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Manopera! Episode 55: Royal Rumble 2018
*Courtesy Of The Bonesaw*
Check out the latest edition of “Manopera: A Wrestling Symposium,” where PWO’s own Nick joins Hosts Chris Butera and “Spaceman” Frank for a discussion about WWE Royal Rumble 2018 and predictions for WWE WrestleMania 34!
Listen Below:
The RSN Wrestling Podcast – Legends
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*An RSN Wrestling Podcast Exclusive*
Check out a recent episode of The RSN Wrestling Podcast, where “Big Guy” Rich, “Mastermind” Sal and PWO’s own Nick break down the topic of legends in professional wrestling through various eras, whether it was “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and more!
Listen Below:
WWE Survivor Series 2016 Reaction
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
If WWE in 2016 has taught us anything, it’s that content outweighs logic.
After an hour and 51 minute pre-show came a three hour and 26-minute Pay-Per-View for a total of five hours and 27 minutes of air time.
Nothing screamed “filler” like interbranded 10-man elimination tag matches, with little consequences. Three of them, to be exact.
It’s like watching the World Series between two teams you don’t like. There’s no emotional investment besides the ones who’re directly involved.
Luckily, the best build ironically went to Goldberg-Brock Lesnar, the personification of the overhyped “Fantasy Warfare Just Got Real” catchphrase.
In this case, some things should stay fantasy.
WWE NXT TakeOver: Toronto Reaction
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By Nicholas Jason Lopez
NXT found its way “North Of The Border,” but didn’t lose any luster.
Like we’ve come to expect from the TakeOver specials, we had a solid card with some spectacles ready to deliver, which also included Mickie James’ return and a couple of hot rematches for the NXT Tag Team Championship and NXT Championship.
By night’s end, we wouldn’t call it a “Perfect 10,” but it was close.
WWE Hell In A Cell 2016 Reaction
By Nicholas Jason Lopez
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With yet another Pay-Per-View in the bag, we were left underwhelmed and disappointed by Raw’s Hell In A Cell.
In a show that boasted three main events, three HIAC bouts and the first time a women’s match took place in the structure and main-evented a PPV, there was history made.
In the end though, nobody would rank these HIAC matches among the greatest.
The show ranged from terrible to great, dependent on where you looked.
Luckily, there was some change in directions as some belts changed hands.
Notes In Observance – WWE Raw 10/17/16: Goldberg Returns
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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 10/17/16)
Goldberg Returns
– With two weeks to go before yet another Pay-Per-View in Hell In A Cell, we started things off with arguably WWE’s most over duo – WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens/Chris Jericho. Their in-ring promo was excellent heel work, as Owens accused that Raw General Manager Mick Foley had a vendetta against him for his placement in the HIAC structure. Jericho drove the point home that HIAC wasn’t a reward and put over the dangers. Thank god. Jericho also mentioned how many legends he beat and that he should’ve beat Seth Rollins last week to get in on the HIAC Universal Title match, but “bad officiating” cost him. They also played up the legitimacy of Owens/Jericho’s friendship once more with Rollins’ help, which the live crowd took to. Rollins was more cutesy than usual (almost Roman Reigns-like) but because his target was Jericho, “Sparkle Crotch” went over well. We also had Rollins point out his two pedigrees on Jericho while Owens watched, to which the Champ’s retort was that Rollins only saw the worst in people and that was why he didn’t have any friends. Rollins suggested a rematch with Jericho, as we saw Jericho tell Owens he didn’t want him at ringside this time because he “knew his tricks.” They’ve teased the right amount of tension between Jericho/Owens, while Rollins slowly gets over as a babyface in the process.
WWE No Mercy 2016 Reaction
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By Nicholas Jason Lopez
In an unprecedented period where we had five pro wrestling pay-per-views between Sept. 11 and Oct. 11 between WWE, Ring Of Honor and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, we were exhausted by Oct. 9 when No Mercy rolled around.
Luckily, if you look at that nice poster to the side, SmackDown Live had been headlined by the excellent heel duo of WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz/Maryse as he was engaged in a “Title Vs. Career” feud with Dolph Ziggler.
That feud would become synonymous with this show for reasons we’ll explore below.
It also helped that we had a Triple-Threat main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship between Champion AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and John Cena that actually opened the show for a change.
Cool on the surface, but that brought us to the problem – one disorganized card.
WWE Clash Of Champions 2016 Reaction
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By Nicholas Jason Lopez
After SmackDown set the standard for brand-exlcusive Pay-Per-Views with Backlash, it was time for Raw (the supposed “A-Show”) to deliver.
Unfortunately, a three-hour show marred by overbooking and convoluted logic has only proven that Raw has been dreadful.
If anybody needs an example of what an “eh” show will deliver, look at Clash Of Champions.
On paper, things looked salvageable, but like we thought, Raw’s flaws overtook what would’ve been great and turned it into what could’ve been.
WWE Backlash 2016 Reaction
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By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Like it or not, WWE’s new 19-a-year Pay-Per-View schedule is upon us.
While six-hour marathons like SummerSlam don’t make it sound delightful, the idea that we could get shows like Backlash gives us hope.
You knew the draft truly set in when we got the first-ever SmackDown Live-Exclusive PPV on Sep. 11.
With some things promised like the crownings of the inaugural WWE SmackDown Women’s and WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions and a few shiners like the WWE Intercontinental Championship match between Champion The Miz and Dolph Ziggler and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Champion Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles, we had much to look forward to.
WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II Reaction
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By Nicholas Jason Lopez
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
While that cliche can apply to most things in life, it especially applies to NXT, particularly around SummerSlam weekend.
Again, despite efforts to divert attention to the six-hour spectacle that is SummerSlam itself, it only goes to that of its previous-day predecessor, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.
Last year, 15,000 Brooklynites held witness to one of WWE’s matches between WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks and Bayley.
While this year’s bouts didn’t capture that match’s emotional whirlwind, just like every previous TakeOver special, we left each contest with a “talking point” of some sort.
