|
Join the Tito Twitter NCAA Pick'em Contest by CLICKING HERE. Free to join as you just need a Yahoo! account. I won my own NCAA Pick'em last year... BEAT ME IF YOU CAN, SURVIVE IF I LET YOU! ------------------------- Welcome back to the EXCELLENCE IN COLUMN writing... You know, this Wrestlemania 32 season is kind of depressing. While I'm excited to get Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar, I really don't want to see Triple H vs. Roman Reigns and the Undertaker wrestling a corporate backyarder named Shane McMahon in a Hell in a Cell match. But then the WWE gives you a WWE Network special called WWE Roadblock and everything is OK... Great matches on the show and it is very likely to be better than Wrestlemania. On top of WWE Roadblock was Triple H vs. Dean Ambrose and it was EXCELLENT. Dean is a very energetic and quick worker and Triple H kept up with him... That match reminded me of the Triple H of 2000... During 2000, HHH was at his peak and his workrate was through the roof. Better yet, HHH was hungry and wanted to impress now that the Main Event spot was officially his. HHH waited patiently for his turn as Steve Austin dominated much of 1998-1999 and then the rise of the Rock also happened during those years. With Austin out of the way due to injury, HHH rose to the occasion... Better yet, HHH was quite good at selling for his opponents that year. At WWE Roadblock, HHH did everything in his power to make Dean Ambrose look great. Makes you wonder if something is up? Not sure if you noticed, but Triple H is in tremendous shape right now. HHH is obsessed with bodybuilding so he's always in fantastic shape. But if you look at his matches in the last 5 years, HHH was never in the physical condition that he's in now. On HHH's Twitter account, he's been posting Midnight workouts and some of the activities are quite absurd. Triple H is taking his in-ring return as WWE Champion quite seriously. That being said, Roman Reigns better watch out. Conditioning has been a factor for Roman as he has been winded in various big matches. Even when he might have worked 15 minutes, at most in the Royal Rumble with a long break in between... He was sucking wind when he returned to the ring. Worse yet for Reigns, he's been out with an injury to fix his nose. There's a good chance that he took a few breaks from his workouts which could suggest that his cardio has worsened over the past few weeks. Reigns has to wrestle a motivated Triple H who appears to be in the shape of his life? Good luck Reigns... But Triple H may have other motivations... I believe that there is real backstage tension between Stephanie/Triple H and Vince McMahon, professionally... With Triple H becoming EVP of Creative, Live Events, and Talent, I believe that he's become frustrated in dealing with his father-in-law. Triple H has worked hard to rebuild the NXT developmental brand and make it an asset to WWE Network while trying to push new creative directions on the main WWE roster. However, once the Creative Team's scripts enters the WWE Production Meetings, Vince McMahon and Executive Producer Kevin Dunn, that script is often rejected and forced rewrites happen just hours before RAW starts. Creative directions keep changing week after week... Roman Reigns is what Vince McMahon considers to be the "next John Cena". For the past 2 years, Vince has been trying to make Roman Reigns into an instant star. Vince forgets that most of his biggest stars ever (Hogan, Savage, Warrior, Hart, Michaels, Austin, Rock, Triple H, Batista, and Cena) spent years in the midcard as singles wrestlers and most of them proving to be draws with midcard titles before getting promoted, by the fans, to the Main Event. Ever since the Shield broke-up, Vince has tried repeatedly to make Roman into an instant Main Eventer and top babyface. It's not working... Fans can see right through the over-booking and can easily see that Reigns is still green as a personality and isn't exactly the best in-ring worker for non-gimmick matches. Hence, the many many boos for Reigns as he chases the WWE Title. Recently, Vince McMahon brought back Shane McMahon to the WWE to actually wrestle the Undertaker which is about the most insane booking idea that anyone could come up with to hype Wrestlemania. Better yet, the fabricated storyline that Vince McMahon created which has Shane McMahon pushing for control over Monday Night RAW has caused storylines to become quite confusing. For example, Triple H could lose everything at Wrestlemania 32. Not only is he defending the WWE Title but he could lose power over controlling RAW. Completely distracts and overshadows his Wrestlemania 32 match with Roman Reigns. HHH not only is doing the favor for Vince McMahon by wrestling Roman Reigns (possibly putting him over), but now has to concede possible power to Shane as well? This past week, several stories just so happened to leak to the insider news media... For one, Vince McMahon's opinion of the NXT brand and its wrestlers, past and present... Vince is not fond of the NXT roster and recent call-ups which somehow was reported to the insiders. How? No doubt that Vince would only rip talent behind closed doors and only around specific executives during the Production Meetings. Then, the news broke that there is "heat" on Shane McMahon for flubbing his lines on RAW repeatedly. How is that even known? And why do we never hear any insider news stories about how Triple H/Stephanie speak or treat people backstage? Why do we never see that? I think there is something in the air that surrounds Wrestlemania 32. I believe that the Triple H/Stephanie duo, specifically Triple H, is tired of dealing with Vince McMahon as a professional backstage and also in the WWE Corporate offices. With ratings dropping, WWE failing to sellout events this year, and many wrestler injuries, the opportunity to reduce or marginalize Vince McMahon professionally is there... If Triple H works circles around Roman Reigns, especially as we hear a chorus of boos in Dallas at Wrestlemania 32, it will further weaken or frustrate Vince backstage. Because of Reigns failing, Vince may become more open to ideas or at the extreme, step down. I doubt that Vince would retire, but he might give more responsibility to Triple H to operate the WWE backstage. There's a way for everyone to save face, though... Triple H RETAINS the WWE Title against Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 32. You cannot deny those boos... Reigns is NOT over as a babyface, at least not to be the #1 guy of the company. Not only that, but he's not a good worker or talker... However, if he loses, the WWE can move him into the midcard and let him develop properly as a singles wrestler. Then, he can work his way up to the top like the greats... Meanwhile, move Triple H to "special attraction" status like Brock Lesnar and only let him wrestle on WWE Network Pay Per View events. I actually thought that Triple H vs. Dolph Ziggler on RAW during Monday Night was ridiculous booking because it diminishes how special it is when HHH actually wrestles. Brock Lesnar is effective because you only see him on Pay Per View or WWE Network events. Then, the WWE could build an army of babyfaces (Dean Ambrose, returning Seth Rollins, returning John Cena, Brock Lesnar, returning Randy Orton, etc.) and I would recommend that Triple H enlist the League of Nations to be his full-time thugs to protect him as champion. In other words... And I hate myself for saying this... I'm recommending that Triple H BURY Roman Reigns. Never thought I'd say that, but if we're getting the Triple H that gave Dean Ambrose in an AMAZING match at WWE Roadblock, I'm OK with that... WWE needs starpower badly and Triple H's proven work building NXT shows that he's getting a little wiser about wrestling. =========================================== RAW is HULU Missed the Cut: (RAW is Hulu is only 1.5 hours long) - Ryback vs. Sin Cara - Usos vs. Bo Dallas/Heath Slater - Chris Jericho vs. Neville (guess it was cut due to injury?) Opening segment was NOT a McMahon lovefest in-ring promo but an actual match... New Day (Woods & Big E) against the League of Nations (Rusev & Alberto Del Rio). Match was fun and it worked to begin building New Day as potential babyfaces. The match did better to build up the New Day than their awful promo beforehand. Seriously, their mic work has legitimately diminished. They went from being innovative and funny to talking about Unicorns and Booty. It's just not funny any longer and they should review tapes of what made them funny in the first place. Actually, I know what it is... The New Day was getting over when Xavior Woods did the majority of the speaking and trash talk... Although I'd argue that Big E and Kofi have improved from their prior midcard roles, they seem to take away from Woods who is an amazing talker. Dean Ambrose came to the ring... What I liked about this segment is that they legitmately pushed that Ambrose truly had Triple H beat but only lost due to a technicality (leg under the ropes). But I'll be honest, there wasn't much with the banter between Ambrose and Paul Heyman/Brock Lesnar, just paint by the numbers. But, I liked that Ambrose pushing Triple H to the limits was pushed and that's a good sell to make Ambrose seem a little more credible to wrestle Lesnar. Triple H's promo where he ripped on the fans for failing in life, wishing they were as successful as him, etc. was a promo that we've seen over and over again by HHH or Stephanie. Seriously, I could just put in a tape from anytime between 2000-2016 and you'll hear them cut the same exact promo. LAME... And then Dolph Ziggler randomly interrupts them and he's upset with his role. Yeah, me too... He wants a big challenge and he somehow gets one in the form of Triple H. So random... Happy that Ziggler gets the opportunity but this match should have occurred after Survivor Series 2014 and not after Ziggler has lost to about everybody on the active WWE roster. Sami Zayn vs. Miz was a quick match... Zayn's racking up the victories against longtime WWE employees. We'll see how long that lasts... Can't say that I'm overly impressed with his WWE performances, but we'll give him some time to figure out the big WWE spotlights. He'll have to be like a blind man at an orgy: he'll have to feel his way around. I was SHOCKED to see Brie Bella/Alicia Fox vs. Naomi/Tamina match to make RAW is Hulu. It's the typical match that WWE usually cuts. But hey, I guess that Neville injury created an opening. Not much of a match because the focus was fully on Lana at ringside for whatever reason. I must be missing the storyline purpose here as I watch an edited RAW on Hulu or skip Smackdown. Either way, I don't care... Nobody is viable in the Divas division, especially the ones not going after the Divas Title. Good to see Mick Foley on the show... He had a segment with Dean Ambrose and gave him the barbed wire bat as a present. Cool stuff. Bring that to the no-DQ street fight at Wrestlemania 32! Triple H vs. Dolph Ziggler was damn good... As I said above, HHH is motivated and in great shape and Ziggler is his usual athletic beast. Why this match was given away for FREE as a random match on RAW, well, I'll never know. I guess in some respects, it doesn't hurt to give Triple H some valid clean wins... But then again, he'll be too strong against a very weak Roman Reigns opponents. Speaking of Roman, he appeared AFTER the match but arriving through the WWE entrance way and no longer through the crowd. Reigns looks a little different, as maybe the nose surgery changed him slightly? Just looked slightly different... I think? Anyway, he arrives to boos, attacks Triple H to either boos or utter silence, and because of zero enthusiasm by the fans to see his return, the attack on Triple H was LAME. We're looking at a complete disaster at Wrestlemania 32 if this match is the Main Event. Seriously. And then, the ending segment... Vince McMahon, blah blah blah, Undertaker comes down and is a Vince henchman without question (maybe the "Higher Power" stuff still works?). Just crap. We're seriously recycling 1998-1999 stuff here. And then here comes the money, Shane McMahon responds... Blah blah blah, and then they poorly brawl. Undertaker, with some help from Vince (seriously?), lays out Shane. End of show. SHOW THOUGHTS: Eh, Ziggler vs. HHH might be worth watching and the opening tag match was good... The rest of the show was uneventful at least as far as what Hulu let me see. Not liking how Wrestlemania 32 is shaping up, but hey, I'll mail it in as long as Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose still happens. [ C- ] =========================================== THE LAST WORD Can we just end the arguments about the WWE Hall of Fame already? There aren't many fans of the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame class. There are some arguing against Sting because he only has 2 WWE matches, how sleazy the Godfather was, how the Big Bossman should in the Hall of Fame years ago, and now Jackie. Sure, I'd like to see the likes of Sable or Chyna get in before, but the WWE needs a "yes" from them or they have to be practical. Sable or Rena Lesnar seems to have put her wrestling career behind her while Chyna has alleged "abuse" against Triple H along with other allegations. I've always held the Koko B. Ware standard about the WWE Hall of Fame... No offense to Koko, and I wish him the best, but the WWE didn't exactly push him strong at all. He won his handful of squash matches but do you remember any Koko B. Ware "Wrestlemania moments"? Me neither. The WWE Hall of Fame is more about celebrating wrestler's careers rather than picking the absolute best of the best. That, and because WWE has mostly covered WWE careers (with a few exceptions), it's not a complete Hall of Fame. Sure, the WWE is trying to induct bigger names from other promotions, but it's still heavily biased with the WWE Universe. It's just useless to argue... Just sit back and enjoy the induction ceremony as a special bonus of having WWE Network. Besides, it's not always the WWE (or at least their entire fault). Bruno Sammartino hated the way that Vince McMahon Jr. was changing the business and didn't like how Vince Jr. used his son. He held a grudge for years against Vince and it took Triple H, plus a big wad of cash, to convince Sammartino to be inducted. The Ultimate Warrior and the WWE had heat ever since his 1996 termination and things were made much worse by the WWE's "Self Destruction" DVD which was prompted by various lawsuits and quotes made by the Warrior throughout the years. "Macho Man" Randy Savage wasn't the easiest guy to please at times and as Savage's real brother suggested (Lanny Poffo, the Genius), Savage was insulted by his lack of use during 1993-1994 by the WWE and the "Nacho Man" character. He was also personally ticked off about Triple H mocking him during the early 2000's. As much as everyone wants to blame a so-called rumor for keeping Savage out of the WWE Hall, there were issues getting him to consider joining the Hall when he was alive. Some wrestlers are just not feasible, refuse to join it, or have personal issues to resolve. The WWE Hall of Fame, to me, is just a bonus to enjoy around Wrestlemania time... It's very similar to the NFL announcing their new Hall of Fame members on the Saturday before the Super Bowl. Just something that enhances the weekend... There are better things to debate in pro wrestling or more meaningful Hall of Fames to argue about. Don't get me started on that Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. SO JUST CHILL... 'TIL THE NEXT EPISODE! Comments and feedback are welcome. Follow and Tweet me @titowrestling or login in below to post comments. Like Super Mario Maker for the Nintendo Wii U? Then check out my pro-wrestling based courses within Course World --> Search: - WrestleWar - ID: AEAC-0000-01C3-4578 - nWo Run-in - ID: 2274-0000-01B3-5AC0 - WCW Wargames - ID: 7BAA-0000-01B0-8F99 - WWE Royal Rumble - ID: 7B38-0000-01A3-2F4C - Pro Wrestling Mario - ID: E290-0000-0199-7AC7 © Mr. Tito and LordsofPain.net/WrestlingHeadlines.com - 1998-2016
|
