Obviously, the biggest story of this past week was Roman Reigns’ shocking revelation on “RAW” last Monday that he has leukemia. So before proceeding with my usual snarky comments regarding WWE broadcasts, I just want to take a moment to publicly wish him well in his battle with cancer. Whether you loved Reigns or loved to hate him, I believe I speak for the entire WWE Universe when I say I’m rooting for Joe Anoa’i.
‘Evolution’ thoughts
Am I the only who …
… thought Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair exceeded high expectations for their Last Woman Standing Match?
They battled for nearly 30 minutes and I could’ve watched them go another 30. While Ronda Rousey versus Nikki Bella went on last and was technically the main event, it’s the Lynch-Flair match that people will be talking about years from now, much like how Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant main-evented WrestleMania III but Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage stole the show.
Kudos to Lynch and Flair for delivering such strong performances on the big stage and also to the powers that be for allowing the two women the time and the freedom to create an instant classic. WWE has come a long way since my time on the creative team (2011-2014) when Vince McMahon told the writers that “our fans don’t want to see the girls fight like the guys.”
… thought Ronda Rousey sold too much for Nikki Bella before beating her?
I get it that Rousey can’t just plow through every opponent in a matter of minutes, but as I’ve said before, it’s still too early in her WWE run to come across as less than special. Of course, Rousey has to sell to some degree so that they audience can feel sympathy for her, but she was in peril for so long against Nikki that it just wasn’t believable. You would’ve thought Rousey was in the ring with Holly Holm or Amanda Nunes the way she appeared to be cowering in the corner while Nikki was on the attack.
Coming within an eyelash of losing to Nikki, who isn’t even a full-time member of the roster, takes away from potential big-money matches between Rousey and performers such as Charlotte Flair, Asuka (if WWE can rebuild her) and others.
… was watching referee Jessika Carr as much as I was the performers during the Toni Storm-Io Shirai and Shayna Baszler-Kairi Sane matches?
Both matches were very good, but much of my focus was on Carr, WWE’s first female referee in decades. I’ve known Carr, a fellow Baltimore native, for about eight years, and seeing her living her dream and being part of such a historic event, especially knowing how hard she has worked for it, put a huge smile on my face.
I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone more determined, hard-working or focused than Carr, who was a wrestling-obsessed, overweight teen with self-esteem issues when she decided to shoot for the stars and pursue a career as a pro wrestler. She dedicated herself to getting into shape -- she lost 70 pounds -- and paid her dues on the independent circuit before moving to Florida to further her training at Team 3D Academy, the wrestling school run by the Dudley Boyz.
Using the name Kennadi Brink -- she took the last name of her mentor Patrick Brick, an independent wrestling star in Maryland who was under a WWE developmental contract for several years -- she eventually became a regular with Ring of Honor’s women’s division (Women of Honor) before receiving a tryout with WWE. She wasn’t offered a contract as a wrestler, but she jumped at the opportunity to be a referee in NXT when WWE’s head of talent development and recruiting William Regal asked if she was interested.
Even though she had to trade in her spandex tights for a striped shirt, Carr is earning a living in a WWE ring, and I know how much that means to her. I have no doubt that her story will inspire other young girls to pursue their dreams.
‘RAW’ thoughts
Am I the only who …
… thinks WWE chose the perfect time to have Dean Ambrose turn on Seth Rollins?
Some fans on social media have criticized WWE for the timing of Ambrose’s heel turn and have accused the company of exploiting Roman Reigns’ cancer. I couldn’t disagree more.
The seeds for Ambrose’s turn had been planted in recent weeks and it was just a matter of time before it happened, but no one could’ve predicted it was going to occur on the same night Reigns made his emotional announcement. Not only did no one see it coming, but it also really struck a nerve with the audience. That’s what major plot twists are supposed to do, and I have no doubt that Reigns fully supported the decision to do the angle.
Ambrose now has massive heat and Rollins couldn’t possibly be any more of a sympathetic figure.
… thought Paul Heyman did an outstanding job of selling the “Crown Jewel” main event between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman for the vacant Universal Title while also having to acknowledge the reality of why Roman Reigns is no longer in the match?
Heyman began the promo by breaking character, as he offered Reigns -- a longtime storyline nemesis of Heyman and his client, Lesnar -- his thoughts and prayers and put over Reigns’ courage. He then seamlessly transitioned into talking about the importance of the title and the match between Lesnar and Strowman.
“Roman Reigns is the first person to tell you the show must go on, and so it does,” an emotional Heyman said. “At ‘Crown Jewel,’ Brock Lesnar versus Braun Strowman, and only one can stand up and say I’m the one that carries on the legacy that Roman Reigns brought to this ring tonight. I’m the one that's worthy of the prestige of being the champion … and that sure as hell ain’t Braun Strowman."
… is excited about a program between Elias and Baron Corbin?
I wrote last month that Elias is going to really be over as a babyface whenever WWE decides to turn him, and now we’re going to find out if I’m right. WWE pulled the trigger on the turn by having Elias smash his guitar over Corbin after Corbin interrupted his musical performance.
The fans have been wanting to cheer Elias for a while now, and Corbin makes a great antagonist.
‘SmackDown Live’ thoughts
Am I the only who …
… was actually embarrassed for AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan for having to deal with such bad material in their backstage segment?
One grown man used a Pinocchio reference to accuse another grown man of lying, and the grown man accused of lying didn’t even get it at first. And these are the top two babyfaces on the show. If I told you that was one of the lamest segments I’ve seen in a while, I guarantee you my nose would not grow.
.. thinks WWE got what it deserved when the crowd started chanting for CM Punk as Shane McMahon talked about the World Cup tournament?
WWE keeps promoting that the tournament will determine who is the best in the world, which is what Punk referred to himself as for years. How could the powers that be not know that they were going to trigger a Punk chant?
… thinks it lazy booking to not have an explanation as to why Big Show turned heel again and aligned himself with Sheamus and Cesaro?
Oh well, it’s not like anyone really cares anyway.
… cringed when Corey Graves said that when Mandy Rose is around you can forget about Molly Holly?
Be a star, Corey. And for God’s sake stop drooling over Rose. It’s not the Attitude Era and you’re not Jerry Lawler.
Looking ahead
Am I the only who …
… thinks Braun Strowman is going to win his first Universal Title by defeating Brock Lesnar at “Crown Jewel?”
With Roman Reigns taking time off, Strowman’s ill-advised stint as a heel is done and he’s now the top babyface on “Raw.” “Crown Jewel” needs to end on a feel-good note, and that’s why “The Monster Among Men” has to conquer “The Beast.” Not only is it time for Strowman to get his title run, but no one wants to see part-timer Lesnar as champion again.
Look for Strowman to beat Lesnar and then begin a title program with Drew McIntyre.