Week in Wrestling - Monday, July 26, 2021
WWE NEWS
Smackdown at Rolling Loud
In major news to me and the circles I run in, WWE was featured this Friday night as part of the the Rolling Loud music festival in Miami. Rolling Loud is a big deal in the hip hop music community and a few friends of mine attend every year. Of course when you go to a music festival, you don't expect to see a wrestling ring and live matches, so not everyone was familiar with the product. But the visuals and exposure is simply something you can't buy. This was featuring your product in front of thousands of people who most likely don't currently watch but may be interested in checking out what they see.
WWE chose to feature two matches, putting over the Street Profits, who are a perfect attraction for the Hip Hop audience, and Bianca Belair. Bianca is clearly a rising star and has multiple big moments this year which include winning the Royal Rumble, beating Sasha Banks at Wrestlemania in the main event of night one, and being awarded at the ESPY's. But for this to have been the biggest it could have been to the audience, a match or angle featuring Bad Bunny and a returning Sasha Banks would have made this gigantic. Carmella simply was not the right person to be featured in this spot. I may have even had Roman and the Uso's in front of that crowd. It's not every day wrestling will be featured prominently at a music festival with a crowd of new viewers at its disposal. I do think they could have done more to reach that audience and hook them.
WWE RAW/ SMACKDOWN
Keith Lee is back.... for nothing
After months of being missing in action and so much speculation of why, Keith Lee answered Bobby Lashley's open challenge on RAW. Big Keith is simply one of the most impressive big men we've seen in a long time, and it baffles me why he hasn't had a rocket strapped to his back and pushed to the main event level, when traditionally Vince McMahon loves big guys. Just think back to the Royal Rumble 2020 before the pandemic, when the crowd went absolutely insane for his showdown with Brock Lesnar during the match. It was clear sign that the crowd was ready for him to be pushed. Honestly, his time in NXT last summer was spectacular and it caused the main roster to call him up while he was holding both the NXT and North American titles. But you would think if you're going to call someone up, you would have a plan for them. Nope. So one would think that after being gone for months, when he comes back he will get a renewed pushed with a fresh coat of paint. Nope.
Lee came out, challenged Lashley, then was beaten, clean. What the hell was the point of this? What was accomplished? Did we not just see Lashley smash Kofi Kingston, a former champion, the night before. Did we see him basically beat everyone, including Drew McIntyre all year. Do we need to be at everyone who may be a possibility to be a challenger. Who writes this dumb shit and think it makes any damn sense! Why not bring Lee back and let him go on a winning streak, beating guys like Shelton Benjamin, John Morrison, and moving up higher and higher then beat AJ Styles and a final obstacle of a Omos, earning a title match with Lashley at the September PPV. You know, build up a strong contender for after the Summerslam match, since that isn't the current plan. Why beat the guy so easily for no reason, just to show he's not on Lashley's level. DUMB!!!
Instead, the Keith Lee match was just a set up for Bill Goldberg returning to challenge Lashley for a match at Summerslam. I am so over Goldberg. A few years ago when he was facing Brock, that was great. But I hated sacrificing Kevin Owens title run for him. Goldberg is not John Cena. Cena is someone who you bring back and he has teh credibility to be inserted into the main event program. You don't need both on the same show!!! What message does that send to your current talent who is there every week and you largely book like shit. Its a terrible decision. Its a complete set up for the crowd to turn on Goldberg because they know he isn't worthy of the spot. I outlines last week and in my Summerslam Fantasy Booking article how WWE could easily have Big E challenge Lashley for the title, cashing in his Money in the bank title shot. It would have made perfect sense. But like I have said many times before, the company is ran by someone who has lost any sense for logical booking.
NXT Champion = Jobber
Its been clear to me for some time that Vince McMahon hates NXT and does everything he can to undercut whatever his son in-law HHH does. So in many ways, I shouldn't have been shocked that Vince called up Karrion Kross and decided to beat him with Jeff Hardy his first night in. Kross isn't the best guy in NXT, but he's the type of talent Vince would normally like, so beating him was very surprising. Also, there are just so many examples of talents being used tremendously in NXT, and when they get called up, they have their legs cut from under them and in the eyes of the fans who may have never seen them on NXT, they are labeled as scrubs. It has happened so many times that its ridiculous. People who I thought were can't miss like Andrade, Ricochet, Aleister Black, Finn Balor, Chad Gable, Nakamura, Shayna Baszler, Matt Riddle, and of course Keith Lee have been all presented as far less than they were when they got over in NXT or elsewhere beforehand. Why undercut your own talent? What point are you trying to prove? But again, I shouldn't be surprised.
BUT I NEVER WOULD THINK HE WOULD JOB OUT THE NXT CHAMPION!!!! What fucking idiot would bring up the NXT champion and have him lose to an aging star that the company does nothing with!! Why!?!?!?! To make matter worst, Kross is in the midst of what was a hot program with Samoa Joe, who hasn't wrestled in 18 months. More on that later. This is the shits.
BUT I NEVER WOULD THINK HE WOULD JOB OUT THE NXT CHAMPION!!!! What fucking idiot would bring up the NXT champion and have him lose to an aging star that the company does nothing with!! Why!?!?!?! To make matter worst, Kross is in the midst of what was a hot program with Samoa Joe, who hasn't wrestled in 18 months. More on that later. This is the shits.
Speaking of the Shits....
Sometimes, quite often even, I really hate this company. Not the wrestlers, because they have no hand in this bullshit. But I regularly anticipate the day that Vince McMahon is no longer around. Rhea Ripley has been undercut time and time again. Normally is by Charlotte, like at Wrestlemania 36 and Summerslam 2021, but this time, not only was she beaten by Charlotte, but she wasn't even able to win the rematch with some build, as the next night they transition the title to this goofball Nikki Kross dressed up like a Great Value Brand Power Ranger. I hate this shit. Why can't they just pick 8-10 great women wrestlers and let them be the best. And Becky Lynch is supposed to come back and challenge this goof? Of course not. So why switch the title!!!!
Finn Balor wants a Shot
I am intrigued by Finn Balor challenging Roman to a match at the end of Smackdown this past Friday, but I also question the timing. Roman is clearly wrestling Cena at Summerslam, so why feed Balor to him beforehand? Like I said earlier with Keith Lee, why not set up a match for September, post Summerslam. Building for matches in the future is always better than a rush job. Lining up contenders is the best way to book a strong roster with multiple people fans can view as a threat to the champion. I always have liked Balor and he will always have the moniker as the first Universal champion. By going down to NXT and helping to bolster that roster during the pandemic, I think Balor earned to value with the company. He should be rewarded with this feud on top. But I don't see Roman losing that title anytime soon. Although, a lost wouldn't kill him f he gets it back before the long awaited and talked about program with Roman or Brock Lesnar comes.
What to Do with these Guys?
There are so many upper mid level guys that I scratch my head thinking what their direction is. If you read my Summerslam fantasy booking article, I struggled with not just throwing a bunch of these guys in a multiple man match, because there really is a lot of talent there. Its clearly time for Apollo Crews to drop the IC title, but to who? And is that title really the goal. Big E, Kevin Owens, and Nakamura, they should be getting top title matches, not secondary title matches. But is that in the cards. And if not, what is the plan? A lot of questions that I have no answers for, because their booking is so erratic.
NXT
Kross vs. Joe
News broke this week that in fact Samoa Joe will be returning to the ring to face Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship at NXT Take Over 36 next month. The build has been suggesting that Joe vs. Kross was the direction ever since Joe returned as the Enforcer last month, but questions about Joe's health has kept me from being completely sure if that was the direction. But in fact it is the direction, and its a match that certainly is, well, was highly anticipated coming off Joe being joked out at two weeks ago by Kross. Well, as I noted in the RAW section, Vince did everything he could to cut Kross' legs out from under him and beat him on RAW, in front of a larger audience. Only for him to be expected to be this badass on NXT the very next night. What a flop. And what a disservice to Samoa Joe, who has done a great job building up this feud, where a win for Joe over Kross would've actually meant something. But now, after Jeff Hardy did it already in short fashion, what is actually there to be gained by Joe beating Kross. So damn stupid.
ALL ELITE WRESTLING
New NJPW U.S. Champion
Jon Moxley dropped the NJPW United States title to Lance Archer last week, after holding it for about 18 months. I understand why New Japan would want the title on Archer who is still someone who is a part of their roster, but what this means for Moxley is interesting. He has been out of teh title picture since teh ring didn't blow up, and he loss his tag title feud with the Young Bucks. What is Moxley's direction? Will be interesting to see. Archer is a great talent but doesn't have the profile of Moxley.
Elite vs Dark Order
After weeks of what feels like the same in ring interview/ brawl between the two teams, The Elite will face The Dark Order and Hangman Page on this Wednesday's Dynamite. If the The Dark Order team wins, Hangman will get a title shot at Omega, almost definitely at All Out, and the Dorks will get a tag team title match. I do think a 10 man elimination match will be fun to watch and should make for some great action. If Page's team loses, he can't challenge for the title. With rumors abound of new big stars coming in, I do wonder if they will change plans and go with a different main event for All Out. If a certain mega star is coming, I would....
Nick Gage in AEW
MFJ's Five Labors of Jericho began last with Jericho defeating Shawn Spears in step one, and afterwards stage the labor #2 opponent was announced as Nick Gage, who was at the time the Game Changer Wrestling Champion. Gage loss the title over the weekend, which we will discuss later in this update. But this was a shocker and a turn off for many people who hate Gages super hardcore style. Me, I think this was perfect. My biggest fear when this 5 match gauntlet was announced was that Jericho was going to be face and defeat all the members of the Pinnacle, on his way to a match with MJF. But bringing in special opponents, or hired guns, is pretty perfect and a great way to get some guys on the show who aren't normally there. Again, I'm not into the really gory over the top hardcore style that Nick Gage presents all together, as it has its place in spots. But using him for a special hired hand or special attraction here and there is great.
Chavo signs with AEW
I have been complaining about how Vickie Guerrero is the complete wrong manager for Andrade since he debuted, and largely I think everyone recognized this was a bad choice. So when Chavo Guerrero made his debut as Andrade's "executive consultant", it was such a breath of fresh air. Chavo is so much more fluid on the mic and he is a real star that fans know and are drawn towards. I do question him being a heel, as most people connect him with his uncle, the late Eddie Guerrero, and want to cheer him. But I believe he will be a great mouthpiece for Andrade and they can do some things here. Plus Chavo can still take bumps.
New Japan Pro Wrestling
Ibushi Out
Kota Ibushi's health concerns continued last week, which caused him to be pulled from the big NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam main event, where he was scheduled to face Shingo Takagi for the title. Ibushi was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia, and as a result has missed the Summer Struggle tour and now this Dome event.
Wrestle Grand Slam at the Tokyo Dome
Three championships changed hands at today's NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome event.
- Chase Owens won a pre-show battle royal to win the KOPW title
- Ishimori & El Phantasmo defeated Rocky Romero & Taguchi to retain the Junior Tag titles
- Robbie Eagles defeated El Desperado to win the Junior Heavyweight title
- Okada defeated Jeff Cobb
- Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Naito & SANADA to win the Tag Team titles
- Shingo Takagi defeated Tanahashi to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight title
Hiromu is Coming Back!
Hiromu Takahashi announced last week that he has been cleared to return to the ring. Hiromu has been sidelined with a torn left pectoral on February 19 at the NJPW Road to Castle Attack show. The injury caused Hiromu to vacate the Jr. Heavyweight title, so one would think that when he returns he should be right back in contention for that title, with the likes of Robbie Eagles and El Desperado. This is the second major injury Takahashi has experienced in recent years, as he missed more than a year of in-ring action with a broken neck.
New GCW Champion
GCW made an interesting decision over the weekend, when they crowned Matt Cardona, formerly Zack Ryder in WWE, their new world champion. Cardona defeated the hardcore Death match King Nick Gage in a bloody brawl, which I largely saw on Twitter, cause I would never pay money for such a garbage event. The real story came after the match when some fans who were probably legit pissed off that GCW decided to make Cardona their champion, began throwing trash and debris into the ring. The bottles and cans and trash pelted both wrestlers, who were still in the ring selling the ending of the match, and it was a complete shit-show. This became an insane scene, as what started as a few fans throwing things, snowballed into damn near everyone in attendance throwing anything they could find at Cardona. Someone could have been seriously hurt and this was not something that should be condoned or replicated. This was a really bad look.
Thunder Rosa leaving NWA
Recently, Thunder Rosa requested a release from her NWA contract so she could sign with AEW. This is not the first time that we have seen talents from NWA or MLW get out of their deal so they can go wrestle in AEW exclusively. On the surface, it makes perfect sense for talents to want to get featured on a platform such as Dynamite, which is seen by far more people and surely for a lot more money. But for the smaller companies who have booked and help get talent over, how many of their young talented performers will they continue to let out of their contracts so they can go work exclusively for AEW? If AEW is the friendly, talent sharing company that it was designed to be, where they work with everyone, why would it be important for these companies to just give up their talent and have them sign with AEW? Why wouldn't the talent sharing agreement just continue? We'll monitor if Thunder Rosa is still going to be wrestling dates for NWA, cause they need her.