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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.
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 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.”
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 2/6/17: Wild Samoans
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 2/6/17)
Wild Samoans
– One week after Samoa Joe’s riveting debut that involved a sideline beatdown of Seth Rollins, it was probably no secret that the angle would be the focus to open the show. It’s funny how the Rollins-Triple H storyline mulls along through the months, but with big happenings, it heats up. At this time, Rollins was likely to miss WrestleMania, which actually put more heat on Joe and rather than ignore that, they used it to their advantage. The opening video delved into all that, with sleek editing that actually brought meaning to Trips’ promo on Rollins last week and set up the moment well for Joe to attack. We’ll guess Joe will be branded as “The Destroyer” from hereon out. The key as always is the followup.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 1/23/17: All The Possibilities
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 1/23/17)
All The Possibilities
– The opening video recapped Jeri-KO’s run at the “Top Of The World,” as WWE United States Champion Chris Jericho uncrowned Roman Reigns before WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens powerbombed Reigns through the announce table the week after. It was renowned “The Chris And Kevin Show.” Hmm.
Notes In Observance – WWE 205 Live 1/17/17: Formal Forfeiting
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 1/17/17)
Formal Forfeiting
– The opening video highlighted the entire feud between “The Extraordinary Gentleman” Jack Gallagher and Ariya Daivari that began when Gallagher soundly defeated Daivari in his 205 Live debut. Daivari then labeled Gallagher a “scoundrel,” which made Gallagher call for a duel where he embarrassed Daivari with an umbrella of all things. Daivari got revenge with a savage attack after a fake handshake, which led Gallagher to invite him for a parley – an agreement to face each other in an “I Forfeit” match that’d take place on this episode. The music made things feel more dramatic than they actually were, given that this was a feud about duels, parlays, scoundrels and umbrellas. However, the part that covered their recent physicality matched what they went for.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 1/9/17: Saved By The Gong
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 1/9/17)
Saved By The Gong
– The Commissioner Stephanie McMahon/General Manager Mick Foley/Seth Rollins/Braun Strowman backstage segment was packed with enough tension to start things off interestingly. Apparently, Jan. 9 is official Raw GM Performance Review day, as Steph spoke about Foley’s (who sported a circa 2000 haircut) promise to bring The Undertaker. Rollins’ portion was newsworthy in a special Rollins way as he informed them he was now in the Royal Rumble match. That was followed up by Strowman, who demanded either Goldberg or WWE United States Champion Roman Reigns for the double spear. Rollins being Rollins made him go right at Strowman, to Steph’s disapproval. In classic Steph fashion, she told Foley to get things under control and summon the ultra lord of darkness to the red brand. Or else. Pretty to the point stuff.
Notes In Observance – WWE 205 Live 1/3/17: The Neville System
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 1/3/17)
The Neville System
– The opening video highlighted last week’s WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann-Neville main event. Since his rabid heel turn, Neville has aggressively pursued the Title and christened himself the “King Of The Cruiserweights.” We got a more serious Swann, but he was outdone by the angered Neville. Nice production job as we heard the Brit’s promo soundbites from his cocky sit-down interview. Neville downed the Champ with an impactful superplex and assumed to be in line for a future shot.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 1/2/17: The Season Premiere
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 1/2/17)
The Season Premiere
– The General Manager Mick Foley/WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens/Chris Jericho/Commissioner Stephanie McMahon opening in-ring segment was a “Raw” way to start the new year – 20-minute talking segment. Woot woot. Anyways, Foley sported shorter hair in a cut that didn’t look finished. We have to take him seriously now? He poked fun at his lack of ability to remember the city he was in, as he used it for a cheap laugh. Owens/Jericho made claims that Foley abused his power and criticized that Seth Rollins was rewarded for his deviant behavior. In turn, Foley booked the first episode of The Kevin Owens show as a talk show where Goldberg would be his first guest. Steph’s portion involved some brief disagreements with Foley, but she stood by him and subsequently booked Jericho to face WWE United States Champion Roman Reigns for the Title. She added that if Reigns was counted out or disqualified, he’d lose the belt. Afterwards, she brought up how “sick” she was that SmackDown Live beat them in the ratings last week (interesting) and booked Owens against Rollins, where the loser would be banned from ringside during the US Title match. Guess now it can be a “ratings war” since SD Live beat Raw for once, but wouldn’t that be something for Raw to stay away from? It’s as if they invited people to skip them and watch SD instead. Anyways, good hype for later segments and the Owens-Reigns WWE Universal Championship Royal Rumble match where Jericho would be hung in a shark cage.
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