NXT Call Ups… What is WWE Doing Now?

This week we saw, even more, call ups from NXT on Monday Night Raw and Smackdown Live. We also saw a “classy” interference come out once again. Are we ready to cheer on these new talents or will they get pushed to the back of the shelf like some of the NXT stars from the past few years?

Welcome to the Big Time Ricochet

I try to catch NXT as often as possible but it’s not a must watch for me. Sometimes I go back the day following an event and only watch a few matches that are of interest. This guy is always one that I make sure to watch though. He has a great look, good ring presence, and his move set is on point…. That being said I’m not sure any of this new Ricochet talent is quite ready for the weekly televised shows. Guys like Nakamura, Tye Dillinger (now released) and even Asuka have been back burnered a lot since moving up to the main roster because they didn’t have the right support. I hope WWE listens when we say that we want to see more of this guy in the ring. Please give him a chance, and I don’t mean just 2 weeks to show us that he deserves to be here. Push him! Put him in matches that count but also make him earn any title before you just slap it on him. I want to see this guy in the ring with guys like Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio and even someone like Mustafa Ali. Let’s see some exciting match-ups….you don’t have to let him win all of them but give him a chance to show us what he can do with some talented superstars.

Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Aleister Black

All of these guys had the NXT fans behind them but will it be the same on the main roster. I have a feeling that at least one of these guys will drift back into the shadows post WrestleMania unfortunately.

Ciampa, Gargano & Black

While all of them have in-ring potential, I think it might be too soon. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Aleister Black excels because he’s fun to watch. He definitely has the look and capabilities, but I’m wondering if the WWE Universe will get behind him. It seems to me that the fans that watch NXT do it more for the wrestling and less for the storyline that becomes part of the main roster. Those are simply your more hardcore pure fans. Ciampa and Gargano are very talented and great on the mic, but I just don’t know if the fans are going to support them on the main roster.

Last… Lacey Evans

I keep hearing that Lacey Evans is going to get a big push after WrestleMania… Why? Not to sound crazy but “What about Asuka?” I feel like there are quite a few females already doing great work on the main roster who deserves a big push far more than Lacey does. I know that she’s probably a great “bad guy,” but honestly I find her a bit annoying and looking a lot too much like Charlotte. Lacey Evans I’m all about the women’s evolution, but we have so many ladies already fighting for screen time on the roster that have worked longer and harder who should get the spotlight a little first. I know that her gimmick was over pretty well in NXT and her stature is more of what Vince wants, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is the one that gets pushed to the back of the shelf out of all of the recent talent call ups. I just don’t see a place for her in the spotlight right now.

There already seems to be so much unused talent on the current roster that I’m not quite sure where these new faces will fit in… Then again, I’m not in charge of a company that makes millions of dollars every year so really who am I to judge right.

What Happens Next

Now that the Royal Rumble is over and the road to Wrestlemania has begun what happens next? We saw Becky Lynch lose to Asuka but come back and later win the Women’s Royal Rumble and then we saw Balor lose in classic fashion to Lesnar… Still not sure why that match was even on the card since everyone already knew what WWE would have the outcome be.

What Happens to Finn

Balor put up a fight to Lesnar. He was the first Universal Champion, he’s a fan favorite and amazing wrestler… Does he once again get lost in the mid-card after losing to Lesnar? Come on Vince give his man the push he deserves and a chance for the fans to be finn balor happy for once. Finn is a worker, he’s a great guy, he has a great fighting style and even though I love the Demon King persona he doesn’t even need that to make the fans cheer. In the ring he puts on a great performance, is amazingly talented and gives 110% in his job. Let him have a chance. Listen to the fans give Balor a shot and let him wear the title around his waist for a while. Let the fans enjoy the champion they want!

Will it be Becky vs. Ronnie vs. Charlotte

Have faith in “The Man”! Have confidence in Becky and Ronnie putting on a great match at Mania without adding Charlotte to the mix. Becky has earned the opportunity twice now to take on Ronnie one on one. Give it to her! She is so hot right now, and all of the fans love her regardless of being good, bad or all about herself. Of course, as a Becky Lynch fan from th Rousey vs Lynch e time she was in NXT, it’s great to see her showing her true potential both in the ring and on the mic. Rousey was fun to watch in the octagon, but I’m not a big fan in the WWE ring. I feel like she needs to have a little more finesse, be sharper with her moves and sell things better. Also, we already have Lesnar being sold as invincible, Rousey can’t be packaged the same way. Make her work for the title a bit.

Does Rollins Win the Belt

Seth Rollins So we saw Rollins win the Men’s Royal Rumble and I’m fine with that. Rollins works hard, he wrestles hard, and he is also fun to watch. I would much rather see him with the belt over Lesnar any day. Can you tell I’m not a fan of Lesnar? I want a Champion who will actually wrestle, who we will see in the ring on a weekly basis and who will actually put on a good show anytime he is in a match. Rollins will be a great change to our current predicament of not ever seeing the Champion, the title defended or having expectations that it could possibly change hands. Everyone knows ahead of time that we won’t see Brock make an appearance on Raw unless it’s the week before a PPV and then he only bounces around a little…. he doesn’t put the title on the line.

So what are your predictions for WrestleMania? Who do you want to leave the champions? I’ll talk more about the Women’s Tag Team titles between now and Fastlane, but we had to get the Royal Rumble outcome out of the way first.

What will this Bring–Royal Rumble coming soon

So with the Royal Rumble in 2 weeks what are your thoughts on what will happen on Raw and Smackdown until then? Will we actually see Brock Lesnar active in the ring? Will we see any surprise returns? Will blood be shed? What storylines will become bigger and better or fizzle out?

The Man

Will we get to see The Man take on the whole of the Smackdown Women’s Division? As the current go to superstar in the company we need to see the belt back around the waist of Becky Lynch. While Asuka does deserve more ring time and opportunities no one can deny that The Man is red hot and everyone wants to see her as the winner at the Rumble match. Who knows maybe we’ll get to see Charlotte, Mella, and Asuka all take their frustrations out on Lynch before the big show at the end of January but I’m sure she will still come out of it looking strong. No one in the WWE right now has the straight fire that Becky possesses. Please don’t mess it up… let her keep going and continue to be the crowd favorite.

The Beast

Will we see Lesner compete in a match before the Royal Rumble? My best guess is no, but maybe WWE will decide to surprise us and make him earn the belt that is sitting around his waist. I understand that Roman Reigns is gone, but there are so many other active roster members that deserved the opportunity to wear that title. Guys that show up every week and work… I’m still not sure why Vince is so fascinated with Lesnar. Brock Lesnar In my opinion (keyword here: opinion) he is one of the most overrated wrestlers of the past ten years. He is overpaid, underworked and way overhyped. It’s time for a change and since the WWE Universe seems to want to see the Universal Champion depend the title on a regular basis put it on Braun, Drew, Seth, Dean, Finn or even Dolph for that matter. Make the champion work for the title and show some love for the fans at the same time.

The Main Events

Now let’s talk about the namesake of the upcoming pay per view. Who do you want to see have a storyline starting this week that will push them into the winners seat at the Rumble? Names like Balor, Deville, Naomi, Elias, Jeff Hardy, Nattie, Lashley and Bayley all come to mind. WWE Superstars Let’s have some of these folks feud ahead of time and build to a very dramatic ending to the best Rumbles we’ve seen in years. It’s a little late for much build but maybe opening up some old wounds and feuds could help get the fans more attentive.

For once WWE, please start giving the fans what they want. Let the superstars have some fun and show what they are truly capable of. Put the Beast to pasture and let some new blood start plowing the way into the future.

Survivors Series–and the Week After

Who watched and enjoyed Survivor Series? At our house we decided there was only one great match and the rest were a pretty big snore fest. Followed by a Raw that was okay and a very forgettable Smackdown…. Is all of this because The Man wasn’t present on Sunday or Tuesday?

The Best Match

Watching Charlotte attach Ronda Rousey was the best match of the night. Of course, we Charlotte attacks Rousey at Survivor Series knew that WWE wasn’t going to let Rousey lose in the ring this early on, but I’m not sure anyone could’ve predicted the outcome of the match. While we all wanted to see, The Man cause a ruckus in the ring with Rousey because of a broken face that didn’t happen on Sunday. The outcome of missing Becky wrestle was that Charlotte went out in style by attacking Rousey and not stopping. By far the best match of the night and the week showing us what could happen if we see the two women meet again at Wrestlemania.

Monday Night Raw

On Monday night we saw Baron Corbin throw his weight around as the place-filler GM again…WWE we aren’t stupid, find someone else who is a much better fit for this position and doesn’t play into the Authorities pocket again. We want to see guys like Finn Balor, Elias, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose fight. Elias and Finn Balor How many people want to continue to see Corbin yapping in the ring and talking about how great he is on a weekly basis? I understand you want to portray him as a bad guy but seriously let’s find a way to see more talented men wrestle. Then we go to Ronda with an open challenge, and the result is sending out the oldest female wrestler on the brand. Not that Mickey James isn’t great, but again there are more talented athletes she could be facing. When will we get to see more of Ember Moon? There is some young talent that needs to be featured. The Seth and Dean segment might have been the most exciting part of the night.

Smackdown

We start with Charlotte and the night seems to go downhill rapidly. Charlotte and Paige in the ring together is a welcome sight. We always need more Paige since she can no longer wrestle we will watch her any way we can. While Smackdown didn’t win Survivors Series, it wasn’t a prominent factor on Tuesday night which seems to be a little strange. new day thanksgiving match They did keep seem to keep Charlotte’s momentum going by having her take out both of the Iconics (always a good thing.) The rest of the night kind of drug by like Raw did with The New Day as the only other high spot of the night. I know that Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio was supposed to be a highlight while I do love watching Rey compete I am not a fan of Orton and don’t like the way he is often pushed while others take a backseat.

This week was a rather lackluster week for WWE. We heard the same thing from Rousey again, and the only build was Charlotte’s character. Dean and Seth will continue to go on far beyond TLC, and I’m okay with that. New storylines need to be built and completely flipping Daniel Bryan’s character around probably isn’t the right foot to start on. Come on WWE you pay people to write, and they can do much better than this so give them the opportunities.

The Big Dog–Joe

As I sit here rewatching the beginning of Raw from last night I am driven to put my thoughts and feelings in words. Wow… what a way to start a show and push pause on a great career.

Roman Reigns

This man takes a lot of grief each week from the fans by being booed. I’m not saying we’re not entitled to our own opinions and I know we all have one or a few wrestlers that we always cheer against. I have followed Roman since he arrived on the main roster and I have probably been one of the few who cheers when he makes his way to the ring every week. He has struggled on the mic and has been labeled Vince’s boy but I have always found him fun to watch. Yes he has the look, he has the family lineage and many feel that he has been no more than a puppet on a string but I liked him anyway. Call me petty but I didn’t mind looking at him or laughing at him when he spewed some goofy line but he has shown great improvement over the years. It probably isn’t fair that many tried to compare him to The Rock because of a similar look and some family genetics but everyone did. He is his own person.

The Shield

I watched WWE as a kid and in my early 20’s but slipped away as a fan until my daughter showed an interest back in 2011-2012. The Shield It was around that time when The S.H.I.E.L.D broke onto the main event scene. These three guys came out and made a significant impact on the main roster in a way that no one had in a long time. While Rollins had agility and Ambrose was unpredictable Reigns seemed to be the one who was the quiet, enforcer type. Not only were they skilled in the ring together but they also had the capabilities to be Superstars on their own. They have each had the opportunity to make their skills shine. Even when Rollins turned his back on his friends in the ring I can only imagine that they still shared words and friendly exchanges in their personal lives. You could tell from watching that these guys were brothers outside of the squared circle as well. They were the kind of guys who had your back, and you would have fun just sitting around and having a beer with.

Joe–Only a Man

Last night this man stepped into the ring with the Universal Championship Title over his shoulder. He did something that for many of us is unimaginable. He did it with composure and strength that I’m not sure most people possess. He was a man, relatable to some in a way that we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy, and he earned some respect that most haven’t shown him up until now. roman reigns health announcement A man, who I’ve liked and cheered for some time, became a man that I will now say a prayer for and wish him nothing but the best in the next part of his story. This man has also shown compassion for kids and fans with health issues the entire time he has been in the public eye. He deserves to be backed during his health battle ahead.

A lot of WWE fans, myself included, like to speculate on what is happening backstage and trying to predict what is going to happen with current storylines. I don’t think any of us could have ever guessed something like this might happen to any of the Superstars. Maybe because we sometimes forget they are people too. This is their life, career, passion and future. I hope all WWE fans can show some support for Joe and his family as he moves forward with taking care of his health and battling his way back to what he loves to do. I can’t wait to see the comeback ,when it happens, because hearing this man talk about his championship, his family and his future shows that he will be back. Joe may you battle through Leukemia in the same way you have battled through the other Superstars on the roster and come back stronger then ever.

What Happened At HIAC?

I know that it’s been a few days since HIAC, but I just wanted to give some thoughts on the outcomes of the matches. Some things turned out the way that I expected, and other things took a swerve. There was some controversy and some drama on Sunday night that made the show flow right along.

Let’s Start with Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton

The main show started with a true HIAC match between these to superstars, and it got the night moving. First off I may have a bias opinion as a lifelong Jeff Hardy fan but the end of this match kind of sucked. Jeff and Orton both had some time to shine in the match, but randy orton & jeff hardy hiac Orton’s fascination with Hardy’s gauged ears has moved beyond disgusting. A few weeks ago he stuck his finger through the opening and pulled and then Sunday the screwdriver was just over the top. Orton has never been someone that I enjoyed watching compete, and after Sunday night he has moved even further down the list of superstars that I enjoy. Hardy was able to try to make a comeback when he beat Orton with the belt and the chair, but the ending was just crazy. Having Jeff fall from the top of the cell through a table and then having Orton make the ref count him out was not the ending this match deserved.

Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch

This match was fun to watch. Charlotte and Becky can put on a good show and prove that Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair HIAC the women’s division deserves to be pushed even more. While Charlotte is the female superstar that WWE has pushed since arriving on the main roster, it was great to see Becky move out of the shadows and become the Smackdown Women’s Champion once again. Bad Becky gets cheered by the crowd even more than she did before her change in attitude. I’m sure we will continue to see these two go back and forth for a while, but I’m okay with that since they always put on a great show.

Rollins/Ambrose vs. Ziggler/McIntyre

Another good match during HIAC was the match for the Raw Tag Team Titles. Although this match didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to it was good to watch. I’m glad Ziggler is getting a decent push on the Raw roster and McIntyre is a welcome change in the division but let’s put the belts on two guys that everyone loves to watch. Ambrose and Rollins are some seth rollins, dean ambrose, dolph zigler, drew mcintyre of the best talents in WWE, and they deserve to be wearing the belts. It seems that Ambrose was missed while he was out due to injury and “Monday Night” Rollins is on fire right now. As a former “hater” of Rollins, after he turned on The Shield, it’s hard for me to admit that he is now one of my favorites to watch. If we are going to see Reigns carry the belt for a while let’s start building the Roman Empire up. ow

I know there were other good matches on the card, but these were the ones that I enjoyed most. I can’t wait until the next PPV to see where the results of these matches lead.

Is the End Near for Jeff Hardy?

You may not know this about me, but Jeff Hardy is and always has been one of my favorite wrestlers. He has struggled with some personal demons but seems to have overcome them and moved forward. From the time that he and his brother hit the professional wrestling scene people have paid attention… Now as he is getting older how much time does he have left?

HIAC. Will it Be His Ending?

Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton Jeff and Randy Orton have feuded in the past but never inside of Hell in a Cell. Randy does seem to be taking his frustrations out on Jeff in a much more vicious way than in the past. We also know that Jeff is not afraid to go “extreme” so what will this match mean for him. Will he risk it in ways that he’s never done before or will he hold back because he knows his body may not be able to handle much more.

Wrestling without Matt

We know that Jeff and Matt have always been a team and while they have worked in the singles division several times throughout their careers it doesn’t look like we’ll see them as a team again any time soon. While there hasn’t been an official announcement it seems that Matt may be headed away from competing in the ring and doing more behind the scenes because of injuries. How long will it before Jeff faces a similar situation? He and The Hardy Boyz Matt work great in the ring together, and Jeff does well without him… but that also means that Jeff has to take more risks to be seen as “extreme.” He recently caught some grief online for not doing some of his signature moves at house shows for WWE. While I understand that will he be okay with disappointing fans by putting on his best performance?

What I want if it Matters

When the Hardy Boyz came back at WrestleMania a few years ago, I went crazy. I jumped up and down, clapping my hands and screaming in my kitchen. Maybe some of my crazy hair colors and styles have been inspired by them growing up and even now. I know that time, injuries and being a father may keep Jeff from competing forever and that it may even mean an ending for him sooner rather than later. Jeff Hardy face paint I will always be a fan and will keep my fingers crossed that he can continue for a little while longer. If not for me then for my daughter who decided in 3rd grade that she wants to be a wrestler when she grows up or for the millions of other fans who like to see the “whisper in the wind” performed in the ring on Tuesday nights.

So please Jeff if you’re listening please stick around for a little while longer while the current generation of fans and the next generation of fans get to see you and know you better.

What Happens Next for Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch finally snapped and may have found some footing in the women’s division on Smackdown Live. What happens next? Will WWE continue to push her or will they let the storyline drop in favor of another superstar?

Why her Push Should Continue

As a long time Becky Lynch fan I’m keeping my fingers crossed that WWE will continue her push towards the Smackdown Women’s Champion. I was there to see her crowned the first Smackdown Women’s Champion and I can honestly say she was so grateful and appreciative of the opportunity. She is an amazing in-ring performer, and her backstage scenes and improvement on the mic should keep her in the top of the division. She has great ability and is so fun to watch. Even when she decided to turn on her best friend in an effort to earn her spot at the top, she was cheered by the fans. Becky has been in the business for quite some time, and she makes matches fun to watch.

Why WWE Might Pull the Plug

For some reason WWE hasn’t always backed Becky very well. She did previously hold the title but they pulled the plug on that… So who’s to say they won’t do that again. Will they decide to back Charlotte because she has a genetic connection on her side? I’m not saying that Charlotte isn’t a great in-ring performer as well, but it seems that the WWE Universe really loves Becky and appreciate her. WWE might be overlooking some other incredible talent to stand behind Charlotte. Maybe the could continue pushing the women’s evolution by putting more of those stars on a pedestal and showcasing their abilities as well. If so, Becky should be at the top of that list.

What Will Happen With Becky

While we don’t know what the future holds for Becky, I’m hoping that the WWE showcases her persona, her abilities, and performance now and in the foreseeable future. Let’s support the hardworking women in the WWE and let them build on their crowd followings. The audience loves her and wants to back her, good or bad.

So if you’re listening WWE spread the love to Becky and some of the other women in the division. Give them the chance to shine.

Why We Watch

Is it because you started watching when you were a kid? For entertainment value or because you are a hardcore fan?

Why?

We watch wrestling for many different reasons. The WWE has put together a product that is entertaining, has storylines and I know that I’ll get a lot of criticism for this, but the Superstars are easy on the eyes. It is a multibillion-dollar industry that puts on a great live event, TV product and Pay Per Views. We watch because it’s fun and easy to follow and even if you miss a week you can catch up quite quickly. We watch because the wrestlers are great in the ring and can put on a spectacular show.

When did you start?

Some are longtime fans who started watching as kids. Some have a favor Superstar that intrigues them so they just started watching recently. Others have followed someone since they began in the indies and have now followed them to the WWE. I watched as a kid, it’s one of the only happy memories I have with my dad. Then when my much younger brother started watching I returned to being a fan as a teenager. Now as an adult I watch because my daughter is a tomboy and started talking wrestling with the boys at school and became a fan. We watch to spend time with our family and friends, to talk smack and yell at the TV when a match doesn’t go the way we want it too. We watch because it’s so entertaining.

The Future…

WWE may be the big dog of wrestling entertainment, but some of the indie promotions are finding a foothold in the industry today. They are becoming more popular, and fans are flocking to see the Superstars who could one day be the best in the business. They put on house shows that are an excellent product for a smaller price and are more available across the country and world. Will WWE ever be overtaken probably not, but will they have to work harder to stay at the top of the game…. YES. The guys who are local yocals today could become those Superstars to push the industry to the next level.

Why do you watch?