Regardless of how prominence, which is very very little, I
maintain the course of not running a strictly review what have you by whatever
company no matter what sort of site. So when it comes to WWE, if things are not
compelling in a good way or bad way, I’d just as soon forego mentioning it at
all. Therefore, I don’t plan on running through all the matches at Wrestlemania
and giving my take on them when the build is so lackluster. No need to dwell on
it. Let’s hope next year there is a better planned out more exciting lead up to
what is widely regarded as the biggest pro wrestling event of the year.
I will get a bit more into the scenario around the ever-frustrating
main event, though, which continues to maintain a hint of intrigue but for the
most part has led many fans who’d been holding on to hopes of a shake up to
shrug in indifference.
Week in, week out, Paul Heyman has been the shining light of
excitement on RAW giving a burst of illumination to an otherwise dim feud going
into Wrestlemania and Raw itself. This is not a controversial statement. But
the why is interesting to consider. Of course it helps that his words are made
all the more credible by the legitimate bad ass in Brock Lesnar that he
represents each time he goes out to the ring. And Heyman is naturally gifted in
his way with words. But there is also an edge of reality in the sermon-like
promos he has been delivering, on Brock’s uncertain future in the WWE, on
tension with figures in the company with positions of authority because of it,
sprinkled with references to Rhonda Rousey and you have material that engages
your intelligence rather than insult it. While reality from outside shouldn’t
necessarily be more compelling than the kayfabe storytelling on a consistent
basis, it is a great way to engage fans’ imagination. The quality of these presentations
has got many feeling that Brock and
Heyman are making for some very antiheroic babyfaces despite the fact that this
does not seem to be WWE’s agenda.
Roman Reigns, meanwhile, inexperience aside, seems to have a
lot of potential as a heel. More so than as the WWE’s next big top tier
babyface. They way in which he is being presented as a rugged individual, who
will strive for excellence with or without the crowd’s support is not ringing
true. This is how Batista was presented
when he returned to ‘boo’s and look at how that turned out. In fact, Reigns
does seem to be getting a fair amount of cheers so when he calls attention to
this, it seems petty, sulky even. Cena gets away with it because he plays it
cool, plus he’s been around so long it’s just not going to make a difference
anymore. With Reigns, it feels closer to being a little bit of a crybaby; great
if a heel turn is coming, not so good if the babyface is route is being adhered
to. The flak jacket he has continued
wearing since the beginning of his arrival as part of the Shield (which they
may have finally traded in for, at least a t-shirt) adds an air of anonymity,
still just part of a group.
The latest interaction he had with Mark Henry on SmackDown
last week is very representative of the heel overtones: Mark taunts Reigns with
an even keel. Reigns returns the favor with a spear through the barricade. Did
it look impressive? Yes. Is that really what a babyface does just because his
ability is questioned? Sounds like the rage of a bully to me. Reigns stands on
the announcers’ desk and raises his arms hollering into the crowd. One against
all. Does this look like an impressive act of defiance? From a small guy maybe.
But here you have a big guy in Reigns exuding anger and insecurity instead of
confidence. It again had the air of being kind of like throwing a tantrum.
Great for a burgeoning heel. For a babyface, not so much.
Why the concern that these clear markers of an interesting
path are being ignored is in the very calculated-looking motions WWE writing
and booking are going through to tell a different story. That went something
like this: The weathered veteran Henry took it upon himself to help his fellow
man out and let him know that he didn’t stand a chance against Brock Lesnar. He
pushed a bit too far, and so he ended up on the receiving end of a Spear, which
under different circumstances, could’ve been presented as career threatening
and the cause of a wrestler to be hospitalized. A bit later, Henry is in the
back with some ice to soothe the pain and a good natured grin on his face. It’s
all good. Turns out he wanted to invoke Reigns’ wrath and test his mettle. Now
he knows, Reigns is the real deal for hitting one of his moves on a guy he
wasn’t even in a wrestling match in. So doubted challenger now has the official
Mark Henry stamp of approval. If we didn’t believe yet, there’s no reason not
to now. Reigns is legit.
Running such a transparent agenda takes the edge off of
these guys, making you lose any ability to suspend belief that the top dog just
might be the top dog of his own merit. Then, there are the sudden t-shirt
appearances. Does it make sense to promote and profit from merchandise? Sure.
But I’d argue it would be a worthwhile exercise in restraint to hold off on the
new design til Wrestlemania itself, to lend something of an air of uncertainty
over where this program is heading.
I’ll get into the intercontinental title match, not exactly,
but I will share some words on potential matches that are not happening because
of it. It occurs to me that one of the biggest dropping of balls how far WWE
has gotten away from the simple and effective formula of two opponents squaring
off because they have an intense dislike for one another. A quick and easy
alternative is that said to opponents have a program based around athletic
prowess and want to see who is the better of the two. Combine both and, if done
well, you have a solid confrontation to rally around.
On the latter tip, rumors were abound after the Royal Rumble
that we’d see Dolph Ziggler vs Daniel Bryan, a confrontation that would fit
perfectly as the energizing opening match at the start of the show. This would
hold the promise of two wrestlers facing off in a unique combination who are
both known for their athleticism, thus making for an unpredictable outcome
(almost uncannily, WWE seems to have been getting the goat of its savvier
online fans by teasing this match with the two of them facing each other at the
end of a gauntlet match on Smackdown).
This along with most any other combination from within the
pool of guys in the intercontinental ladder scramble whatever match would make
for more compelling viewing. Not just thrown out there, but with a proper build
making those involved look strong and taken seriously.
Some simple math: You have 7 guys. Take one of 2 of them
away for a heated one on one match. Keep the other 5 in the intercontinental
title tangle. Or take 2 more guys out, then you have two potentially good
singles matches and a triple threat match for the intercontinental title.
Basically, I’m calling for some elementary match building that a good solid
wrestling promotion ought to be able to build without all the bells and
whistles, which are great when used sparingly.
Let's talk about the notion of Faces and Heels. I don’t
think it’s an outdated premise. I think they should be the basis of angles and
feuds and such. However, I do think these terms could be used with much greater
flexibility. Heels fighting heels, faces fighting faces, and wrestlers that
ride the line between the two concepts are all ways to add some intrigue, and
right now this is sorely needed.
Look at Ring of Honor for a moment whose TV program (which
I’ll continue to bemoan is a week behind for me since I live in Podunk out of
the way New York City) featured a match between tag team champions ReDragon and
members of The Decade, B.J. Whitmer and Adam Page. Both teams were heels and
carried themselves in a heelish manner. This did not upset the applecart. The
emphasis was still on phenomenal wrestling so, even in the absence of heroes to
cheer for, the match went over quite well.
TNA, whose problems arguably run far deeper than those of
the WWE, might want to consider why their heels are never cheered, or rather if
this is really such a good thing. Sure, it would seem to suggest the fans
dutifully committing themselves to the role of an audience that plays along.
But, when heels are cheered in other promotions, isn’t that a sign of smart
fans acknowledging excellent characters performing in very well put together
matches? When Kevin Owens, Tyler Breeze, or Sasha Banks on NXT, or Adam Cole in
ROH, or AJ Styles repping the Bullet Club in NJPW get shout outs, it doesn’t
mean they are not playing their heel roles well enough; it just means their
work is praiseworthy and giving the audience a good time. The fact that this
doesn’t occur ever for MVP or James Storm on TNA Impact suggests a very
outdated product, plus the lack of opportunity for those two talents to ply
their trade to the best of their ability.
The slow, steady build of Pentagon Jr. is worth checking out
on Lucha Undergound whose latest television episodes, unlike those of ROH, can
be found rather easily and for free online. He has appeared in several
one-sided matches, or what was typically called ‘squash matches’ against
wrestlers booked to lose a lot, once known as ‘jobbers.’ Can there be an
overreliance on this mode of programming television shows in this day and age?
No, of course not. However, the technique is worth revisiting and used a tad
more. And it does not have to involve the total jobber; there are plenty of
rookies who can do great things and can be given a chance to show their talent
and develop if put in mostly one-sided matches against mid-card guys who need
wins and who can benefit from successfully firing off their signature moves.
This can even allow for the occasional story of the underdog coming close or
even winning the occasional match. Throw in rematches and you get a lot of time
that can be taken up meaningfully on RAW and Smackdown instead of filling it up
with silliness.
Questions, complaints, arguments, ridicule? All welcome,
leave it below.
Twitter: mondocurrymark
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