Blog Archives
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 2/15/16: Friendship Reigns Supreme
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/15/16)
Friendship Reigns Supreme
– The opening video showcased the events of last week’s Raw – WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose’s toughness, Brock Lesnar’s utter destruction and Roman Reigns simply hanging in the background, while others tried to throw stones in the fire that is the “brotherhood.”
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 2/8/16: Thank You, Daniel Bryan
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/8/16)
Thank You, Daniel Bryan
– With the road to WrestleMania set to full-gear drive, we were hit with news earlier in the day by various outlets that spoke of Daniel Bryan retiring at age 34, but all of us hoped it was a last-second swerve to get fans hyped for Fastlane or WrestleMania but as we came to find out, it was indeed true. If they were going to do it, it had to be done in Seattle, Washington, not far from Aberdeen where Bryan hails from. It was awfully strange to suddenly hear Bryan references galore, as it seemed like WWE was avoiding bringing him up entirely due to concussions, but this was the night to let the Yes Movement enjoy its revival. Also liked the little additions to the opening montage.
Notes In Observance – WWE SmackDown 2/4/16: Accidents Happen
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/4/16)
Accidents Happen
– With Roman Reigns and WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose being two-thirds of the Fastlane main event with Brock Lesnar to determine the #1 Contender to face WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H at WrestleMania, there appeared to be an attempt to show slight ripples in the Ambrose/Reigns relationship, while also establishing their always-tight chemistry. We opened up with a Reigns-Rusev match that was nothing special though we applauded commentary getting Rusev & Co. over as one of the factors behind Reigns losing his Title at the Royal Rumble while Reigns/Ambrose powerbombed Rusev through the announce table recently as well and it at least built some interest in the bout. The DQ finish was bland, but as we saw with many SmackDowns, designed to have a tag main event. Will they ever make a planned SmackDown main event? Is WWE not aware how many times they do this? The Ambrose-Reigns interaction (Ambrose accidentally taking out Reigns with an apron-to-floor elbow drop) was set up to show that accidents happen, but made us wonder if this would affect their relationship going forward. Got a kick out of Jerry Lawler spinning things by saying Ambrose purposely took down Reigns.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 2/1/16: United They Stand
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 2/1/16)
United They Stand
– The opening in-ring segment with Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman and WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose was likely designed to explore the wrinkle of a Lesnar-Ambrose interaction and it was what we expected, yet something about it felt empty. At least it was nice to not have Roman Reigns open the show for a change. We also dug the new red “Suplex City” shirts, since it makes it appear as if the highway sign is smeared with blood. Ambrose did look tough for interrupting Heyman and standing in Lesnar’s face, telling him he wanted to go to Suplex City all for the belt. Heyman also addressed the Wyatts, so that makes us think maybe Bray Wyatt does something to take Lesnar out of the picture.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 1/25/16: Impress The Authority
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 1/25/16)
Impress The Authority
– In case you resided under a rock since Sunday night, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H made his main roster return as Royal Rumble match entrant #30, throwing Roman Reigns over the top rope to end his Title reign (which at least lasted longer the second time around) and eliminated Dean Ambrose to start his own reign. The opening video recapped all of this, even showing the lengths that Vince McMahon went to “stack the deck” against Reigns, sending the League Of Nations to take him out during the match on top of starting the Rumble as the first entrant.
Notes In Observance – WWE SmackDown 1/21/16: Ready To Rumble
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 1/21/16)
Ready To Rumble
– “Classic” Chris Jericho made his SmackDown return after 14 months and hyped the Royal Rumble match before an interesting comedic exchange with The World Tag Team Champions, The New Day, who were still mourning the loss of Francesca The Trombone and accusing Jericho of being a criminal. The three-man commentary team of Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler and Byron Saxton were again on point. Jericho’s bit with the unicorn names was okay, but we’ve seen it over and over again. Just want to get to the Rumble match already. On that note, Jericho got the last laugh by revealing that New Day would have to fight in a match against opponents they’d probably not like.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 1/18/16: The Biggest Highlight Reel Of All Time
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 1/18/16)
The Biggest Highlight Reel Of All Time
– It’s the opening segment crew… Here comes WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, the unlucky man who defends in the actual Rumble match. It made sense for Reigns to want to call out Lesnar considering how the last Raw ended. Interesting that Chris Jericho comes out, since he would host Lesnar in the Highlight Reel segment later on. The segment was later hyped involving Reigns. Out came the goofy League Of Nations. At least Sheamus’ promo intended to put a target on the actual other competitors in the match. WWE United States Champion Alberto Del Rio pleased his case of winning the biggest Rumble match, followed by Rusev saying everyday was the Rumble in Bulgaria. Jericho basically traded insults with everyone. For what it was, the match made between Reigns and Rusev with Jericho as special guest referee made sense.
Notes In Observance – WWE SmackDown 1/14/16: Triple Main Event
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 1/14/16)
Triple Main Event
– The title of this post not only reflects the show’s three main events, but how much the show has picked up since this new three-man announce team has developed. You’ve got Mauro Ranallo – proven play-by-play guy who actually calls moves by their names and references past careers in retrospect to storylines, Byron Saxton – coming into his own as a “babyface voice of the fans,” all combatting with Jerry Lawler – back to full-heel mode, cracking jokes and his classic self, letting us live in the 1990’s once again. These three were on point the entire broadcast and actually make SmackDown something you want to see.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 1/11/16: One Versus All (McMahon Style)
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 1/11/16)
One Versus All (McMahon Style)
– In case you’d been living under a rock, the opening video reminded us how WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns found himself in the latest bind, now having to defend his Title against 29 others in the Royal Rumble match after outsmarting the McMahon clan when he retained his Title by beating Sheamus with Vince as Special Guest Referee on the previous Raw.
Notes In Observance – WWE SmackDown 12/31/15: New Year’s Revolutions
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
“Notes In Observance” features random thoughts and analysis on recent television shows. Quick results can be found at the bottom of the post.
(Aired 12/31/15)
New Year’s Revolutions
– The opening video highlighted Vince McMahon getting arrested by the New York Police Department after WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns shoved him to the ground when he made semi-racist remarks about how he exploited his older relatives for money. Reigns saved John Cena from a League Of Nations beatdown when McMahon suddenly dropped the bomb that he’d defend his Title on the following week with himself as the special guest referee.
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