Main Event:
That Rollins/Ziggler promo exchange was pretty darn good. I don't think it's QUITE time to turn things 100% over to guys like this from Cena, Orton, Show, Kane, etc., but there are some really talented people coming up the ranks. As for HHH's promo, I'm glad the segment ended with the focus being on Rollins vs. Ziggler since they're the full-time wrestlers. That said, I think HHH blaming the fans for making Bryan work such a high-risk style is a pretty valid way for him to get heat.
I did NOT see Jimmy getting an upset on Luke. It's just one win and doesn't define much, but it was a surprise. I'm OK with the Usos looking strong against the Wyatts, although I'd love for the Family to be the tag team champions. Heels to some degree are only as good as the faces they're up against (and vice versa).
I enjoyed Kofi's pre-match promo. I want more characterization from him. Maybe a girlfriend as a valet?
Lana really laid it in with that promo. The only I think I don't like about her act is it gets a lot more heat on Putin and Russia than Rusev.
Not a lot to say about Kofi vs. Rusev from a technical standpoint. Kofi did what he does really well and Rusev was pretty impressive with his offense.
The Layla/Summer stuff was a little silly, but I think they could have a pretty good match.
Rollins and Ziggler can really deliver. That was a treat. More experience working with big names is all Rollins and Ziggler need to break into that next level. I can see Rollins really being a big deal.
Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
Cesaro vs. Sheamus is set for Smackdown. That should be great as it usually is.
After Raw, John Cena left. Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns celebrated with the fans. The torch continues to be passed.
WWE is working on documentaries for Randy Savage and Sting. Hopefully they're working on Hall of Fame rings for them, too.
Tommy Dreamer made an official statement about the TNA-HOH situation. I appreciate how authentic Tommy is. I hope things continue to work out well for him with HOH. I see why TNA made the decision they made with Bully, but I hope they understand why there's such negativity about it. How can other promotions trust TNA to honor their bookings now?
Raw's audience on Monday was 4.12 million viewers, pretty much in line with the previous week. I hope things remain positive in that area throughout Summerslam season.
Dean Ambrose was busted open at Raw, requiring nine stitches. There've been a number of busted open talents in WWE recently.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
Nothing to add to 1.
2. Maybe it's been a part of storytelling forever because it works? Absolutely there should be interesting variations of heels and faces as far as their characters go. Not every babyface needs to be a suckup Boy Scout and not every heel needs to run away from fights. I'm all for there being more characters in wrestling if those characters are well-executed and all that. But ultimately there need to be characters people can root for and characters they can hate. It's fine, when the time is right, for a character to switch sides if there's a reason for them to do so. But with rare and meaningful exceptions, characters need to have moral compasses they stick with. I can only imagine how some fans would write other stories. "Yeah, Superman's cool and all, but what if this week he decides to sell out to stop saving people and work with Lex Luthor?" All superheroes have different "gimmicks", but the villains are villains and the heroes are heroes until there's a good reason for that to change. Bo Dallas and Brock Lesnar are both heels, but they're wildly different characters. If so many people want blurred lines of heels and faces and a lot of random turns just for the hell of it, TNA's the place to go.
3. I figure Taker will be facing Steve at WM31, but who knows? I say WM32 in Texas is where it makes sense for him to call it quits, but maybe that isn't what happens.
4. WWE doesn't set the rules for what counts for TV ratings. That's like asking why drivers consider 65 mph the legal speed limit.
5. AJ Lee needed time off. It was Mania season and WWE wanted a big debut to surprise people. The rookie champion making upsets against the veterans in the division makes sense. As for Emma, she went from being a goofy comedy character to being a goofy comedy character. Both Paige and Emma are bigger deals now than they were in NXT, so I don't see why this is an issue. I would like to see both of them pushed further, but we're early in both of their careers. There's still plenty of time for them to move up the ranks.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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