Coming at you from Detroit, and a night after a ho-hum TLC PPV. TLC(and Stairs) started off with an incredible match, Ziggler vs Harper, and then took a Dr. Thackery-like heroin nap for the most of the show until the main TLC match of Ambrose vs Wyatt. Even then, in the midst of a really solid match, the ending was caused by…wait for it… WAIT FOR IT… an exploding TV monitor. The perfect way to end a TLC match. The WWE sure knows how to put the “M” in TLC.
But was it a disappointment? NO. They only had three weeks to build up for this match, one of which was highjacked by The Slammys. All of the matches were placeholders for one of the best times / PPV of the year, The Royal Rumble. And lastly, not that I’m in the business for making excuses, but TLC is now squeezed in right before the holiday break. Nothing is really going to happen story-wise so having random gimmick matches with undeveloped feuds seems like an appropriate time during the wasteland of the holiday season.
The WWE’s main focus is this WWE wee on USA where it can promote it’s starts to the general USA watching public and put on their annual tribute to the troops and all the other charitable Christmas time stuff.
What they did do well is bring back some major players to give us a nice pop to finish the year and get us ready for 2015. We got away from the horrible “previously on RAW” opening to a traditional wrestling / storytelling open. Y2J was the special host and delivered on all fronts, even wrestling in a match. Roman Reigns is back BACK. Let’s not bury the lead, Brock Lesnar came down from the mountain top where I imagine him chopping trees down with his by pulling them straight out of the ground and F5-ing them into perfectly broken pieces of firewood. If anyone is training Rocky IV style in the snowy plains of rural north, it’s the BEAST, Brock Lesnar.
Tune in to the BEARcast - WrestleCast this week (www.worldofbear.com and subscribe on iTunes). Fred and I had a great show and bring pre-holiday cheer to all as we do a little breakdown of TLC and run through this weeks’ Power Rankings. And check out next week when we have the Ultimate top 20 Power Rankings of 2014! There shall be blood!
So with that, let’s get to the rankings as of this week’s RAW on 12/15/2014...
- Brock Lesnar (N/A) – When the WHC does appear, it’s noteworthy. As I mentioned, Royal Rumble is around the corner at which Lesnar will fight Cena (yet again) so it’s time to get hype machine going. After the initial shock of seeing the WHC (BTW, kinda a problem, but that’s for another time) you knew he’s somehow someway be involved with Cena. They aren’t bringing Lesnar back to squash Y2J, stare at the camera and go home. Lastly, MY GOD, Cena is a huge man but when Brock starts tossing him like a rag doll, it just shows you what a BEAST he is. I can’t get enough of it. Although I’m sure it’s not Cena’s favorite part of his matches.
- John Cena (16) – When you start off with Cena, Y2J, Paul Heyman and throw in an improving Rollins to start the show, I’m a happy guy. Aside from a great match, this is how I like my RAW storytelling to go. People can hate (me being one of them) but Cena can bring it. In and out of the ring with tremendous competency. A random steel cage match with Rollins? Meh, ok. But as I just said, seeing Brock demolish Cena is always fun. Having said all this…Cena is winning his match at Royal Rumble. I don’t know how, nothing has shown me he can, but he will. At the same time, I don’t believe he walks out of the Royal Rumble with the WHC belt. Chew on that, or listen to the BEARcast - WrestleCast for more info (www.worldofbear.com).
- Seth Rollins w/ Minions (2) – The weakest link is the opening segment when it comes to hype and mic work but let’s not forget, this is just his second year and really only his sixth month as being a main guy. He’s already one of the top five wrestlers in the WWE. He’s going to continue to get better on the mic. The Rock, Stone Cold, Cena, etc. took time to be elite. It’s the hardest part to being a Superstar. It was funny to see Mercury and Noble show the same type of joy new parents have when watching their kid take it’s first steps and Rollins played right along.
- Chris Jericho (N/A) – He did a great job opening the show. But I was more impressed with a man who’s on “break” from the WWE being able to not only put on the trunks and wrestle without any buildup, training or rust. So what if he got smashed by Lesnar. Could you walk in off the street and get F-5’d by Brock?
- Paul Heyman (13) – G.O.A.T. I love when Heyman gets “geared up” for a match. He works that tape like my aunt wrapping Chanukah presents.
- Dolph Ziggler / Erick Rowan vs Big Show / Luke Harper (3/5/5/14) – Ziggler, Ziggler, Ziggler. He’s the man. He and Luck Harper had the match of the night at TLC. Big Show and Rowan…not so much. The key was how much the announcers were pumping up the IC belt. That tells me they are going to make it the top prize while the WHC is not on TV each week. At the very least, it tells me that the WWE is still fully behind Ziggler which makes me happy.
- The Usos (12) – This thing with Miz and Jimmy has brought some much needed flavor to the Uso brand. They’re better so keep it rolling. Side note: was I the only one who saw some possible tension between Usos? Nah, I’ve got to be wrong…???
- Miz and Damien Miz-dow (1) – Not even Naomi, who's supposed to be intently watching her husband defend her honor, couldn’t help but crack up at the antics of Miz-dow. They’re my favorite part of RAW week after week.
- The New Day (9) – Kofi, stop grabbing your dick while doing a shitty rap. You’re not in NWA, relax. The announce team is either 1) setting them up for a great and needed heel turn or 2) are as oblivious as the Ferguson police department thinking that blacks jumping up and down are some sort of a threat. I’m really hoping it’s the first one. And for god’s sake, leave poor Big E alone regarding the sweat. This is out of left field and is stupid. If “Midnight Hour” is going to be their finisher, they need to practice it a few more times.
- Dust Bros (8) – They were there to put over The New Day and they did it well.
- Alicia Fox & Natalya w/ Tyson Kidd (11) – I like this “Ladies man” / “Shine stealer” gimmick that Natalya and Kidd are doing. Fox is a good wrestler.
- The Bellas (N/A) – Don’t get me wrong. Here me correctly. I am not a fan. But they’re actually not that bad these day. (still waiting for lighting to strike me…)
- Roman Reigns (N/A) – He’s back! The Big Show is the perfect tune up before his massive push towards WrestleMania. Side note: His new shirt looks like the black Spiderman / Venom costume. (I read too many comics.)
- The Big Show (17) – Keep Cashing Checks and put over the youngsters.
- Fandango 2.0 w/ Rosa (N/A) – Got squashed like the annoying nat that he is. I’d love to me the one true, non-ironic, fan of Fandango / Fandango 2.0. I challenge the WWE to produce this person.
- Rusev w/ Lana (14) – There’s no need to dive deep into infatuation of Lana and her hair braiding skills. Joke all you want Y2J, you ain’t kicking her out of bed.
- Ryback (20) – Since the rest of the world is on the Ryback bandwagon, I give up. He’s the best. It’s a thing of artistic beauty. His mic skill are transcending. One day he’ll go down as the best ever. Keep chanting “Feed Me More!” It’s fantastic. And if he’s going to be the American Hero that defeats the Russian threat, well by-golly, USA USA USA! Final side note: whispering… (fuck Ryback)
- Korporate Kane (19) Now that Kane is just wrestling other people and not involved with “The Authority” it’s ridiculous that Kane is in dress pants rather than being the Devil’s Favorite Son KANE. At this point, Kane looks like some angry dad coming home from a shit job.
- Adam Rose w/ The Bunny (N/A) – Adam Rose and the Bunny were choke-slammed but that wasn’t enough. “The Bunny is headed to the pet cemetery!” Ok, Cole, that was amusing. Kane Tombstone’ing The Bunny only rivals him taking out the San Diego Chicken and Pete Rose. is there were we’re at with this gimmick? really?
- ?
Honorable Mentions
The Ascension – Their first promo on RAW and well, they look like the Road Warriors for the 2010’s. Hey, if you’re going to steal, steal from the best.
Bray / Ambrose – Why would you have on the main event-ers from the previous night’s PPV? It wasn’t like there was some confusing ending that should have been and needed to be cleaned up. Oh, and they’re only two of your companies top five stars. It’s nice that the WWE throws shinny things like Y2J, Reigns and Lesnar out to distract us. Maybe throw the two guys who you banked TLC on out on the next night so they don’t loose momentum. It didn’t seem like such a beating that, even story-wise, they needed the night off. But what do I know. I’m just a fan.
Until next week…
WK
@wkbear
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