The WWE was coming off a very strong effort last week. I personally wasn't that big of a fan of that show, but it was something different. I feared that because they had buried the roster all year to build around Roman as the only choice they would suffer for it now and they did. This show was a bomb and promptly stopped the WWE's momentum from the prior week dead in it's tracks.
The Good
Seeing Seth Rollins was pretty cool. They did a great job of teasing that he wasn't there and then suddenly he was, which was a relief considering those that were not to receive awards. I thought he played his part well.
The Owens win was a nice bump for him. Since losing the IC title he has been portrayed as stronger. His speech was also pretty good, and probably pretty true. How is he not the break out star of the year?
Announcing the return of Cena next week and booking a match a week off was a good move. Anytime the WWE hypes something that is a good thing. They need to do more of this.
I like the Slammy's as a change of pace show. It gives things a different feel....that being said.
Stephanie going off at the end of the show was pretty cool. It continues her endless push, but at some point they have to blow off this heat on a female star. They could make a huge baby face out of a full timer if it's done right.
The Bad
How could they not have a few more guys there to accept their awards. Why would you have an awards show fully knowing a majority of the winners and not have them there? Especially if you're not going to have HHH and Vince on the show? It was draining and the few people they did have including Seth did not make up for it. The WWE could have had a winner if Cena returned, or Sting or Brock. How about Heyman saying something of substance like Brock is after the belt or is going to enter the Rumble?
We got none of that. Although I was happy with Cena's match announcement, why not have him be there to accept his award and have Del Rio come out to shit on it. Causing Del Rio to get some real heat and stoke the match for next week? It's befuddling to say the least.
Stephanie booked two matches to hurt Roman. First she stacked the deck against the USO's, but they still won beating the New Day, which is awful. Then Ambrose got destroyed by the League of Nations and Reigns didn't come out until the end of the match to sort of make the save. He was also smiley and happy. Well wait how could you be all happy knowing that the USO's just got trashed back stage. Shouldn't you be more vile and pissed off?
It gives Reigns that John Cena feel of never really being there for his friends until it suits him. It's the WWE writing poorly and getting the little things wrong. It's almost like they think nothing through before executing it. It makes for bad TV and mixed emotions by the fans. Reigns should have been featured on the outside the entire match. That probably would have prevented fans from chanting boring mid-match. He should have also been pissed and shown some concern for the USO's. By doing so fans would connect with him more. Instead of him just smiling off everything and getting in his howl.
The Ugly
The WWE suddenly decided to push the League of Nations. They had a bunch of poorly received segments that got them very little heat with the crowd. Yet despite all they did the entire show to get over the WWE squashed it by the finish of the show. So what was the point?
It feels like they were trying to legitimize Sheamus for a rematch at the Rumble with Roman. A match probably no one wants to see in that spot. What was so frustrating was that it seemed like common sense for them to instead book that match for tonight on there live smackdown and just get it over with. If you turn that live smackdown into a big deal you might pop a rating against zero competition on TV tonight and set the tone for the Smackdown move to USA.
All you would have to do is have that rematch, let Roman go over and show Stephanie and Vince not happy with the outcome paving the way for more intrigue next week. This shit is so easy to book, but they just can't get to it and it's mind numbing.
It was also hilarious that in the last 30 seconds of the show they hyped a few good matches for tonight. Why couldn't they do this during the show and have guys cut promos selling those matches for tomorrow? Why is this so hard?
The WWE took a few major steps forward last week, but seemed like they wanted to rest on there laurels this week. I think they figured they could get by on the Slammys, but then had such a lack of turn out of Superstars it wasn't enough. When you add in lack of development of the Reigns angle it felt like a lazy show. I feel that the ratings will be down, but better than they have been lately. I think next week will be ok because that John Cena portion of the audience will have a week to find out they need to tune in next Monday. WWE likely knew all this and decided that it was ok to, put a bunny of a show out there and there in lies the problem. Instead of trying to put out a consistently good product they are constantly relying on parlor tricks to keep people viewing.
The show does need to be shocking at times, and there need to be surprises, but what fans really want is a consistently fun show. That's a show where faces are cutting fun promos and heels are plotting the down fall of those same faces. There should be good match action, and lots of things going on in the back. The commentating should be fun and there should always be that sense of what's going to happen next.
Sting does not have to pop out of a case, or the title doesn't have to change hands, or the Rock does not have to be there. Instead the show just needs to be good because of the regular cast of characters. WWE has so marginalized their roster that the show feels drab.
Let's face it there is a lot wrong with the WWE, and they are an easy target for criticism, but it's annoyingly frustrating to watch them push Roman Reigns to the moon, but never let anyone else really connect to the audience. Dean Ambrose didn't cut a promo last night. His direction with the belt is not clear. They tossed together a triple threat for him tonight that makes very little sense. Why not just give people that? Why not just give people something to be excited about?
I will close basically where I started. The WWE has nowhere to turn for a real foil for Reigns. Sure they can use the Authority to prop up any heel, but at this point that's not doing them any good. John Cena and Roman combined, but mostly Cena, crushed the entire heel roster from Mania on. This is again why it made so much sense for Roman to flip heel. With the pending return of Cena perhaps the WWE will finally gamble and flip him heel allowing him to pay off Roman as the top guy at WM32. It's perplexing to say the least. What is certain is this.
Roman as a face versus Cena as a face is not a big time match at WM32. Roman vs. HHH at WM32 is not a big time match. Roman vs. Brock was done last year and it would be hard for the WWE to get Roman any love in that spot. So with those things being obvious who in the world does face Roman take on a WM32? It's a tough question. WWE really needs to get this one right if they want to spring board Roman to new heights.
I can't honestly tell you what I would do because I don't believe in any of it. I put my scenarios together a few months back and often dumped Roman, Seth, and Dean out of the title picture and into a triple threat. I honestly believe the best match WWE can produce is Cena and Brock for the title. I think a close second is a heel Cena vs. Roman or flip that around. Again though none of that is breaking attendance records.
The WWE's going to have to rely on the depth of the card...yikes...to make this card any good. They have to get a Zayn Owens Match on course and they have to figure out how to get one more match out of the Undertaker. My suggestion stands as this. The night after the Rumble the Undertaker comes out to announce that WM32 will be his last. He has not mountains left to climb and no deserts to cross.
Suddenly the lights go out. Finn's music hits and he makes a slow entrance to the ring and the two have a face off the with Finn painted as a Demon. If Finn Balor wins that match he is a made man and a much needed top star for WWE. That's how you pass the torch.
When you look at HHH and Stephanie you have seen two years of characters that don't know how to do that.
Tonight should be worth a look. Live product is a precious commodity in this business, so when WWE gives it to you take a watch. I'm not sure why Owens has to be in a triple threat to get his title back after he beat Dolph clean last night, but that's typical WWE booking as of late.
Until next time.
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