Every week, Kevin Eck will run down his burning thoughts from "RAW," "SmackDown Live" and the rest of the pro wrestling world.
Miscellaneous thought
Am I the only one who …
… believes Vince McMahon has truly lost it if he thinks starting a football league (again) is a good idea?
When I first saw the headline about McMahon doing a reboot of the XFL I thought for sure it came from kayfabenews.com, but apparently the WWE Chairman and CEO really is serious about getting back into the football business — although that doesn’t necessarily mean the return of the XFL, which even he has referred to as a “colossal failure.” It’s been reported that McMahon has trademarked “United Football League.”
It seems that McMahon believes the time is right for an alternative to the NFL because of the backlash from fans over the player protests during the national anthem. I’m sure McMahon sees the empty seats at NFL games and thinks the people who once occupied those seats will be more than willing to spend their hard-earned money on his new league.
Well I think he’s as wrong about that as he was about Lex Luger being the next Hulk Hogan.
MORE: A brief oral history of the massive failures of the XFL
No matter how angry fans may be at the NFL, the majority of them are not going to support a league made up of players who aren’t good enough to play in the NFL. History has shown that the masses don’t want to watch inferior football.
If anything, the empty seats at NFL games proves that a lot of fans can actually do without football. To me, that’s reason enough not to even consider starting a new league. If those fans can give up “real” football so easily, they’re certainly not going to care about NFL Light.
It seems to me that McMahon’s enormous ego has gotten the better of his business sense. The XFL was an huge embarrassment for him and he needs to get the last laugh because he’s “Vincent Kennedy McMahon, damn it!”
And speaking of enormous egos, I wouldn’t be surprised if the his buddy Donald Trump — the former owner of the New Jersey Generals of the failed United States Football League — is involved with McMahon’s newest football folly.
‘RAW’ thoughts
Am I the only one who …
… thought the announcement of the first WWE women’s Royal Rumble match was marred by Stephanie McMahon’s involvement in the segment?
I’m thrilled that there’s going to be a women’s Rumble match, but it seemed like the segment was designed to get Stephanie over more than any of the women wrestlers who were in the ring with her.
Stephanie is one of the most unlikable heel characters in WWE, so she was an odd choice to deliver the news of the groundbreaking match. Moreover, she was so overbearing in doing so that she almost made me wish the crowd had booed the announcement.
Still, it was far from Stephanie’s most cringeworthy segment on WWE television.
MORE: Recap the biggest stories in wrestling this week
… missed Roman Reigns?
Come on, admit it. I can’t be the only one who thought “RAW” was less exciting because “The Big Dog” wasn’t on the show.
By the way, in case you’re wondering why Reigns wasn’t there, I suspect it’s because he was busy doing his side job — playing bass for Metallica.
… thinks the WWE creative team should be able to come up with better material for a show in New England than stale “Deflategate” jokes?
Let me guess: At this coming Monday’s “RAW” in Chicago there’s going to be a reference to the Black Sox scandal.
… is not looking forward to a series of “comedy” vignettes with Heath Slater and Rhyno?
I know some people get a kick out of these two, but I just don’t find trailer park humor and a guy eating Cheez Whiz all that entertaining. But that’s just me.
‘SmackDown’ thoughts
Am I the only one who …
… thinks the Daniel Bryan-Shane McMahon conflict is the most compelling storyline in WWE?
This is one of the rare occasions when I’m actually OK with the focus being placed on the authority figures rather than the wrestlers.
For the first time since Shane O’Mac returned to WWE, I’m genuinely happy to see him on my TV screen. The issue between Bryan and Shane feels real and both of them are playing their roles well, Bryan especially so.
It sure appears that WWE is building to Bryan making his long-awaited return to the ring to face Shane, a match that if it is to happen would likely occur at WrestleMania. That — not Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns — would be the real main event.
… is intrigued by the angle of Dolph Ziggler dropping the United States Title belt in the ring and walking to the back?
I didn’t see that one coming, but the angle plays into the rumors that Ziggler might be leaving WWE.
I’m not sure where this is going, but it’s the most interested I’ve been in the talented Ziggler in some time.
… thinks the Usos are losing too many non-title matches?
The "SmackDown" Tag Team Champions dropped their second non-title match in as many weeks when they lost to Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. The week before, they were defeated by Rusev and Aiden English.
Champions losing non-title matches to kickstart a program is overdone anyway, but having the best tag team in the business lose this frequently is just bad booking. One could argue that the Usos always win when it counts so it’s OK for them to lose the ones that don’t, but I think the losses take away from just how good they truly are.
… thinks the Riott Squad might be on its way to becoming the new J.O.B Squad?
Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan of the Riott Squad lost to Charlotte and Naomi in a tag match this week, one week after the Riott Squad trio was forced to retreat in a skirmish with the other women on the roster. This doesn’t seem like a good sign for Riott, Logan and Liv Morgan as a unit.
The Riott Squad is starting to feel like an inferior version of Absolution. In other words, Absolution is the NFL and the Riott Squad is the UFL. The major difference between the two factions is that Absolution leader Paige is far superior to Riott as a talker and overall performer.
… wonders if Naomi referring to the Riott Squad as “chickenheads” is PG?
If you aren’t familiar with the slang term, this video may help. Hint: The chickenhead is not Val Venis.
… thoroughly enjoyed the New Day vs. Rusev and Aiden English Christmas-themed match and backstage segment?
I know some “purists” hate such sports entertainment silliness, but I’ve just got three words for them.
And in closing, since it is the holiday season, I want to wish you and yours a Happy Rusev Day!