Read on for my thoughts on yesterday's ROH and Smackdown.
ROH:
Talk about a gimmick that is going absolutely nowhere. Reportedly, Cedric Alexander recently had a WWE tryout, so it's possible ROH hasn't wanted to use him in fear of him leaving while they try to push him (negating all the work in building him up). I don't even remember why ROH had to give these goofs money.
Gresham's another guy who's just kind of "there," with very little character development.
- Strong vs. Gresham:
This is starting off well. Roderick's actually showing some personality.
These two are working together pretty well. It's nice to see something that actually feels like a match.
Strong's a really impressive athlete. He might have been worth a look by WWE or TNA when his most recent contract was up. ROH might have been willing to pay him more, though, and this is home to him.
I'm really liking the psychology here. They're telling a good story.
Gresham's showing me something with his performance here.
Good match overall from both men.
That was an OK post-match. Neither man's interesting enough to make me want to see so many segments between them.
- Hughes/Evans vs. War Machine:
I like the early story of War Machine's power being too much for their opponents.
Rowe and Hanson work together mostly well. I think they're becoming more fluid.
I hate the acrobatics from War Machine. It really hurts their gimmick. At times, they're more Funkasaurus/Sweet T or Highlanders than Wyatt Family or Road Warriors.
That turned into crap at the end. Less should be more.
ANX's promo was OK. It hardly sold an epic bout between two top tag teams.
AJ made the right choice in getting away from the Superkick Brothers. I'm interested to see how Omega does in ROH in Styles' place.
Adam Page is a traitor.
- Whitmer vs. Brown:
Whitmer stood out more with his match than some ROH names have done in months.
I like BJ hitting another Exploder for the hell of it.
Whitmer shutting down Corino was great. If the former ECW Champ can't be a wrestler again, it's probably time to move on to something new.
Page vs. Whitmer is more exciting than the TV or tag team title matches. I actually care about the characters and where they go next.
Adam Cole is GOLD. Far and away the best top-level heel in ROH.
I hope Adam does win the title to save us from Lethal.
Laughable heel promo from Lethal. Where Cole is a natural on the mic, Jay is clearly trying to cut a heel promo.
These are just some of the countless moves that will be busted out in quick succession at the PPV.
The World Title segment should have ended the show. No idea why it didn't.
- Shelley/ACH vs. Briscoes:
I'd like ACH more if there weren't so many other flippy guys here. I'd love some more variety in ROH.
Shelley can move pretty well. Another fine cruiserweight/X-Division guy.
ACH is one of the flippiest guys I've ever seen flip. If only this was the circus or the X-Games instead of a wrestling match.
Good to finally see the Briscoes in control.
Oh. Spoke too soon. Back to flips.
Glad that ended when it did.
Oh, damn. We're in for a MCMG reunion, aren't we? I don't look forward to seeing them compete with the other fast high-flyers. That gets old pretty quickly.
Smackdown:
How many times have I seen a segment involving Triple H as the top champion in the company? Man.
HHH is the Cerebral Assassin for a reason. He hatched a plan to finally take the title from Reigns, and gave him a serious ass-kicking to get revenge for the one he got at TLC (and the attacks Vince got from Reigns). Next time people say WWE ignores continuity, remember this angle. Also remember these same people wanted to throw away that continuity to hotshot to Ambrose vs. HHH with only six weeks of build.
I enjoy Top Corporate Heel Who Also Wrestles Sometimes Triple H.
HHH is still a great heel who can handle business. He's a worthy top antagonist. I don't think he can be in this role for years to come, but I like what he's doing now.
Some of the bland heels in the industry need to take notes from this promo.
- Dragons/Neville/Ziggler vs. LoN:
Nice teamwork by the League.
Del Rio's one of the best competitors in the world. He's really smooth in the ring.
Neville can be pretty fun.
Nice ending sequence with everyone getting involved.
Good match overall.
I love Owens' heeling of announcers and interviewers.
Owens offering a rematch to a guy who was in a stretcher Monday is great. He's very good in his role.
I'm fine with Owens not wanting a match tonight. Why defend the title if you don't have to? He shouldn't care about "giving the fans a good match" or holding the title with honor or any of that crap. He's a heel!
Owens wanting to retire Big Show probably gets him a face reaction to part of the audience.
I wish Teddy Long was here to set up matches out of nowhere.
I like the Dudleys not wanting to be a circus act. They've got more to bring to WWE than tables.
- D-Von vs. Jimmy:
Weird for the Dudleys to tease using a table.
So-so match to continue the feud. I hope we're in for something really fun for the tag titles at WM32.
Jericho remains pretty bland.
I'd rather see AJ challenge for the U.S. or IC Title at WM32, but we'll see how this goes.
Funaki was on Edge and Christian's show, so maybe they can help?
I'm glad they followed up on Mark Henry being upset with New Day.
I wouldn't mind Mark Henry challenging for the WWE Title before retiring.
- Show vs. Owens:
Impressive work by Owens. He can work as the smaller guy in the contest, too.
Show does do some pretty impressive things. I'll give him that.
That was good for what it was.
- Natalya vs. Becky:
Really good chain wrestling early.
I've missed Natalya in the ring. Very talented lady.
Well, so much for this match going long. Natalya/Becky vs. Naomina? Not going to lie, I KIND OF want to see Cameron work with the heel group. Even if she's just the jobber of the group. She's hardly doing anything in NXT.
Oh, duh. Of course Charlotte would work with the heels here.
I REALLY hope we get a triple threat for the Divas' Title at WM32. I'm starting to wonder what's next for Brie; we haven't seen her in the week since losing at Fastlane.
Golden Truth is kind of fun at times. They could do some good stuff on Main Event and Superstars if those shows got promos instead of just Raw replays.
- Slater vs. Truth:
Pretty good stuff so far. Truth has been pretty valuable in his place on the card.
Good ending to keep the angle going.
I wish more acts got to feel as fresh and unfettered as New Day.
Funny stuff from the tag champs as always. They could be a lot of fun at WM32.
- New Day vs. Styles/Y2J/Henry:
Yeah, you don't try to be stronger than Mark Henry. That's like tugging on Superman's cape.
Nice stuff ahead of the commercial break.
Jericho can still do enjoyable things in the ring.
I'm liking the teamwork on both sides.
Jericho vs. Big E could be good if they got time to show their respective strengths.
AJ Styles is at the top of his class as a wrestler. Impressive stuff.
Really good ending!
More wrestling coming up.
How many times have I seen a segment involving Triple H as the top champion in the company? Man.
HHH is the Cerebral Assassin for a reason. He hatched a plan to finally take the title from Reigns, and gave him a serious ass-kicking to get revenge for the one he got at TLC (and the attacks Vince got from Reigns). Next time people say WWE ignores continuity, remember this angle. Also remember these same people wanted to throw away that continuity to hotshot to Ambrose vs. HHH with only six weeks of build.
I enjoy Top Corporate Heel Who Also Wrestles Sometimes Triple H.
HHH is still a great heel who can handle business. He's a worthy top antagonist. I don't think he can be in this role for years to come, but I like what he's doing now.
Some of the bland heels in the industry need to take notes from this promo.
- Dragons/Neville/Ziggler vs. LoN:
Nice teamwork by the League.
Del Rio's one of the best competitors in the world. He's really smooth in the ring.
Neville can be pretty fun.
Nice ending sequence with everyone getting involved.
Good match overall.
I love Owens' heeling of announcers and interviewers.
Owens offering a rematch to a guy who was in a stretcher Monday is great. He's very good in his role.
I'm fine with Owens not wanting a match tonight. Why defend the title if you don't have to? He shouldn't care about "giving the fans a good match" or holding the title with honor or any of that crap. He's a heel!
Owens wanting to retire Big Show probably gets him a face reaction to part of the audience.
I wish Teddy Long was here to set up matches out of nowhere.
I like the Dudleys not wanting to be a circus act. They've got more to bring to WWE than tables.
- D-Von vs. Jimmy:
Weird for the Dudleys to tease using a table.
So-so match to continue the feud. I hope we're in for something really fun for the tag titles at WM32.
Jericho remains pretty bland.
I'd rather see AJ challenge for the U.S. or IC Title at WM32, but we'll see how this goes.
Funaki was on Edge and Christian's show, so maybe they can help?
I'm glad they followed up on Mark Henry being upset with New Day.
I wouldn't mind Mark Henry challenging for the WWE Title before retiring.
- Show vs. Owens:
Impressive work by Owens. He can work as the smaller guy in the contest, too.
Show does do some pretty impressive things. I'll give him that.
That was good for what it was.
- Natalya vs. Becky:
Really good chain wrestling early.
I've missed Natalya in the ring. Very talented lady.
Well, so much for this match going long. Natalya/Becky vs. Naomina? Not going to lie, I KIND OF want to see Cameron work with the heel group. Even if she's just the jobber of the group. She's hardly doing anything in NXT.
Oh, duh. Of course Charlotte would work with the heels here.
I REALLY hope we get a triple threat for the Divas' Title at WM32. I'm starting to wonder what's next for Brie; we haven't seen her in the week since losing at Fastlane.
Golden Truth is kind of fun at times. They could do some good stuff on Main Event and Superstars if those shows got promos instead of just Raw replays.
- Slater vs. Truth:
Pretty good stuff so far. Truth has been pretty valuable in his place on the card.
Good ending to keep the angle going.
I wish more acts got to feel as fresh and unfettered as New Day.
Funny stuff from the tag champs as always. They could be a lot of fun at WM32.
- New Day vs. Styles/Y2J/Henry:
Yeah, you don't try to be stronger than Mark Henry. That's like tugging on Superman's cape.
Nice stuff ahead of the commercial break.
Jericho can still do enjoyable things in the ring.
I'm liking the teamwork on both sides.
Jericho vs. Big E could be good if they got time to show their respective strengths.
AJ Styles is at the top of his class as a wrestler. Impressive stuff.
Really good ending!
More wrestling coming up.
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