Jim Ross addressed why WWE doesn't often tape TV or PPVs from Madison Square Garden. Are the unions shooting themselves in the foot?
Here's more from Kurt Angle addressing his wrestling future. I'm glad he's not trying to gut through the pain in order to work full-time at risk to his long-term health. I'd love to see one last run in WWE, but I don't know how realistic that is.
Adrian Neville successfully defended the NXT Championship against Sami Zayn on WWE's live event in Japan. I think we could easily see both of those men on the main roster by this time next year.
Update: Neville, Zayn and Charlotte are all booked for next week's TV tapings, presumably for dark matches (although it'd be pretty funny to put one of them in the bunny suit). I'm impressed with Charlotte and think she'll be a great addition to things, but I think it's too soon for her to be brought up. Charlotte working with Flair as her manager would be great, though. Especially if she debuts as a face and later everything goes to her head and she turns on him.
Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
Seth Rollins talked ahead of a WWE event. Rollins having a briefcase he can theoretically cash in anywhere reminds me of the old 24/7 rule for the Hardcore Title, where wrestlers would have to defend the title backstage and wherever another wrestler could bring a referee. I kind of miss that in all of its goofiness.
Matt Hardy is back working with Ring of Honor, so it's likely his TNA work was just for the NYC tapings. He's done some very entertaining stuff in his current ROH character.
WWE will release their Q2 2014 numbers on July 31, including an update on WWE Network subscriptions. This will be quite important for them financially.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I'd rather have both titles be meaningful than have them be combined into one super-championship, which was the same feeling I had for the WWE and World Titles. I think the midcard is healthy enough for both titles if WWE does a good job with them and treats them as something important.
2. I think they're more or less retired as wrestlers. They really stretched the limits of their bump cards in their final run, and I don't see them wanting to add to that any time soon (if at all).
3. That really sucks. I was quite impressed with his work in NXT and think with the right role, he could have worked out well on the main roster. I do think he'd make a great manager if his in-ring career is indeed done. Maybe with The Ascension?
4. WWE seems to be rotating commentators on their C-shows. I think he'll still be in the mix.
5. I think that's a pretty safe bet, but it's possible they do an abbreviated version starting at those next tapings.
More wrestling tomorrow.
What do you make of Cesaro's recent struggles? I noted he has upended Sheamus twice (in which Sheamus rarely ever gets pinned), yet Cesaro gets upended twice himself by Kofi Kingston, who has been struggling a bit since the beginning of the year. Is this more to build up Kingston back to being a contender for the Intercontinental Title again?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Kofi has had the same chain of events happen throughout his career. He will either hover around the mid-card to be used to get the U.S./Intercontinental Champions, and upper-card stars over or will be the U.S./Intercontinental Champion himself. Very odd.
What are you making of this 14-0 start by Bo Dallas? I know you mentioned that he fits his character well, but can he really push the envelope and gain traction week after week with that gimmick and with many other stars trying to get noticed?
I've also heard rumblings about WWE cooling on Adam Rose. If this is indeed true, any idea why? Or is this more of a case of the constant fickleness that is the WWE?
I definitely expect Cesaro to have a bigger future than Kofi, as Kofi has been used in that "get other people over" role for so long now. Cesaro's definitely got supporters in WWE (Cena definitely and presumably HHH for signing him), so he should be fine long-term.
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't for Kofi's feud with Orton years ago, I don't think he'd be considered as anything above a mid-level guy given his booking. Even when he is champion, it doesn't seem like it's because they're planning on pushing him past that level.
I think I like Bo's character because it's at least something of an inside joke, going back to NXT. The fans there booed every attempt to make him a top face. They said he was too young and inexperienced to be pushed ahead of the indie/international stars, that he was only pushed because of nepotism (his dad is a producer in WWE), etc. He got the kind of reaction Batista got as a face. "No More Bo" chants, fans turning their backs on his matches, that kind of thing.
So, they played up what people were booing about him being pushed hard as a face and made him something of a comedy heel. I see it like Michael Cole's run as a heel, where they capitalized on the real-life perceptions of Cole.
At any rate, I think it's the best use of Bo, gimmick-wise. He'd spent years in developmental and failed in his last attempt on the main roster, so they're playing this out. If the reactions he got in NXT are any indication, I think he can consistently get heat. He just has to get the same support from Creative and screen time.
There was something going around about WWE being unhappy about his PPV performance but I don't know how true it is. He's another guy who was in developmental for quite a while. He's a much better wrestler from a technical standpoint and had a more serious character, but they like him better in this role. He also got over pretty well in NXT once he changed to this gimmick, so they're trying to replicate that here.
Current NXT is similar to NXT: Redemption as far as giving unused people stories and letting younger stars show what they can do. Tyson Kidd is doing some of his best work in years there.