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WWE Stomping Grounds 2019 Preview/Predictions
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Stomping Grounds (Or Stomping Ground? We had to literally look at the poster to remind ourselves) comes at a time when main roster television has become uninspired at best. Is it just Lesser Super Showdown aka Less Than And Not Equal To WrestleMania?
It only made sense that last night, the WWE app accidentally let out a notification that the show was “about to begin,” clearly meant for tomorrow night. It was quite a “universal” problem (wink, wink).
We almost wanted it to happen yesterday, just so we can get it over and done with already.
The Wild Card rule continues to drag down Raw and SmackDown in quality and has made both shows feel the same. We have started to forget who is on which show now. What’s the point of a brand split then?
This probably has to do a little bit with SmackDown’s move to Fox in October. Maybe Creative has saved their best stuff for then, but it’s a chore these days to watch. Give us something. Anything.
Outside of the imaginatively hilarious and outlandish Bray Wyatt vignettes, the storylines have become immensely repetitive – Shane McMahon says stuff, Drew McIntyre is angry, Sami Zayn loses, Alexa Bliss is a disgruntled Starbucks customer, R-Truth loses the 24/7 Championship and wins it back (although not this week), Ricochet may or may not win his match and Baron Corbin is simply terrible.
You have not missed much outside of the aforementioned. Shame.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 3/13/17: Trim The Fat
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 3/13/17)
Trim The Fat
– The opening video showcased WWE Universal Champion Goldberg’s victory over Kevin Owens at Fastlane. They wasted no time to show Brock Lesnar’s interruption of his promo last week and subsequent face-to-face. All of this was to of course, hype their encounter for the Title at WrestleMania 33. As we remember, Lesnar stood tall at the end with an F5 while Paul Heyman provided the verbal bloodshed. Basically, the momentum shifted from Goldberg to Lesnar. Good time for this to happen with Mania in the wings.
Notes In Observance – WWE 205 Live 3/7/17: The Greatest Message That Ever Lived
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 3/7/17)
The Greatest Message That Ever Lived
– The opening video recapped the previous night’s Raw where WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville pushed Commentator Austin Aries to his boiling point and was blindsided in the jaw by a microphone. All of this came after Neville’s two consecutive stellar performances in defenses against Gentleman Jack Gallagher at Fastlane and Rich Swann on Raw. The guy carries the division in the ring, Aries carries it on the mic, why not combine the two in WrestleMania season? They made it clear he was the new challenger, without the official announcement. Props to the video package as it worked in the loud chants for Aries brilliantly.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 3/6/17: Reclaim The Yard
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 3/6/17)
Reclaim The Yard
– The opening video recapped WWE Universal Champion Goldberg’s defeat over Kevin Owens at Fastlane the night before that lasted just longer than a National Basketball Association shot clock. WWE United States Champion Chris Jericho – once Owens’ best friend that was betrayed mercilessly weeks prior – cost him the belt that he at one point helped him keep countless times. He did that with his simple presence on the ramp, which deterred Owens from his “mind games” strategy of repeatedly stalling for time. We hoped they’d work in actual footage of Jericho helping Owens time in and time out (Dammit, WWE Network, there’s an archive waiting to be used) but they did give us the line from Commentator Michael Cole, so we guess we’ll settle for that. On the other side of the WrestleMania 33 spectrum, this sets up an inevitable Universal Championship match between Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, just what their third match in history needs.
WWE Fastlane 2017 Reaction
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Indicative of the lackluster Raw brand compared to the glitz of SmackDown Live’s progressive storylines and vibe, Fastlane is what you get when you bring WrestleMania season into the fold.
Ice cream bars, Jinder Mahal singles matches, potential streaks ending and questionable creative decisions are what this Fastlane will be best remembered for.
Also let the record show that the Cruiserweights stole the show and it wasn’t close.
Deemed “the last stop before WrestleMania,” this one had us downright sleepy at the wheel at times. Drive with caution.
Notes In Observance – WWE 205 Live 2/28/17: Dress Shoes Dropkicks
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/28/17)
Dress Shoes Dropkicks
– The opening video looked at the previous night’s tag match where WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville looked to put Gentleman Jack Gallagher in his place since he was mocked at the contract signing the week before. They also showed “The Premier Athlete” Tony Nese and his concern of only doing what was best for him. Gallagher won the match for his team as he stared through Neville’s eyes and made Nese submit. Run-of-the-mill recap, but still good and where it needs to be with Neville-Gallagher for the belt at Fastlane in five days.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 2/27/17: Post Breaker
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/27/17)
Post Breaker
– We began with Goldberg, who we know challenges WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens at Fastlane in six days. Cue his classic “walk from the back and snort aggressively” entrance. Goddamn, his pyro gets so bright. Among the fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin looks like an adult woman decked out in WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bayley’s gear. Well, something seems off about that. Not a bad promo from Goldie – “KO talks too much” and “I’m six days away from gold” are things his character should be saying. It’s inevitable, isn’t it? We think people just like to chant Goldberg’s name more than it being an indication that he’s actually over. He sure was throwing a lot of promises out there. Things looked to wrap up there, but we got a KO appearance. Luckily for last week’s sit-down suit promo, we can take the Champ slightly more serious now. Okay, he flubbed “mood” for “mool,” but that can slide. We liked that he sold his credibility and reminded us of how he beat John Cena on his first night on the main roster and scored big wins over AJ Styles and WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose. He even name-dropped WWE United States Champion Roman Reigns. The telling line was that he outright said Chris Jericho didn’t matter. Foreshadowing. We’ll say that Goldberg has gotten better at promos than we can remember. “I don’t speak neanderthal” was a very KO response. Ha. Pick on the hometown, classic heel move. “The Goldberg chant dies” was a pretty morbid way to end the exchange, but that set the table for FL nicely. KO ultimately stands no chance in the long run with Brock Lesnar in the wings and his history with Goldberg.
Notes In Observance – WWE 205 Live 2/21/17: Kings And Queens
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/21/17)
Kings And Queens
– The opening video recapped the previous night’s Raw contract signing segment for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship match at Fastlane on Mar. 5 between Champion Neville and Gentleman Jack Gallagher. They showed all the important parts, as Neville painted Gallagher as a live caricature of the things people laugh about British culture, to which Gallagher argued that being a gentleman was who he really was and not a part played. In the end, Gallagher got the last laugh as he outlasted Neville in impromptu combat and embarrassed him with William III, his trusty umbrella. Makes sense as Fastlane draws near. Gallagher should get as warm as possible for the belt.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 2/20/17: The Behemoths Collide
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/20/17)
The Behemoths Collide
– The opening video recapped WWE United States Champion Chris Jericho’s “Festival Of Friendship” that emanated from Las Vegas. To sum it up, it was a millennial rehash of “This Is Your Life” with a showbiz extravaganza theme to showcase Jericho’s appreciation for his best friend. They did a great job as they drove home the emotion and set up the moment perfectly when Jericho didn’t suspect an attack until it was too late. Loved the closeups on WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens’ sadistic expressions as he betrayed Jericho and was thus, friends no more.
Notes In Observance – WWE 205 Live 2/14/17: Blazing Trails
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/14/17)
Blazing Trails
– The opening video recapped last week’s excellent Fatal Five-Way Elimination where it was Gentleman Jack Gallagher who’d go on to become #1 Contender and take on WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville at Fastlane on Mar. 5. It feels like the right time to go with a tease of Gallagher in a “changing of the guard.”
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