those two wrestlers might be. awesome.
I want to toss out an idea I've been mulling over for a while and see what you all think. I'll apologize for repeating this ad nauseam in these fanfare threads, but I only get to watch the 90 minute version of RAW. That said, I'm starting to enjoy Smackdown! more than RAW. When I watch 2 hours of SD!, or 1 hour of Superstars or Main Event, I get to see more of the up and comers, or as Brian pointed out, I see more random character development. When I watch RAW, I feel like I'm watching a "This week in storyline news..." which doesn't always translate to the fresh talent and doesn't always translate to the backstage promo that is unintentionally hilarious, and doesn't always translate into...I don't know, the best wrestling? It's the shit you need to see to keep the story moving, whether it's the best 90 minutes of "Sports Entertainment" that week or not. I don't know, anyone else feeling like RAW is getting way bogged down by the writers or something?
posted by jermsplan at 11:13 PM on October 24, 2015
I want to toss out an idea I've been mulling over for a while and see what you all think. I'll apologize for repeating this ad nauseam in these fanfare threads, but I only get to watch the 90 minute version of RAW. That said, I'm starting to enjoy Smackdown! more than RAW. When I watch 2 hours of SD!, or 1 hour of Superstars or Main Event, I get to see more of the up and comers, or as Brian pointed out, I see more random character development. When I watch RAW, I feel like I'm watching a "This week in storyline news..." which doesn't always translate to the fresh talent and doesn't always translate to the backstage promo that is unintentionally hilarious, and doesn't always translate into...I don't know, the best wrestling? It's the shit you need to see to keep the story moving, whether it's the best 90 minutes of "Sports Entertainment" that week or not. I don't know, anyone else feeling like RAW is getting way bogged down by the writers or something?
posted by jermsplan at 11:13 PM on October 24, 2015
SPOILERS AHOY. KEEP SCROLLING IF THIS IS IN YOUR RECENT ACTIVITY AND YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HELL IN A CELL YET.
Okay, Kimberussell's Boyfriend was not who I expected at all, so kudos to WWE for pulling un conejo out of their hat. And the clean win was a perfect booking -- the match storyline was "Cena couldn't possibly have prepared for this", so he loses no face, and KB gets to look good too. Rumors were flying over the last week or so about negotiations to have KB back for a WM run, but nothing about starting it now.
Reigns vs. Wyatt was quite good for what it could be. I no longer have any faith in Roman Reigns ever being anything but a good brawler who can be pulled up to four stars by someone else, but that's what works in an HiaC match. I kinda wish, paradoxically, that WWE did more HiaCs, just to tamp down the expectations somewhat, because when the high point of innovation is jamming two kendo sticks into the turnbuckles, people just need to stop trying (also, oh, man, did the camera work telegraph Wyatt slamming Reigns into the table from the apron).
New Day over Dudleyz more or less clean was a good end to a well-done match. The fake-DQ spot was particularly nice, if a little too long with the ref acting like maaaybe he's going to call it...
Charlotte's a good champion, but she needs a program against someone who can really work with her rather than the sufficiently-not-awful Nikki. One thing that shows us how far the Revolution has brought us already: of the five title matches tonight, this was the second-longest.
Rollins over Kane in the yawner of the night. No suspense, and Glen Jacobs is a gamer, but he's too old to have a good match dragged out of him anymore.
Are... are we getting the Intercontinental Championship match after the World Championship match? That's just weird. This one is pretty palate-cleaner, but the (totally unremarked upon) eye-rake finisher might sadly mean that we get more of Ryback.
Reports are already flowing in that Vince was pissed about the bleeding in the main event, but both were legit hardway. Looks like we're in for another Taker-Bray WM run.
Overall, solid second-tier PPV that ended some storylines and started some new ones.
posted by Etrigan at 8:13 AM on October 26, 2015
Okay, Kimberussell's Boyfriend was not who I expected at all, so kudos to WWE for pulling un conejo out of their hat. And the clean win was a perfect booking -- the match storyline was "Cena couldn't possibly have prepared for this", so he loses no face, and KB gets to look good too. Rumors were flying over the last week or so about negotiations to have KB back for a WM run, but nothing about starting it now.
Reigns vs. Wyatt was quite good for what it could be. I no longer have any faith in Roman Reigns ever being anything but a good brawler who can be pulled up to four stars by someone else, but that's what works in an HiaC match. I kinda wish, paradoxically, that WWE did more HiaCs, just to tamp down the expectations somewhat, because when the high point of innovation is jamming two kendo sticks into the turnbuckles, people just need to stop trying (also, oh, man, did the camera work telegraph Wyatt slamming Reigns into the table from the apron).
New Day over Dudleyz more or less clean was a good end to a well-done match. The fake-DQ spot was particularly nice, if a little too long with the ref acting like maaaybe he's going to call it...
Charlotte's a good champion, but she needs a program against someone who can really work with her rather than the sufficiently-not-awful Nikki. One thing that shows us how far the Revolution has brought us already: of the five title matches tonight, this was the second-longest.
Rollins over Kane in the yawner of the night. No suspense, and Glen Jacobs is a gamer, but he's too old to have a good match dragged out of him anymore.
Are... are we getting the Intercontinental Championship match after the World Championship match? That's just weird. This one is pretty palate-cleaner, but the (totally unremarked upon) eye-rake finisher might sadly mean that we get more of Ryback.
Reports are already flowing in that Vince was pissed about the bleeding in the main event, but both were legit hardway. Looks like we're in for another Taker-Bray WM run.
Overall, solid second-tier PPV that ended some storylines and started some new ones.
posted by Etrigan at 8:13 AM on October 26, 2015
I am completely with brianrobot's recap of RAW. I didn't give HIAC my full attention, but it also didn't capture my full attention other than a few spots, which was disappointing to me. RAW, on the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed. I'd love for the end of HIAC to be a bit of an end to a lot of older stuff involving older talent or matches we've all seen a hundred times by now. Bring on the new guys! Or even the not new guys, but the guys who deserve more meaningful air time than they've been getting!
Anyone else catch the shot during the HIAC pre-show when Cesaro was about to embark on his around-the-ring uppercut tour, when he did his arm pumping salute towards the Stardust Section, and both members of The Ascension were doing it right back to him? I wonder if what the camera didn't catch was that they were doing it in a mocking way, but it happened so fast then when I saw it I wondered if they were 2 NXT guys giving a salute to another NXT guy, thinking they'd get away with it because why would the camera be anywhere near them? That's what I'd like to believe, but feel like it would have been a pretty big mistake if that's what did happen.
I also keep hearing people say that Vince hates blood now, but also can't understand how it can possibly be true or else every ref would be carrying a towel and that skin superglue that boxers use and he'd never have more than 10 seconds of blood again before a ref put a stop to it.
I completely loved the New Day's black arm bands. That's the kind of little touch that makes them the best.
Brock's head missed the mat by a country mile during that Tombstone Piledriver. I think it's time to retire that move.
posted by jermsplan at 11:47 AM on October 27, 2015
Anyone else catch the shot during the HIAC pre-show when Cesaro was about to embark on his around-the-ring uppercut tour, when he did his arm pumping salute towards the Stardust Section, and both members of The Ascension were doing it right back to him? I wonder if what the camera didn't catch was that they were doing it in a mocking way, but it happened so fast then when I saw it I wondered if they were 2 NXT guys giving a salute to another NXT guy, thinking they'd get away with it because why would the camera be anywhere near them? That's what I'd like to believe, but feel like it would have been a pretty big mistake if that's what did happen.
I also keep hearing people say that Vince hates blood now, but also can't understand how it can possibly be true or else every ref would be carrying a towel and that skin superglue that boxers use and he'd never have more than 10 seconds of blood again before a ref put a stop to it.
I completely loved the New Day's black arm bands. That's the kind of little touch that makes them the best.
Brock's head missed the mat by a country mile during that Tombstone Piledriver. I think it's time to retire that move.
posted by jermsplan at 11:47 AM on October 27, 2015
Why would Vince be pissed about something he clearly orchestrated?
Alvarez, Meltzer, and PWInsider agree that the blood was hardway and that Lesnar wasn't supposed to chuck that medic. It could absolutely be a work, but WWE seems to have given up on trying to work the smarks (other than simply not advertising surprises like Del Rio's return), so I tend to doubt it at this point.
I also keep hearing people say that Vince hates blood now
I would say that Vince doesn't hate blood, he hates anything that might make parents stop letting their kids watch (and buy John Cena shirts) (90%) and anything that invites lawsuits (10%).
Brock's head missed the mat by a country mile during that Tombstone Piledriver. I think it's time to retire that move.
Soon enough. Taker and Kane are the only ones allowed to do it anymore, and I don't remember the last time Kane did it.
I agree that Raw was superior to HiaC, but for another reason in addition to the quality of the matches and the tournament itself: the fact that the tournament was among last night's winners. Instead of just "the current champions", and even though it was just a way to get Reigns into it and pad it out with the pre-show faces, it (retroactively) made a second-tier PPV mean something in the ring, rather than just mean something to the plotlines.
posted by Etrigan at 1:17 PM on October 27, 2015
Alvarez, Meltzer, and PWInsider agree that the blood was hardway and that Lesnar wasn't supposed to chuck that medic. It could absolutely be a work, but WWE seems to have given up on trying to work the smarks (other than simply not advertising surprises like Del Rio's return), so I tend to doubt it at this point.
I also keep hearing people say that Vince hates blood now
I would say that Vince doesn't hate blood, he hates anything that might make parents stop letting their kids watch (and buy John Cena shirts) (90%) and anything that invites lawsuits (10%).
Brock's head missed the mat by a country mile during that Tombstone Piledriver. I think it's time to retire that move.
Soon enough. Taker and Kane are the only ones allowed to do it anymore, and I don't remember the last time Kane did it.
I agree that Raw was superior to HiaC, but for another reason in addition to the quality of the matches and the tournament itself: the fact that the tournament was among last night's winners. Instead of just "the current champions", and even though it was just a way to get Reigns into it and pad it out with the pre-show faces, it (retroactively) made a second-tier PPV mean something in the ring, rather than just mean something to the plotlines.
posted by Etrigan at 1:17 PM on October 27, 2015
Didn't Kane tombstone Rollins at HIAC?
Honestly? Only paying half attention during that match. Wouldn't surprise me if he had.
On to NXT.
Another Australian woman. I hope they all start teaming up as an anti-America heel faction at some point.
Jordan is actually getting a rub from Gable at this point. That is insane.
You forgot the good old-fashioned pre-match assault by Dash & Dawson (weren't they The Mechanics originally?) on The Realest Guys In The Room. I swear, D&D remind me more of Arn & Tully every week. If they get to the main roster and team up with Tyler Breeze, they would instantly be at Four Horsemen levels of heat.
posted by Etrigan at 7:59 AM on October 29, 2015
Honestly? Only paying half attention during that match. Wouldn't surprise me if he had.
On to NXT.
Another Australian woman. I hope they all start teaming up as an anti-America heel faction at some point.
Jordan is actually getting a rub from Gable at this point. That is insane.
You forgot the good old-fashioned pre-match assault by Dash & Dawson (weren't they The Mechanics originally?) on The Realest Guys In The Room. I swear, D&D remind me more of Arn & Tully every week. If they get to the main roster and team up with Tyler Breeze, they would instantly be at Four Horsemen levels of heat.
posted by Etrigan at 7:59 AM on October 29, 2015
Real sign of the Diva Revolution: getting 5 divas on Halloween SmackDown! with 0 sexy costumes? (Not sure if Renee counts against this)
Cosmic Wasteland appeared on MainEvent last week (I know, I know). I'm hoping that creative generally likes the idea and wants to keep it simmering, but doesn't feel like the setup is there for the three to go at it full time on one of the big shows.
New Day dressing up as unicorns was hilarious, New Day on commentary was terrible. I agree, an unneeded distraction from an otherwise entertaining match.
I am entirely unsold on Nia Jax. Not saying she doesn't deserve time in NXT to develop, but for some reason I expected more right out the door after the hype they built.
posted by jermsplan at 7:09 AM on November 2, 2015
Cosmic Wasteland appeared on MainEvent last week (I know, I know). I'm hoping that creative generally likes the idea and wants to keep it simmering, but doesn't feel like the setup is there for the three to go at it full time on one of the big shows.
New Day dressing up as unicorns was hilarious, New Day on commentary was terrible. I agree, an unneeded distraction from an otherwise entertaining match.
I am entirely unsold on Nia Jax. Not saying she doesn't deserve time in NXT to develop, but for some reason I expected more right out the door after the hype they built.
posted by jermsplan at 7:09 AM on November 2, 2015
Mike and the Mechanics!
I hate you so much.
"Where are we? Is this space?"
Okay, less so now.
I am entirely unsold on Nia Jax. Not saying she doesn't deserve time in NXT to develop, but for some reason I expected more right out the door after the hype they built.
Oh, gods, especially after the near-perfect Kana/Asuka buildup. If Jax had just shown up out of the blue and pounded someone into the mat, I think we'd all be a lot happier with her.
posted by Etrigan at 7:03 PM on November 2, 2015
I hate you so much.
"Where are we? Is this space?"
Okay, less so now.
I am entirely unsold on Nia Jax. Not saying she doesn't deserve time in NXT to develop, but for some reason I expected more right out the door after the hype they built.
Oh, gods, especially after the near-perfect Kana/Asuka buildup. If Jax had just shown up out of the blue and pounded someone into the mat, I think we'd all be a lot happier with her.
posted by Etrigan at 7:03 PM on November 2, 2015
oh man, Owens holding Ambrose in the corner for Rollins and pleading "What are you doing? Just do something! Why don't you just do something? What are you waiting for?" until Ambrose inevitably broke free and slapped Rollins was hilarious.
posted by jermsplan at 12:08 PM on November 3, 2015
posted by jermsplan at 12:08 PM on November 3, 2015
I'm really loving Kevin Owens, Super Kayfabe-Following Smark.
posted by Etrigan at 12:13 PM on November 3, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 12:13 PM on November 3, 2015
#KayfabeOnly
Does anyone else watch Abrose and think "man, that guy is electric with the crowd but has the absolute worst moveset in all of wrestling"?
I was never a big Uso fan, I didn't think they pushed themselves to innovate in the ring for the (it felt like a) long stretch where they just dominated the lackluster tagteam division. But I wasn't at all unhappy to see them back on RAW, I think the division could use some charismatic faces, because we seem to have a glut of heel teams and heel champs, which makes it tough to give non-champ heels airtime. Here's hoping they're forced to work their way up, facing all the heel teams over the course of a month or more, before getting their title shot.
posted by jermsplan at 7:07 PM on November 3, 2015
Does anyone else watch Abrose and think "man, that guy is electric with the crowd but has the absolute worst moveset in all of wrestling"?
I was never a big Uso fan, I didn't think they pushed themselves to innovate in the ring for the (it felt like a) long stretch where they just dominated the lackluster tagteam division. But I wasn't at all unhappy to see them back on RAW, I think the division could use some charismatic faces, because we seem to have a glut of heel teams and heel champs, which makes it tough to give non-champ heels airtime. Here's hoping they're forced to work their way up, facing all the heel teams over the course of a month or more, before getting their title shot.
posted by jermsplan at 7:07 PM on November 3, 2015
Eva Marie's opponent was literally never named.
Gionna Daddio, a.k.a. Marley. Maybe the commentary team was under orders not to say her name because she's already being retooled, because Marley?
the mystery of her identity proved far more interesting than the bout itself
OH GOD PLEASE END THE EVA MARIE EXPERIMENT NOW.
I agree about the main event, but the possibility of a (double!) run-in honestly never even occurred to me. NXT has actually cured my lingering herecomestheschmozzitis.
posted by Etrigan at 7:29 AM on November 5, 2015
Gionna Daddio, a.k.a. Marley. Maybe the commentary team was under orders not to say her name because she's already being retooled, because Marley?
the mystery of her identity proved far more interesting than the bout itself
OH GOD PLEASE END THE EVA MARIE EXPERIMENT NOW.
I agree about the main event, but the possibility of a (double!) run-in honestly never even occurred to me. NXT has actually cured my lingering herecomestheschmozzitis.
posted by Etrigan at 7:29 AM on November 5, 2015
Here's my biggest WTF around Eva Marie: how many people had to OK those vignettes from Europe? The thinking was "Eva Marie has great heat right now, let's take her out of the ring, but not off TV. Don't let people forget about her, because we want her to come back with the exact same reaction she's been getting"?
I've been thinking, and as much as I am amused by Zeb's turn and the new MexAmerican Title, I kind of wish he'd gone for the North American Championship. Would still have been different from the IC, but maybe could have drummed up a feud with a Canadian or something. But I guess my dream is more of a permanent change and Zeb's change will be undone by the next champ.
posted by jermsplan at 10:18 AM on November 5, 2015
I've been thinking, and as much as I am amused by Zeb's turn and the new MexAmerican Title, I kind of wish he'd gone for the North American Championship. Would still have been different from the IC, but maybe could have drummed up a feud with a Canadian or something. But I guess my dream is more of a permanent change and Zeb's change will be undone by the next champ.
posted by jermsplan at 10:18 AM on November 5, 2015
Here's my biggest WTF around Eva Marie: how many people had to OK those vignettes from Europe?
For all that we hear about how hands-off Vince is with NXT, I figure that's either him or someone near him pushing her on them. He's always had a thing for people who are famous (or notorious) outside the ring, and Total Divas has kept the Bellas on top forever.
I've been thinking, and as much as I am amused by Zeb's turn and the new MexAmerican Title, I kind of wish he'd gone for the North American Championship.
I wonder whether they just haven't decided whether he's going to be a heel or face, so they're letting the MexAmerica thing be either "Face Del Rio attracts Latinos" or "Heel Del Rio talks about how Mexico is taking over America", depending on how the fans start to react to him.
posted by Etrigan at 10:28 AM on November 5, 2015
For all that we hear about how hands-off Vince is with NXT, I figure that's either him or someone near him pushing her on them. He's always had a thing for people who are famous (or notorious) outside the ring, and Total Divas has kept the Bellas on top forever.
I've been thinking, and as much as I am amused by Zeb's turn and the new MexAmerican Title, I kind of wish he'd gone for the North American Championship.
I wonder whether they just haven't decided whether he's going to be a heel or face, so they're letting the MexAmerica thing be either "Face Del Rio attracts Latinos" or "Heel Del Rio talks about how Mexico is taking over America", depending on how the fans start to react to him.
posted by Etrigan at 10:28 AM on November 5, 2015
Holy shit, Rollins just vacated the title. Tournament at Survivor Series.
posted by Etrigan at 11:04 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 11:04 AM on November 6, 2015
I was right:
Gionna Daddio did not work last night’s WWE NXT live event in Lakeland, Florida under her Marley ring name. The name was noticeably not used on this week’s episode of NXT, which was her television debut, and officially scrapped last night.posted by Etrigan at 2:56 PM on November 6, 2015
Cole imploring Paige, "NOT ON THE TABLE!" was indeed the highlight of the night for me. I'd like to say I hope she goes on to do the PTO in lots of random places that clearly don't affect the move in anyway, but she may have already peaked with the announce table, so oh well.
Here's the thing about Breeze and Ziggler not meeting next round: don't setup the damn bracket so it looks like they could. Because what you did was not "build tension by making everyone expect a Breeze win", what you did was fuck up so everyone wonders WTF is happening. At best, Breeze now interferes to try and cost Ziggler the win, but Ziggler still overcomes and moves on. I don't know. What I do know is that an Ambrose who limps into the third round because he wins over Ziggler with the help of the guy he eliminated in the first round is a shit idea.
posted by jermsplan at 1:01 PM on November 11, 2015
Here's the thing about Breeze and Ziggler not meeting next round: don't setup the damn bracket so it looks like they could. Because what you did was not "build tension by making everyone expect a Breeze win", what you did was fuck up so everyone wonders WTF is happening. At best, Breeze now interferes to try and cost Ziggler the win, but Ziggler still overcomes and moves on. I don't know. What I do know is that an Ambrose who limps into the third round because he wins over Ziggler with the help of the guy he eliminated in the first round is a shit idea.
posted by jermsplan at 1:01 PM on November 11, 2015
I am holding out hope that something truly insane happens (YOUR NEW WORLD WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION OF THE WORLD: KAAA-LEEE-STOOO!), or at least something more surprising than Ambrose turning on Reigns in the final.
posted by Etrigan at 1:56 PM on November 11, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 1:56 PM on November 11, 2015
I keep track alliteratively: Blake is Blonde
Is anyone else really annoyed by how incapable Harper and Rowan are anymore? Harper seems like he has a ton of potential, Rowan was a perfectly serviceable #3 on the team. Then Stroman comes along, with the most size and least ability of the bunch, but now he's a monster so the other two have to look like crap just so that Stroman can eventually look better for taking out whoever took out Luke and Eric.
posted by jermsplan at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2015
Is anyone else really annoyed by how incapable Harper and Rowan are anymore? Harper seems like he has a ton of potential, Rowan was a perfectly serviceable #3 on the team. Then Stroman comes along, with the most size and least ability of the bunch, but now he's a monster so the other two have to look like crap just so that Stroman can eventually look better for taking out whoever took out Luke and Eric.
posted by jermsplan at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2015
I was pretty Meh about this week's NXT (okay, aside from the Bayley-to-belly on Blakeormurphy), but seeing Dash & Dawson legitimately emotional about winning the tag belts... That got to me. It would have been so easy for them to be heelish and arrogant and "No one's ever gonna take these away from us!", but they let them have a genuine human moment, regardless of whether it fit their characters -- and because of that, it totally did fit their characters.
posted by Etrigan at 11:25 AM on November 12, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 11:25 AM on November 12, 2015
So... um... yeah, Kalisto might be a better bet than we thought to make the semifinals.
posted by Etrigan at 6:48 PM on November 14, 2015
posted by Etrigan at 6:48 PM on November 14, 2015
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I'm not expecting a whole lot of blood or anything else from their rematch.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 3:35 PM on October 20, 2015