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WWE Extreme Rules 2019 Preview/Predictions
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
The main roster has been in a place of recovery in recent weeks after the announcement of both Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff as Executive Directors of Raw and SmackDown respectively.
Although Bischoff is expected to begin his role after this event, it has been said that Heyman had his “fingerprints all over” Raw the last two weeks. The first week was complete with Corey Graves swearing on air, a stage explosion/pyro angle and logical storyline developments, a key aspect to Heyman’s creative skills.
This most recent Raw episode felt like more of the same filler we had previously, yet SmackDown was the better show, so who knows if Heyman had his way with the blue brand just prior to Bischoff’s beginning?
Extreme Rules is being looked forward to by many, only because it will mean the end of one era (hopefully the dreadful Wild Card) and the start of a more meaningful one. Enthusiasm is dead with the current main roster product and if anybody knows what to do to rejuvenate it, it might as well be Heyman and Bischoff at this point.
Let the games begin.
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.
“Jimmy Jacobs Doesn’t Know” With Zach Gowen
Photo courtesy of Stitcher.
*The Following Press Release Was Issued By Phillip Stamper*
WWE Money In The Bank 2019 Preview/Predictions
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
The poster of this event is a microcosm of the problems that plague the main roster – the illusion that two’s better than one.
In a panicked reaction to low ratings, Vince McMahon introduced (in a half-assed manner, mind you) the “Wild Card Rule,” where four superstars from Raw could appear on SmackDown and vice versa. McMahon messed up the promo to explain it and then managed to break his own made-up rule as five superstars from SmackDown appeared on that very Raw.
Since its forgettable introduction, it has actually made Raw and SmackDown feel like the same show, with Elias, Roman Reigns, Shane McMahon, The Miz and The Usos being most of the “Wild Cards.”
We’ll get into the bigger problems later, but Money In The Bank comes at a time when the main roster needs unpredictability and luckily, the briefcase holders can contribute a bit of that to their respective Title pictures.
Preview “Jimmy Jacobs Doesn’t Know” with Daniel Bryan!
Photo courtesy of Stitcher.
*The Following Press Release Was Issued By Phillip Stamper*
WWE WrestleMania 35 Preview/Predictions
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
NXT TakeOver: New York (or TakeOver: Brooklyn V?) came, conquered and impressed everyone in all its glory.
300-pound Heavyweight Hanson performed a handspring back elbow and a top rope senton to the floor, Velveteen Dream was the GODDAMN STATUE OF LIBERTY and the main event between Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole delivered more wows than a summer blockbuster.
To be frank – WrestleMania will pale in comparison to its NXT counterpart and that’s to put it nicely, despite the fact that Mania will run more than twice the amount of time and contain more than three times as many matches.
Below are our predictions to shape Mania into a halfway decent show. If you’ve followed the Raw side (without falling asleep), the build has been abysmal while SmackDown has held themselves together better thanks to Kofi Kingston’s journey, but there are still some flaws here and there.
Let’s get to it.
Good, Bad & The Ugly – WWE TLC 2018
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Welcome to “Good, Bad & The Ugly,” the newest review concept where we’ll break down shows according to three ratings – Good, Bad or Ugly. The results will tally up to give us the Final Decision on the show.
Headed In
– In the midst of a Creative shake-up, we’re still fresh off two big heel turns – “The New” Daniel Bryan (WWE Champion) and Dean Ambrose. Meanwhile, on the Raw side, Ronda Rousey (WWE Raw Women’s Champion) had dominated all before her but a huge obstacle in “Knockout Sensation” Nia Jax, notorious for her punch on “The Man” Becky Lynch. To top it off, we’d have the first-ever Women’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship between Champion Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Asuka. This should be a fun show, albeit a long one since we have a grand total of 12 matches. What is this, WrestleMania? Even past Manias never had that many bouts.
PWO Intermission – Episode 12 – Jamaican Me Believe In Kofi
*A Pro Wrestling Opinion Exclusive*
Check out the latest episode of Intermission, the 15-minute podcast where Host Nicholas Jason Lopez shoots on social media and talks current wrestling news!
Classy Topics Include:
- Why Can’t He Be Named Donovan Dijak in NXT?
- GARGIAMPA
- Big E/Xavier Woods Should Turn On Kofi Kingston
- WrestleMania 35 Rumor Mill – Kevin Owens Vs. Daniel Bryan, Lacey Evans Vs. Asuka
- Where Was Tommaso Ciampa Watching That Match Though?
Listen Below:
Through Tweets – WWE SmackDown Live 2/19/19
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Follow Nick on Twitter @NickJasonLopez as he Live-Tweets Raw and SmackDown Live! Below are just some of his thoughts on tonight’s show:
RSN Wrestling Podcast – Shoot February Edition
Photo courtesy of Facebook.
*A RSN Wrestling Podcast Exclusive*
Check out the latest episode from The RSN Wrestling Podcast as Rich, Sal and Nick “shoot” on the last week in wrestling – WWE Royal Rumble and after!
Listen Below:
