Coming at you from Austin (not Houston) for the not-so-live Christmas edition of RAW. RAW was pre-taped last week so that the cast and crew could have the week off. If the Superstars get a week off, so do the Power Rankings. Besides, how do you really rank things like the Battle of Good and Bad Santa? Well, I guess it’s not too different from the regular craziness of RAW storytelling. Regardless, we’ll put the Power Rankings on the back burner and do some year end cleanup.
Even with all the holiday nonsense, RAW was pretty good. Knowing that everything tonight was tongue-in-cheek, the wrestlers were free to just wrestle and have a little fun. Goes to show that not everything needs hours and hours of set up and effort to put on a fast paced and fun event.
These are just some random topics to end the year on. Next week I’ll try to look ahead to 2014 but this week let’s finish off 2013 with a little housecleaning of topics.
There was a bit of business that still lingered from current story lines with Daniel Bryan and The Wyatt Family. The good part was an excellent match between Bryan, Cody and Goldust vs The Wyatts. The bad part was that I couldn’t tell if this was the WWE trying to set free Bryan from the Wyatt storyline or the WWE trying to reinforce the continuance of Bryan possibly “becoming” a Wyatt? Who cares, it’s Xmas and the match was worth the three segments it got.
In what was the surprise of the night, the Divas match was really good. You heard me, I said it. The Divas match was really good…until they got to the inevitable / mandatory promotion of Total Divas, which isn’t even airing nor will be airing until March. The finishing Diva-go-round spot was awful. Not only was it stupid but the Divas involved couldn’t pull it off without falling all over themselves. The first 7/8ths of the match contained some of the best wrestling of the night. AJ was excellent on the mic the entire length of the match as guest announcer with Cole and JBL. BTW, not a good sign for The King’s future when; a) he’s not on a taped show from last week because he was “on Christmas vacation”, b) this really seemed like a test run for just having JBL and Cole, and c) JBL and Cole did a fine job. I’ll admit, Lawler has been adequate as part of the three man announce team but it’s clear that The King has far less shows in front of him than behind. If I were a gambling man, I’d put the over / under that The King still being part of the weekly announce team on this same time next year. 2014 seems like the end of the road for The King. We’ll have to check in next December.
Now, just because we’re not doing the Official World’s Greatest Power Rankings this week, doesn’t mean I don’t like to rank things. There’s always time to rank. Here’s a mini ranking that I came up with.
Wrestlers that need a push in 2014:
5) CM Punk – I know this sounds crazy but hear me out. Punk has been out of any championship scene since he dropped the WWE belt. While he’s one of the most popular Superstars, he’s been on his own island for the better part of the year. He had his big feud with Heyman, which included runs against Ryback and Curtis Axel, but he’s been as far from the main event as SAN-TIN-OOOOOOOO has been this last half of the year. He can only go so far being in CM Punk land. The best part about his recent feud with The Shield is that he was wrestling with alike talent and putting on good matches. I realize there are rumors that put him in a feud with HBK or HHH or both which will lead up to something at WM30 but until that happens or I see more, Punk is in limbo.
4) Wade Barrett – In just two or three weeks, I’m already done with #BadNewsBarrett. We can move on now. Barrett has the ability to be a top tier guy. I’d say he’s even got a clearer path than someone like Alberto Del Rio, who is probably his equal in-ring but Barrett has an easier path to being a heel. #BadNewsBarrett isn’t working and we need to see him in the ring. We’ve just seen it with RKO. Some guys are natural heels. They don’t need too much tinkering. The more they messed with RKO the worse of a heel he was (see the mentally unstable viper days). RKO has flourished at just being a prick. Barrett can flourish the same way.
3) AJ Lee – The only current Champion on this list. AJ has a lot of potential right now. She’s on the verge of having the longest Divas title reign, which the WWE is now pushing. Say what you will about the Divas division, which you know that I do and it’s usually not kind, but it’s getting better. The Divas are putting on some interesting matches. AJ has been great on the mic. Whether it was her “pipe-bomb” from earlier this year or her time at the announce table, AJ has been great. The problem is that she’s been hampered by a few injuries and the WWE’s need to write towards the Total Divas show, which AJ is not a personality on. Since Total Divas isn’t on for another few months, this is a chance to let AJ be front and center. The writers can focus on her current title reign and push the quality of matches that the Divas division has been putting on.
2) Kofi Kingston – Kofi is the most athletic person on the roster. He also has one of the worst gimmicks, if you can even call what he’s got a gimmick. He’s got no storyline or feud. I thought he was beginning a feud with The Miz but that was nonexistent. Hopefully it had more to do with Miz being absent than another change in direction. While I wouldn’t want to end my career with a feud with Miz, it’s better than a kick in the balls. Definitely better than doing nothing.
Although I might change my signature hand move if I were Kofi, just maybe?
1) Dolph Ziggler – Any reader will know how much I cheer for Ziggler. He must have done something to piss of someone with power because he’s been jobbing hard for the past six months and was in off the radar completely right before that. Remember, it was only about a year ago that Ziggler was the World Champ! He’s the one who shepherded in Big E and AJ to their current championship spots. Now Ziggler is jobbing to Fandango in a “pole match”. Ziggler is the best pure wrestler on the roster and can put anyone over. He brings his “A” game every night. The only hint that he may be in line for a decent feud is that twice now he’s jobbed to someone who is to go on to fight Big E for the IC belt. If that’s true, that could build up tension for Ziggler to finally win his chance to challenge Big E for the IC belt at a PPV. A Ziggler / Big E feud would be great. It’s hard to go wrong with a Master / Student storyline, especially when both men can wrestle. Add in that one is seen as a ring technician (Ziggler) and the other is a powerhouse (Big E) and you have a nice contrast there as well. As I was putting this together, I was getting myself more and more excited for a potential Ziggler / Big E feud. C’mon WWE, give us what we want!
And now, for something completely different. Someone has to show me this Sin Cara comic book I keep hearing about. I read a lot, A LOT, of comic books and I ain’t never seen no Sin Cara comic book. And who cares, should be the first question? Just because the WWE says something is true, doesn’t mean it is. Just like the WWE says this Sin Cara I’m watching is the same Sin Cara from previous years. Who am I to believe, the WWE storytellers or my own lying eyes?
Next up, cross promotions. I don't know if this is feasible but the next evolution in WWE promotion should be “awarding” championship belts to people. The WWE showed pictures of Clayton Kershaw (the greatest living pitcher and current Dodger ace) and Max Scherzer. Both of whom won the MLB Cy Young trophy this year for the best pitcher in the National and American leagues. The WWE sent them championship belts as a nod to their great accomplishment. They each took pictures at home with them and tweeted the out. We’re living in a world where it would be almost impossible for someone to grow up and not at least have a passing knowledge of the WWE and the fact that its champion wears a big gaudy belt. Hell, the Aaron Rodgers “discount double check” comes from the old school championship motion started in wrestling years ago. And since it’s not a real championship belt you have to win, like a boxing belt (which there’s a strong debate on the validity of those belts but that’s an argument for another day) or an MMA belt, you can easily receive a duplicate / personalized belt and parade around with it as a sign of being the best. Sure, anyone can now buy an authentic WWE championship belt, but no one can be given one by the WWE. If the WWE were to send out yearly awards or randomly throughout the year to people who accomplish awesome things, they could inject themselves into hot pop culture phenomenons or special real life events. This could be a great means of promotion. I’m sure the WWE already does this or would do it for anyone who’d ask but the WWE should lay claim on handing out these belts. Peyton Manning, here’s your championship belt for being sportsman of the year, congrats. Jennifer Lawrence, you killed it in multiple movies in 2013 and won an Oscar this year, here’s your championship belt, congrats. Limit it to 3 - 5 max, so as not to dilute the specialness. It can be fun. It can be serious. This feels like a no brainer and probably something the WWE already tries to do, but I’m suggesting it anyway. I say own the idea, make it bigger and incorporate it as part of the Slammies or during a big PPV. Give one to a soldier on their “Tribute to the Troops” show.
Lastly, the WWE tag division. The WWE will be the first to tell you that their tag division is in its best shape in years. There was a time, not so long ago, that the WWE was actually thinking of getting rid of the tag team belts. With a renewed emphasis and dedication to forming actual tag teams vs super teams of singles wrestlers being thrown together, the tag ranks are on fire. There’s no better example than the Usos vs Primetime Players match on RAW. Both teams are excellent in-ring. Neither has the tag straps, those are resting in the hands of the Rhodes brothers, but both could easily be champs tomorrow and it would be well deserved. Both the Usos and Primetime Players are underused and haven’t come close to their creative ceilings. The Usos still have not give a proper promo as I can recall. The Primetime Players have had a chance to get on the mic and have built up a semi-popular gimmick, which I can’t really describe but I know I like watching them. The Usos in particular never put on a bad match. They’ve had standout performances even when matched up against The Shield. And no mention of the tag division can be concluded without mentioning The Shield. They might have been the beginning of the tag renaissance. Since The Shield came into the WWE a year ago we now have at least six, ready to go tag teams that can take the championship mantle. The Shield, The Wyatt Family, Cody and Goldust, The Primetime Players and The Usos are at the top of the list while lesser groups such as The Real Americans, Los Matadores, and 3MB are not teams that I enjoy but are serviceable and can put on a quality match. We’re not even mentioning the singles wrestlers that have been put together which have the potential of being quality tag teams, i.e. Big Show / Rey Mysterio, Mark Henry / Big E Langston and R-Truth / Xavier Woods. We even a glimpse at a possible Bryan / Punk super-team. The tag ranks have been killing it all year. With the inevitable breakup and showdown between the Rhodes brothers, the tag belts will be up for grabs sooner than later. This might be the golden era for tag teams. I’m sure I’ll get lots of teams thrown at me as “better” teams / champions but I’m talking about across the entire tag team division. I know the Horsemen, DX, Road Warriors, Demolition, NWO and others may have been better than anyone one tag team now (I’d say that The Shield could make their way on that best ever debate) but I don’t recall the depth of the roster being as strong as it is now. Please feel free to comment and correct me.
With that, I’ll leave all of you to a Merry Christmas. Be safe and have fun over this holiday week. And look forward to this next week:
Until next week…
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment