Every week, Kevin Eck will run down his burning questions from the past week in professional wrestling.
‘RAW’ thoughts
Am I the only one who …
… is really looking forward to the inevitable match between The Shield and New Day at Survivor Series?
The match hasn’t been made official, but it’s apparent that’s where things are headed (WWE has announced that Roman Reigns will make his return to “RAW” this coming Monday). The Shield and New Day are two of WWE’s most over acts, but they’ve never crossed paths until now.
The presumed six-man matchup between the Hounds of Justice and the Booty-O’s guys feels a lot bigger than any of the title matches at Survivor Series — except for the match pitting Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. newly crowned WWE Champion AJ Styles, of course.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Survivor Series
… thinks the inclusion of Jason Jordan in the Survivor Series men’s elimination match is a good thing?
Some fans may think Jordan doesn’t belong in the star-studded match, but it makes sense on multiple levels for him to be a participant. From a storyline standpoint, it’s logical that “Raw” general manager and team captain Kurt Angle would put his “son” on the team. Moreover, whatever happens regarding Jordan in the match undoubtedly will be a plot point in the Angle-Jordan storyline, which I believe will culminate in Jordan turning heel at some point.
I also like Jordan being involved in the match because it gives him a rub. Same for Bobby Roode.
… never dreamed I’d hear Erik Watts’ name mentioned on a WWE broadcast in 2017?
Booker T referenced Watts, son of legendary former wrestler/promoter Bill Watts, to make a point about what he perceived as nepotism by Angle toward Jordan.
For those unfamiliar, Erik Watts was an extremely green, charismatically challenged wrestler who received a push in WCW in the early 90’s because his father was the booker. Watts was never anywhere close to being over, yet his father booked his kid to defeat the likes of Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit, Paul Orndorff, Michael Hayes and Bobby Eaton, as well as future big names such as Kevin Nash, Diamond Dallas Page and Raven under different gimmicks.
So, yes, Booker was spot on when bringing up Erik Watts as an example of nepotism in pro wrestling at its worst.
Personally, I was always more of a Chad Fortune guy anyway.
… thinks Michael Cole was a little old to be playing with WWF Wrestling Buddies?
When Braun Strowman was manhandling The Miz, Cole said it reminded him of when he used to throw around his WWF Wrestling Buddies back in the day. The stuffed toys of Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage and other WWF stars came out in the early '90s. Cole would’ve been in his early 20s at the time.
But, hey, I don’t judge. When I was in my early 20s, I spent a lot of time “playing” with my Missy Hyatt Wrestling Buddy.
… wondered if it was the first time Enzo Amore had been in the ring with someone who has a worse hairdo than him?
Pete Dunne’s a good worker, but as the late, great Bobby “The Brain” Heenan used to say, “Who cut his hair — the state?”
Suddenly, AJ Styles’ soccer mom coiffure doesn’t look so bad, does it?
MORE: Getting a grip — the anniversary of the Montreal Screwjob
‘SmackDown Live’ thoughts
Am I the only one who …
… is dying to know why John Cena chose to be a member of the “SmackDown Live” team in the men’s elimination match at Survivor Series?
After “SmackDown Live” commissioner Shane McMahon dropped the bombshell on Twitter that Cena was the final member of his squad, my first thought was: Why would the "free agent” side with Team Blue?
Cena being in the match obviously makes it even bigger, but it just seems odd that he would pick a side. I figured he’d make like Switzerland and remain neutral in the battle of the brands. Then again, perhaps he realized that being Swiss (even metaphorically speaking) in WWE isn’t necessarily a good career move — right, Cesaro?
Wait, it just hit me why Cena has joined the fight against Team Angle. He must still be pissed at Angle for this:
… actually got up from my couch and cheered when AJ Styles won the WWE Title from Jinder Mahal?
OK, I didn’t really do that. I actually only got up from my couch once during the show, and that was to go to the bathroom to take an Ellsworth as soon as I saw the chin-challenged twerp on the screen. Seriously, this guy’s 15 minutes expired a long time ago. But I digress.
I was really happy that Styles beat Mahal. It was clearly the the right call, but I think we all were afraid to get our hopes up too high. Kudos to the powers that be in WWE for actually giving us the match we really wanted to see at Survivor Series — Brock Lesnar vs. Styles.
On a side note, am I the only one who wasn’t surprised that Mahal’s best match in his WWE Title run — hell, perhaps in his career — was with "The Phenomenal One?"
MORE: Monday Night Wrong — Styles' former employer tries to rekindle the Monday Night Wars
… thinks Shane McMahon’s claim that “SmackDown Live” is regarded as the “B” show doesn’t make sense from a storyline perspective?
Sure, in the real world “RAW” is looked upon as the superior brand, but in WWE’s scripted world that’s never been the case. In fact, the opposite just might be true.
In the only two “RAW” vs. “SmackDown” Bragging Rights pay-per-views, which took place in 2009 and 2010, it was Team Blue that won the trophy. So the story should actually be that “RAW” is the brand that has something to prove.
Then again, I may be overthinking it. During my time on the WWE creative team, when it was pointed out to Vince McMahon that a current angle contradicted a previous one, he would often respond by saying, “Goddammit, guys, nobody remembers that.”
And sometimes it was something that had happened two weeks ago.
… thinks it’s pretty messed up that Shane McMahon is being portrayed as Daniel Bryan’s protector as well as a guy who believes he’s such a badass that he can actually beat up Kurt Angle?
Think about it: Shane O’Mac, the 47-year-old non-wrestler (with the worst-looking punches in the business), has vowed to avenge poor, helpless Bryan — one of the most talented in-ring performers ever — by kicking the ass of Angle, also one of the most talented in-ring performers ever, not to mention a guy who just showed that he can still go in the ring.
It’s like Shane is Fonzie, Bryan is Richie Cunningham, and Angle is a wannabe tough guy from Fillmore. Oh, so that’s why Shane was wearing that leather jacket a couple weeks ago. Sit on it, Shane.