E-RockWrestling: March 2018

Friday, March 30, 2018

Women's Tag Team Championship Curiosity

For quite some time, it has been rumored that WWE would introduce something that hasn't been seen in 30 years, the Women's Tag Team Titles. While it is indeed still a rumor, I think we are likely to see this happen. I wouldn't necessarily be against it but I have some doubts.

During the late 80's, there were Women's Tag Team Titles. There were two specific teams that were carrying that division at the time. One was the Glamour Girls, a team of established women wrestlers consisting of Judy Martin and former Women's Champion, Leilani Kai. They were managed by Jimmy Hart. All of a sudden, this new Japanese sensation came along in the form of the Jumping Bomb Angels. They performance at the 1987 Survivor Series, as well as being their team's survivors, was enough to grant them a shot at the Women's Tag Team Titles, which they won at the 1988 Royal Rumble.

First, I'll address my concerns so we can get the negative thoughts out of the way. First of all, with the amount of Championships currently around, I really hope they don't decide to use two sets of Women's Tag Team Titles, one for each brand. It's starting to get to the point of overkill. However, here's my question. Are these Titles going to be relegated to one specific brand or will they be defended on both. There's a problem either way! If the Titles are on one brand, it alienates half the women's roster. If they are defended on both shows, doesn't it make having two singles Women's Titles seem a little redundant? If the Titles are defended on both show, why would there be a need for two separate singles Titles? To me, the rules would apply to the singles Titles as well, meaning they should unify those Titles. If the Women's Tag Team Champions can go on both shows, it should work for the Women's Champion as well.

Believe it or not, I'm done with the skepticism! There are many tag team combinations that could work and strive for the Titles. Here are some examples of teams that could work.

Absolution

Many fans were excited when Paige made her return late last year. As fast as she came back, she was unfortunately out again due to an injury that may or may not be career threatening. However, she did not come alone, when NXT's Mandy Rose and Sonya DeVille showed up by her side, calling themselves Absolution. I like the continuity of it as Paige was their mentor on Tough Enough. Whether Paige is in the ring or acting as a manager, I can see Absolution being a threat to the Women's Tag Team Championships.

Riot Squad

A similar group came together on Smackdown the next night. Ruby Riot showed up with Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan to take out the Smackdown women. They were aptly called the Riot Squad. Since then, they've wreaked havoc on the Smackdown brand and Riot herself has recently been in a feud with Smackdown Women's Champion Charlotte. In any event, I can see any combination of the three gunning for the Women's Tag Team Titles. In fact, I wouldn't be against an Absolution/Riot Squad match.

Bella Twins

It's hard to talk about tag teams in the women's division without bringing up the Bella Twins. Whether you like them or not, they've been around long enough to make an impression. I know Brie is currently retired and Nikki is still dealing with some health issues but they both appeared in the Royal Rumble this year. They would probably have the advantage over most of the women's division's tag teams with their team experience. Should they come back, they'd easily be in contention for the Women's Tag Team Championships.

The Iconic Duo

NXT's resident Aussies Billie Kay and Peyton Royce have been tearing it up there in the last couple of years. Since they always seem to be together and neither has been able to win the NXT Women's Title, they would probably be ideal to compete for the Women's Tag Team Championships. They call themselves the Iconic Duo and have come a long way with their ring work and mic work. Together, these women are so entertaining and if you're building a tag team division for the women, they'd fit right in.

Four Horsewomen

You can take any combination of the Four Horsewomen and they all would make sense as reasonable tag teams for the women's division. The on again off again feud between Sasha Banks and Bayley is great but the next time they are both on the same page, they'd make a formidable team. Sasha also has history with Charlotte as they were once part of a faction called the BFF's. Currently, Charlotte and Becky Lynch are friends and that would be a great team. Bayley has mutual respect with both Charlotte and Becky. Also, Becky and Sasha were once allies for a time. Like I said, any combination of these incredible women could be great Women's Tag Team Champions.

Impact had Women's Tag Team Titles a few years ago and it started off fine with teams like the Beautiful People, but ended with ODB and male wrestler Eric Young as Champions. I hope that kind of thing doesn't happen in WWE. Perhaps Beth Phoenix could make a return to join former partner Natalya. It's not impossible for us to see Team Bestie, Trish Stratus and Lita, come back for a shot at the Titles. What about LayCool making a comeback? Becky Lynch is pals with Naomi so that team could work. In fact, any women that have history could be a team down the line. Currently, Alexa Bliss could team with Mickie James but one day in the distant future, she and Nia Jax could be on the same page again. Charlotte has history with Dana Brooke. Ronda Rousey could team with her MMA friend Shayna Baszler as well. Any combination of the former Team Bad could work too. Lana and Tamina have also teamed before.

My main concern has nothing to do with these Championships at all. Their introduction more so has to do with how it impacts the singles Women's Titles, in which I hope they are unified. With two champions of the same kind, they kind of cancel each other out. It's like Oprah has been handing out Championships or there are just a bunch of Participation Trophies. Positively, there are many combinations of women that could work as a team, some even with names already in place. In general, I'm just curious as to how they go about this.

If you have any further thoughts on this topic, let me know in comments. Heck, let us all know on The WAR Report podcast, every Tuesday at 7PM EST on YouTube, brought to you by tagmeadate.com, the first and only dating site for wrestling fans. Go to askthewarreport@gmail.com or #askthewarreport. For TagMeADate members, our Android and Apple apps are vastly approaching so stay tuned!
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Sunday, March 25, 2018

Another Take On Lesnar vs. Reigns

Since the moment Brock Lesnar captured the Universal Title from Goldberg at last year's WrestleMania, most fans were pretty sure that this year would feature the rematch between Lesnar and Roman Reigns. In that time, there has been a lot of talk about it and it seems there are two sides of how people feel. Of course, there are those that are in an uproar about it and are making memes like "not my main event." On the contrary, there are many who are very excited about this match and understand the main stream appeal it has. However, I have realized there is another way to feel about this match and that is...indifference!

That's exactly how I feel about this match! I don't feel strongly either way but I am completely indifferent towards it! I frankly just don't care enough about the match to even be upset because there's really nothing to be upset about. People have different opinions but for some reason, different opinions starts fights instead of polite discussion and debate because many don't know how to handle people with different opinions.

I'm going to address the hatred for this match first. I think one of the reasons why fans don't want to see this match or are angry that it's taking place is that it has been pretty much a given for a year. People have known this match was going down for so long that they got sick of it before it even happens. Yet somehow, the opposite affect is taking place for the upcoming AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura match. That has also been rumored for as long, yet no one has a problem with it. I personally think it should main event WrestleMania but that has nothing to do with how I feel about Lesnar vs. Reigns, even if I was one of those people that are hating it just to hate. For me, it's more so about preserving the tradition of the Royal Rumble winner being in WrestleMania's main event.

Another reason why people may hate this match is their hatred for the individual performers. Roman Reigns got booed when he won the 2015 Royal Rumble, which is exactly why I didn't want him to win it. I liked Reigns and knew he would get booed so I felt he didn't deserve the backlash he was about to receive, and has since then. Many fans have come together since then, and even slightly before then, to hate everything about Reigns, claiming he's been shoved down people's throats, even though he hasn't touched a World Title in almost two years. There may also be people that can't stand Lesnar either. Some fans also don't understand why this is considered a big match. It has the mainstream appeal Vince McMahon is looking for in a WrestleMania match, or even a WWE match in general.

In fairness, I should also address those that can't wait for this match. I may be indifferent towards it and even if I hated it, it would not give me the right to chastise those that are excited for it. Believe it or not, there are people that want to see this match, with some even thinking it could be the match of the night. Who am I to put this set of fans down because their opinion is different? Who are you to do the same? Since we didn't get a definitive winner the last time, it gives people more of a motivation to see it so we can determine a winner once and for all.

If I had a reason at all to hate this match subconsciously, I think have an idea of what it might be. After Reigns won the 2015 Rumble, he went on to face Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title in the main event of WrestleMania. No problem there, as Reigns' Rumble win solidified his right to main event WrestleMania, and Lesnar by that time was the reigning Champion. I don't use the word "defending" much, as Lesnar was barely around during his reign then, nor has he been for his year-long Universal Championship reign as of late.

The year before, Lesnar did the unthinkable by breaking the Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania. While I hate that the streak ended, that's neither here nor there. Due to Brock's win and then subsequent destroying of John Cena later that year at SummerSlam for the WWE Title, it made sense that someone should come along and defeat the man that broke the streak, almost in some way making fans feel somewhat avenged for the Undertaker's loss. Roman Reigns just happened to be that guy and whether fans liked it or not, he was about to come face to face with the Beast Incarnate.

It was actually a very good and physical match and I'll admit it surprised me. Little did we know that history was about to be made. Seth Rollins came running out mid-match to cash in his "Money In the Bank" briefcase, and left with the WWE Title to end WrestleMania. Though that was an awesome moment that some say saved WrestleMania, I can't help but feel it screwed Reigns slightly. Reigns didn't defeat Lesnar that night. If I was told that their inevitable rematch would happen some day, I probably wouldn't have minded it then. Here's where the slight problem I have lies. At last year's WrestleMania, Roman Reigns himself defeated the Undertaker, in what somewhat looked like Taker's last match, though he's seemingly about to face Cena this year. The Undertaker suffered another loss, kind of making it pointless for Reigns to beat the man that beat the streak, since Reigns defeated the Undertaker himself. Even if it was someone else that gave the Undertaker his second loss at WrestleMania, it would still make the Lesnar/Reigns match somewhat pointless.

What I'm about to say has nothing to do with how I feel, or not feel, about Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns, I feel it's relevant to the situation. While I'm not foaming at the mouth like an idiot like some fans are regarding their hatred for this match, I do feel that the wrestler about to take the Title from Lesnar almost should have been someone else. I don't claim it should be just anyone, though! There's one man that has had this organic rise in popularity that has been killing it in all aspects of professional wrestling these days and that it is, "The Monster Among Men" himself, Braun Strowman! No one has been on a role quite like Braun as of late! Again, this has nothing to do with me feeling any certain way about Reigns. It's more about timing! However, Braun will get his turn one day!

There has been a lot of debate this year as to which match deserves to close the show and main event WrestleMania. I still think the phrase "closing the show" and "main event" should be one in the same. Some see the Undertaker's match with John Cena closing this year's show, especially since Taker's match with Reigns last year did. Some think the main event might be the mixed tag team match of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon against Kurt Angle and the hottest new sign in a long time, Ronda Rousey. Of course, there are fans that feel the main event will be Reigns vs. Lesnar. After all, it is for a Title!

If Reigns had won this year's Royal Rumble to get a shot at Lesnar's Universal Championship, I would have no problem with this match closing the show. However, tradition overtakes and that makes me want AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the WWE Title to close. While I expect the Styles/Nakamura match to be great, I cannot discount Lesnar/Reigns as far as entertainment, and neither should you. The bottom line for me though, is that I just don't care one way or the other for Lesnar/Reigns. The outcome doesn't matter to me at all! Even if that match turns out good, which I expect it will, I still won't care one way or the other about it.

As good as the match might be, I don't want it to close out of fear for stupid fans hijacking yet another show. I don't want it to be the Lesnar/Goldberg match from WrestleMania XX! I don't want it to be the 2015 Royal Rumble! Due to the way fans are going to react to the match, I don't think WWE should want WrestleMania to end on a sour note. While I advocate for Styles/Nakamura to main event due to Nakamura's Rumble win, I also think it will be an excellent match where either outcome would send fans home happy. I don't like Lesnar/Reigns, nor do I hate it. Once again, I'm just simply indifferent. How do you all feel about it?

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

My Ideal Pay-Per-View Schedule

Since WrestleMania XI in 1995, WWE has had at least one PPV per month. In the last ten years or so, there have been up to as many as 16, if not more. Some will say that wrestling fans today don't have the attention span to watch a buildup for a match without getting bored. That may be the case for some, but I believe that's because wrestling fans have almost been conditioned not to have an attention span. I really believe in the "less is more" approach and that there is such a thing as overkill. I understand that things change but there was a time when a steel cage match was special. Heck, now Hell In a Cell has become a run of the mill thing! In my opinion, there are way too many PPV's these days. Even one a month is too much! As soon as one show ends, they immediately are forced into building to the next one in four weeks or less. Either that, or there's little to no buildup by the time the next show arrives.

I have created my ideal scenario and for the record, I tried to compromise and did not scale it all the way back to four. I'm smart enough to know that's not ideal and this company needs to make a profit on the gate, merchandise, and Network subscriptions. However, I still feel that 12 is too many for a year. Some shows such as WrestleMania especially, need a much longer buildup. I think it's no longer ideal to have shows in between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. I wouldn't be opposed to something like a Saturday Night's Main Event or even a small 2 hour Network special in between but I would get rid of those PPV's in between. And yes, I am referring to the Elimination Chamber! Even that match has lost its luster! In fact, I would remove Extreme Rules, Hell In a Cell and TLC as yearly PPV's. They're not special anymore when they seem mandatory just because it's that time of the year. Those are specialty matches that should only occur when deemed necessary because of an angle's heat.

For those of you that might throw the Royal Rumble in my face, that's a completely different animal. The Royal Rumble is a tradition and it sets the course for what we call the "Road To WrestleMania." Survivor Series had lost its true meaning a long time ago but WWE has at least tried to mend that in the last year or so by having a few elimination style matches. Since it seems Money In the Bank isn't going anywhere, I would keep this around as well. This year, with WWE deciding to have co-branded shows, there will be both a men's and women's Money In the Bank ladder match, with half the superstars from Raw and half from Smackdown competing. That could be the traditional multi-person ladder match but any other time in the year that some form of a ladder match occurs, it would need to be the result of ending a feud.

My ideal PPV schedule is as follows. There will be seven PPV's per year. There will obviously be the big four in the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. The other three will be Backlash, Money In the Bank, and what was just seen at November's NXT Takeover, War Games. The largest time frame for buildup will be between the Rumble and WrestleMania, with a full 10 weeks. Leading up to the other three of the big four, there will be 8 weeks of buildup. Leading up to the 3 other PPV's will be six weeks of buildup. I wanted to share my reasoning for the other PPV's I decided on. I chose Backlash to be the next PPV after WrestleMania. It's the perfect name, as it's the backlash of what happened at WrestleMania, used for rematches, things that did not end just yet at WrestleMania, or things that came from WrestleMania. After that, since there are over four months between WrestleMania and SummerSlam, will be six weeks later with Money In the Bank. It has become such a tradition that it eventually became its own PPV.

That leads to one PPV between SummerSlam and November's tradition, Survivor Series. I decided to go with War Games. It was a popular attraction in the NWA and WCW before and I think Takeover did it justice, even with the changes they made. I'm not sure if they will be bringing that match back again this year but it's something I'd like to see. There's never a shortage of factions or teams that make sense. It would be a great way to end long-term feuds. Also, I feel it would be the perfect lead-in for Survivor Series. With 8 weeks in between, it wouldn't be overkill to do this. Not to mention, the elimination matches at Survivor Series have completely different rules than War Games.

I would also keep the Takeover Specials on the nights before the big four. In between the seven PPV's for the year would be super shows of sorts. Years ago, WWE used to do a Saturday Night's Main Event a month before WrestleMania. This would take place in February with last minute things being added, still with five weeks to build towards WrestleMania. The next ideal time for one of these would be in the middle of the 8 week lead-up towards SummerSlam. There are two more shows I have in mind but they will not be Saturday Night's Main Event. What has now become a PPV to replace Night of Champions, I would do two Clash of the Champions events on television, possibly on the Network, with both having themes. The first would be in October a month before Survivor Series and the theme will take from another WCW idea, Halloween Havoc. The second would take place in December between the Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble and I would refer to it as Starrcade. This past November, WWE did a major house show with that name, including some old school superstars that competed at the original Starrcade like the Rock n' Roll Express.

Saturday Night's Main Event and Clash of the Champions can be shows that sometimes end feuds that aren't important enough or long enough to end at the major PPV's. That way, there's at least something bigger than a regular Raw or Smackdown that brief feuds could end at. It would also be a great way to create angles towards the other PPV's. If I had to, I could make this into 8 PPV's, which might be a little more realistic. In that case, I might have to add a PPV between the Rumble and WrestleMania, which I'd rather not do, or maybe between War Games and Survivor Series. I doubt WWE will ever go for this but I hope at the very least they stick to only 12 PPV's a year. I still think that's a lot but anymore than that is simply ridiculous. It's hard to find time to invest in one when another is around the corner in just a few weeks time.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Hall of Pain Becomes Hall of Fame

The news broke out that Mark Henry will be the next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. I can't tell you how excited I am and how deserving he is. It's unfortunate that he peaked as a main event performer very late in his career but overall he had some memorable moments. He made us laugh, he made us cry, he was a dominant presence, and was a professional all the way. Not to mention, he represented the United States of America in the 1996 Olympics. He is a great athlete and performer and since he had a very quiet retirement from the ring, along with this announcement, it felt right to talk about how much this means to WWE and its fans.

Mark Henry made his first appearance on WWE television in early 1996. After being ridiculed by Jerry "The King" Lawler, Henry had enough and press slammed Lawler. That Summer, he competed as a power lifter in the Olympics and was quickly signed to a WWE contract. He debuted at Unforgiven in September and defeated Lawler. Some minor injuries early on stalled his momentum a bit but he impressed many with his incredible power. He returned a year later recharged and ready to go, as a regular fixture on WWE programming.

In late 1997, it seemed that The Rock was in the midst of overthrowing Faarooq as the leader of the Nation of Domination. Behind Faarooq's back, The Rock chose Mark Henry as the next member of The Nation in January of 1998. Henry fashioned his wrestling gear to that of The Nation and became a very loyal member, often teaming with fellow Nation member D-Lo Brown. After The Nation was disbanded, Henry defeated The Rock at Judgment Day with help from D-Lo and they became a full time team. Heading into 1999, they gained Ivory as their manager.

It was around this time that Henry thought of himself as quite the lady's man. He began referring to himself as "Sexual Chocolate.," as his comedic side began to appear. His singlet changed to look like a chocolate bar. He would actively flirt with Chyna, as he had a crush on her and was trying to gain a girlfriend. Chyna appeared disgusted by Henry at first but warmed up to him after a bar fight. Henry would often find himself in embarrassing shenanigans, such as discovering that the woman he was with one night was actually a transvestite. Needless to say, it made for entertaining television. At that year's SummerSlam, Henry turned on his partner D-Lo Brown, costing him both the Intercontinental and European Championships to Jeff Jarrett. As a reward, Jarrett gave Henry the European Title.

After trying to make up with D-Lo, Henry then revealed that he was a sex addict. He went to sex therapy, revealing all of his life stories. His vulnerability led the fans back to his side. It was at this time that he developed a romantic relationship with 76-year-old Mae Young, as was shown to the world on "GTV." Not long after, it was revealed that Young was pregnant. However, after a splash from Viscera, Young was rushed to an emergency room where she was to give birth prematurely. What came out was a hand. What can I say? It was the Attitude Era!

In 2000, Henry was sent down to WWE's devlopmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) to improve on his conditioning. He became more focused and entered the Arnold Classic in 2001, winning several strongman competitions, and even breaking a world record. When he returned to WWE television in 2002 on the Smackdown brand, a gimmick was created based on his strength. He would compete in feats of strength for the amusement of the other wrestlers, some of whom started taking bets on him. During the year when training for a weightlifting contest, he injured his knee and went back to OVW to heal and train.

Henry returned in August of 2003 alongside Teddy Long's group "Thuggin' and Buggin' Enterprises." This was a group that often cited racism as to why they were not getting opportunities. Henry tried to cash in the bounty Triple H placed on Goldberg. After that, Henry had feuds with superstars such as Shawn Michaels and Booker T. In early 2004, Henry tore his quad and went back yet again to OVW. During his time away from the ring, he was used as a pubic relations figure to WWE.

Upon his return at the end of 2005, Henry wreaked havoc on the Smackdown locker room, decimating anyone in his way, including Rey Misterio and World Heavyweight Champion Batista. When Batista was forced to relinquish the Championship due to injury, a battle royal was created to determine a new Champion. Henry didn't win, as he was last eliminated by Kurt Angle. Shortly after, Angle's manager Daivari turned on him and joined Henry. Henry got his first shot at a World Title when he challenged Angle at the 2006 Royal Rumble. Henry then got his ultimate WrestleMania moment when he attacked and challenged the Undertaker. The Undertaker defeated Henry in a Casket Match. During a rematch, The Great Khali debuted and attacked the Undertaker, allowing Henry to move on.

Henry went on a path of destruction in 2007, attacking anyone and everyone. He feuded with Bobby Lashley, Batista, and the Undertaker. During the 2008 Draft, Henry was drafted to the ECW brand. At Night of Champions, he defeated Kane and the Big Show to become the ECW Champion. Henry then unveiled the legendary Tony Atlas as his new manager. Henry lost the Title a few months later to Matt Hardy. He then got into a feud with Evan Bourne and remained on the ECW brand until 2009 when he was drafted to Raw.

Henry defeated the faction Legacy in a Gauntlet Match, last pinning leader and WWE Champion Randy Orton, becoming a fan favorite again. Henry then went on to form a tag team with MVP in August of 2009, naming themselves the World's Strongest Team. Despite never winning the Tag Team Titles, they remained a team until May of 2010. On the second season of NXT, Henry was the pro for rookie Lucky Cannon. Henry then formed a team with former rival Evan Bourne until Bourne's injury took him out of action. Henry then teamed with Yoshi Tatsu.

In April of 2011, Henry was drafted back to Smackdown. He soon turned heel again when he attacked Christian and John Cena. After a lengthy feud with the Big Show, Henry took him out by crushing his leg with a chair. Henry then declared he entered Big Show into the "Hall of Pain." He then started inducting several others into the "Hall of Pain," including Kane, Vladimir Koslov, and the Great Khali. One man finally stood up to Henry and that was Sheamus. The two men fought at SummerSlam. Henry won the match by count out when he slammed Sheamus through the ring barricade. After winning a Battle Royal, Henry earned himself a shot at the World Title. At Night of Champions, Henry defeated Randy Orton, winning his first World Heavyweight Championship.

In October of 2011, the Big Show returned with vengeance against Henry. During a match, Henry super plexed the Big Show off the top rope and the ring imploded, similar to when Show did the same with Brock Lesnar years earlier. At TLC, the Big Show finally defeated Henry for the World Heavyweight Title, only for Daniel Bryan to cash in his "Money In the Bank" to defeat Show for the Title. Due to a previous feud with Bryan, Henry was involved with him as well as the Big Show. The three would settle things in a Triple Threat Steel Cage match at the 2012 Royal Rumble. Bryan somehow retained the Title against the two behemoths. Henry was outraged and physically assaulted General Manager Teddy Long. Henry then took time off to have possible career-threatening surgery. Upon his return in early 2013, Henry started a feud with Ryback. Henry defeated Ryback at WrestleMania when he held onto the ropes during Ryback's attempt at his finisher Shell Shocked. However, after the match, Ryback delivered the move successfully.

And the Oscar goes to...In June of 2013, Mark Henry came to the ring wearing a salmon color sports jacket during a John Cena promo. Henry proceeded to break down and told Cena and the fans that was he was retiring. In a gesture of sportsmanship, Cena placed his WWE Title belt onto Henry's shoulder and raised his arm. Henry told his young daughter that her daddy was coming home. When Henry embraced Cena again, he turned it into a "World's Strongest Slam" and dropped Cena to the mat. He then exclaimed to Cena; "I got a lot left in the tank!" This had many fans, myself included, thinking it was really over for Henry. Mark Henry is the WWE's Meryl Streep! This led to a WWE Title match between the two at Money In the Bank, with Henry falling short.

Henry became a fan favorite the next night when he said Cena was the better man, only to be attacked by The Shield. To help retaliate, Henry befriended the Usos. Henry and Big Show then formed an alliance with Rob Van Dam to try and take down The Shield. The big men aided RVD in his US Championship match against Shield member Dean Ambrose. Henry took some time off. Upon his return, he dropped some weight and shaved his head bald. He defeated Ryback in January of 2014 and stood up to Brock Lesnar, having several pull-aparts. Eventually, Lesnar delivered an F5 to Henry and took him out of action. Henry accepted Rusev's US Title challenge but was defeated by the Bulgarian Brute at Night of Champions. After another feud with Big Show, Roman Reigns earning his respect, and various other things, Henry quietly retired from the squared circle.

Mark Henry's career sure had its ups and downs but it was one heck of a ride! He finally broke through as a main event superstar many years into his career with the "Hall of Pain" and secured himself as a legend after his powerful performance during his fake retirement. He's held Championships and intimidated everyone around him. He was also sensitive, as he took the death of friend Owen Hart very hard and wrote a poem about him. Henry has become a household name in professional wrestling and in the world of power lifting. It is with great honor that I learned he will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. Congratulations Mark, you deserve it!

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Advocating WrestleMania's Main Event

What makes a WrestleMania main event? Is it a Championship Match? Is it a match between two iconic figures? Is it a potential retirement of a performer? Is the main event the last match on the card? I suppose the whole thing is subjective when you think about it. However, I'm here to tell you my opinion of which match should close the show and/or main event this year's WrestleMania.

To me, the main event and the last match on the card should be one in the same. Isn't that the idea of the main event? It's the most important thing, what people paid to see, and it should go on last. In the history of WrestleMania, many matches were considered the main events. Another thing I should point out is this notion of multiple main events on the same card. That makes no sense at all and the word "main" negates the whole thing. How can there be more than one "main" event? Several WrestleManias had double or multiple main events, or at least were presented as such.

I'm going to run down past WrestleMania matches quickly. The first seven WrestleMania events had the last match considered as the main event, with all but one being for the WWE Championship. The first WrestleMania was a test drive to see if such an event could work, with a tag team match featuring a celebrity. The next six main events were for the WWE Championship, were considered the most important, and went on last. Hulk Hogan was featured in several; WrestleMania 2 against King Kong Bundy, WrestleMania III against Andre the Giant, WrestleMania V against "Macho Man" Randy Savage, WrestleMania VI against the Ultimate Warrior, and WrestleMania VII against Sgt. Slaughter. WrestleMania IV was the finals of a tournament for the Title, with Randy Savage defeating the Million Dollar Man.

Here's where it gets tricky! WrestleMania VIII was the first to feature a double main event. Due to WWE deciding not to do the long awaited Hulk Hogan/Ric Flair Title match main event, we ended up with Flair/Savage for the Title and Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Justice. The title match was in the middle of the card and Hogan/Sid closed the show. Even if it was Hulk Hogan, I still think the Title match should have closed the show, especially considering the Title match was a classic, was likely to be the better match, and would result in more people leaving happy. A botched run-in caused a disqualification finish and the only thing that saved that match was the return of the Ultimate Warrior after it was over.

WrestleMania IX was the first time that the main event would be determined by the winner of the Royal Rumble facing the Champion. In that case, Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. At WrestleMania X, Hart defeated Yokozuna for the Title, and though Yokozuna had defended the Title against Lex Lugar earlier in the night, his match with Hart at the end was considered the main event. WrestleMania X featured its main event as Bam Bam Bigelow against NFL star Lawrence Taylor. Despite how much profit that brought in, if this was considered more important than the WWF Championship, I think the priorities are screwed up.

We were back to the norm with the next several WrestleManias. WrestleMania XII was Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania XIII was Sid vs. Undertaker, WrestleMania XIV was Shawn Michaels vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, and WrestleMania XV was The Rock vs. Steve Austin. WrestleMania XVI was the first time the WWF Championship main event had multiple competitors, with Triple H retaining over The Rock, Mick Foley, and the Big Show. WrestleMania XVII was a Rock/Austin rematch.

WrestleMania XVIII is the first time where the main event placement can be debated. The Championship match between Chris Jericho and Triple H went last, though it was hard to follow a classic like Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock. I support WWE's decision to stay with tradition, despite how good or popular the other match was. However, the Title match might have done better and held up better had the storyline not completely killed Jericho's credibility. Not only that, if the WWF thought for even one second that the Hogan/Rock match would be looked at as more important, it might have been wise to get the belt off Jericho beforehand and change the winner of the Royal Rumble from Triple H to The Rock. This WrestleMania was quite the anomaly!

WrestleMania XIX was also interesting, as there were now two World Titles in the company. This WrestleMania featured Triple H vs. Booker T for the World Heavyweight Title (big gold belt) and Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title. The latter got the last slot and main event, carrying on the Royal Rumble tradition with the winner Lesnar challenging the Champion Angle. While the Rumble tradition continued for WrestleMania XX, the main event this time was for the World Heavyweight Title with a match consisting of Triple H, Chris Benoit, and Shawn Michaels. WrestleMania XXI would also feature the same, as World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defended against Batista.

WrestleMania XXII is fairly subjective due to the circumstances. Rey Misterio won the Royal Rumble and challenged World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle and Randy Orton in a Triple Threat Match. However, the main event went to John Cena's WWE Title defense against Triple H. Though it was still a Title match, and one featuring what I consider the "real" World Title, tradition lost out. At WrestleMania XXIII, we ran into the same conundrum. World Heavyweight Champion Batista defended against Royal Rumble winner the Undertaker. However, the main event slot went to the WWE Title match between John Cena and Shawn Michaels. WrestleMania XXIV was another example of this. The WWE Championship match was a Triple Threat between Randy Orton, Royal Rumble winner John Cena, and Triple H. However, the main event was Edge vs. the Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title.

WrestleMania XXV, idiotically referred to as the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania, went back to tradition, as Triple H defended the WWE Title against Royal Rumble winner Randy Orton. WrestleMania XXVI was the first time since the Bam Bam/LT match that a Title match was not the main event. This year, the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels was the main event. The reasoning for this is that it was the Undertaker's streak vs. Michaels' career, with the result of Michaels losing. However, I still feel the main event should have been the Title match between the Champion and the Royal Rumble winner that year, which was Chris Jericho vs. Edge for the World Heavyweight Title.

WrestleMania XXVII was very interesting. It was similar to other WrestleManias because the main event was the WWE Title match between The Miz and John Cena. However, the interesting part is not just that Edge defended the World Heavyweight Title against Alberto Del Rio, it was the fact that this match opened the show. Even though the curtain jerker is an important match for any card's tone, there is no way a Championship match should be the opener.

WrestleMania XXVIII's main event was the long awaited match between John Cena and The Rock. Due to its historical significance, it was treated as more important than the WWE Title match between CM Punk and Chris Jericho. Not only was it insulting to have a non-Title match take precedence over the Title match, throughout most of CM Punk's 434 day reign as WWE Champion, he was rarely in the main event during PPV's. Also, the same thing happened this year as the previous. World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan took on Royal Rumble winner Sheamus in the opening contest, and it was an 18-second match to boot. Even if Jericho had won the Rumble, the main event still went to Cena/Rock. My guess is, they didn't want what happened with Rock/Hogan to happen here as well.

Though it was a rematch of a match with the catchphrase "once in a lifetime," tradition came back as The Rock defended the WWE Title against Royal Rumble winner John Cena. WrestleMania XXX's main event was a Triple Threat match for the WWE Title featuring Randy Orton, Royal Rumble winner Batista, and Daniel Bryan. Tradition remained at WrestleMania XXXI when WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defended against Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns. However, the interesting part was when Seth Rollins decided to cash in his "Money In the Bank" contract to make it a Triple Threat match, completing two firsts concerning "Money In the Bank." Not only was it the first time it was cashed in at a WrestleMania, it was also the first time it was cashed in during a match already in progress.

As many recall, the 1992 Royal Rumble match was for the vacant WWF Title and it was won by Ric Flair. In 2016, the WWE Title was also on the line, only this time it was being defended. WWE Champion Roman Reigns was forced to put his Title on the line in the Rumble. In the end, Triple H won the Rumble and the Championship. Reigns was able to get his rematch for the Championship at WrestleMania XXXII against Triple H. The tradition was a little backwards but it was still the rightful main event.

WrestleMania XXXIII's main event also featured a match that was not for a Title. WWE Champion Bray Wyatt defended against Royal Rumble winner Randy Orton while Goldberg defended the Universal Title against Brock Lesnar. However, the nod for main event went to the Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns. Not only did the Undertaker lose his second WrestleMania match, the event ended with the Undertaker leaving his gear in the ring, signifying that was possibly his last match. However, all signs lead to Undertaker vs. John Cena this year, thus making last year's final moment look stupid.

That brings us to this year's WrestleMania! In my opinion, the last match on the card is considered the main event, should be for a World Title, and needs to feature the winner of the Royal Rumble. Rumors have been swirling about this year's main event/last match. I've heard this honor may go to the Cena/Taker match or the mixed tag team match featuring Triple H & Stephanie McMahon vs. Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey. However, most people assume the main event will be the Brock Lesnar/Roman Reigns Universal Title match.

This year, Shinsuke Nakamura won the Royal Rumble and he will be challenging for the WWE Title against AJ Styles. In my opinion, Styles/Nakamura needs to have the honors of the main event. We've already had enough times where a non-Title match was considered more important as the main event than a Championship match, especially one featuring the traditional Royal Rumble winner. Due to the Undertaker closing last year's show, I doubt he gets the honor again. As important and main stream of a signing it was for WWE to get their hands on Ronda Rousey, it would be wrong to have her part of the main event in her very first WWE match. The money is on Lesnar/Reigns to close the show. Despite not caring much for this match, and despite it being more mainstream then the other Champioship match, I sincerely think it should not close the show.

AJ/Shinsuke is a match many fans have been clamoring for ever since they both arrived from New Japan in 2016. In fact, it is a rematch of their infamous match in New Japan at WrestleKingdom. There's a few reasons I feel this should close the show. For instance, since it's likely John Cena will defeat the Undertaker and Roman Reigns will likely win his match, those two are outcomes a good deal of the crowd will not like. Secondly, AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, if given enough time, will be the better received match, both from a technical standpoint and one that fans will be happy with either outcome. Most importantly, it continues the tradition of the Royal Rumble winner facing the Champion in the main event of WrestleMania. If WWE wants the crowd to truly go home happy, these reasons are why this match should close the show. Though this is just one person's opinion, I truly plead with WWE to make sure this match closes the show.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

The Ballad of Rick and Tito

Rick Martel and Tito Santana are two of my favorite wrestlers. They had success early in their careers and then came together as a team in the Fall of 1987. After their split at WrestleMania V in the WWF, they went their separate ways again. Martel got a singles push with a brand new gimmick, "The Model." Santana went it alone again and eventually became El Matador. By this point in their careers, they were the go-to guys for great matches against new talent and wrestlers that were breaking out on their own. While their win-loss records decreased a little bit, they were relied upon greatly. After their break-up, whenever they were in the same ring together, they would go at it. It occurred during several Royal Rumble matches and other matches as well. The thing is, they never got that one on one encounter to end the feud at a big Pay-Per-View, which I felt they and the fans alike deserved.

Tito Santana made his WWF debut in the late 70's. This Mexican-American superstar was extremely popular and likable. He got his first shot of success when he teamed with Ivan Putski to win the WWF World Tag Team Titles. He really made a name for himself in the early to mid-1980's, however. He had two great runs as the Intercontinental Champion, defeating and feuding with the likes of the Magnificent Muraco and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He had an incredible Steel Cage grudge match with Valentine at the world famous Madison Square Garden. He formed a team with the Junkyard Dog for a short time and remained a fan favorite. He befriended the British Bulldogs in their feud with the Hart Foundation and their ally, crooked referee Danny Davis, who was the same referee when Santana lost the Intercontinental Title to "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

Rick Martel started his career in the 70's in his home country of Canada. He arrived to the WWF in 1980 and quickly found success with Tony Garea, with two reigns as WWF World Tag Team Champions. Garea was already well-known and the team was quite popular. In 1982, Martel left for the AWA, where he found his greatest success. He ascended to the thrown of AWA World Heavyweight Champion, upending the legendary Jumbo Tsuruta, and held the Title for an impressive 19 months before dropping it to Stan Hansen. He had great matches during this time, including an encounter with NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. Upon his return to the WWF in 1986, he formed a popular team with the late Tom Zenk called the Can-Am Connection. They had great matches with several teams and defeated the team of Magnigicent Muraco and Cowboy Bob Orton at WrestleMania III.

Martel and Santana worked in the same company for years, never crossing paths. That was until the Fall of 1987. The Can-Am Connection began a feud with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's Islanders during the Summer but Zenk left the company and Martel was on his own. One night during a two on one attack at the hands of the Islanders, Martel was saved by none other than Tito Santana. The popular singles stars joined together soon after. In fact, it was in a backstage promo not long after the attack that the duo inadvertently named themselves. Martel mentioned that they would strike with force, thus the Strike Force was born.

Not long after, they defeated the long reigning Hart Foundation for the WWF World Tag Team Titles. Together, they became a popular team and were great Champions. However, their momentum was ended abruptly at WrestleMania IV when they lost their Titles to the brutal Demolition due to interference and a shot to Martel's back by Mr. Fuji's cane. During a rematch in July of 1988, Martel was injured and Tito was back to square one as a singles competitor. Martel resurfaced by the end of the year and Strike Force was back together. They wanted to climb back up the ranks of the tag team division to get another shot at the gold. At WrestleMania V, they fought Bobby Heenan's Brain Busters, Arn Anderson and Tulley Blanchard. It was a great back and forth battle. During the match, Santana went for his patented flying forearm but accidentally knocked Martel off the apron. When Martel got back up and Santana went for a tag that he desperately needed, Martel left him high and dry, walking out on his partner and turning heel in the process.

In the coming weeks, Martel stated he was tired of Santana riding his coattails and it was his time. He was repackaged as "The Model," doing all the stereotypical "model" things during this time, always looking in the mirror. He started off wearing tied sweaters around his neck for a somewhat preppy look and eventually started wearing his more signature look, a beret and a jacket with a button that read "Yes, I Am a Model." He even starting bringing around an atomizer, which contained his signature cologne he called "Arrogance." He went on to have major feuds with Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Tatanka, Shawn Michaels, and Razor Ramon. Meanwhile, Tito Santana went back into singles mode and just became that reliable worker, having great matches and making his opponents look good. In late 1991, after having spent time in Spain becoming a bullfighter, he was repackaged as El Matador. Rumor has it that before the WWF decided to go with Bret Hart as the WWF Champion in the Fall of 1992, Santana was strongly considered for that role. You may look back and scoff at that but at the time, even with Hart's success as Intercontinental Champion, he wasn't much higher in the ranks than Santana, as Hart's ascension to the World Title came out of nowhere, as would Santana's, if he was the man they chose.

The two never had a formal one on one match during their feud after the breakup. While Santana did defeat Martel in the finals of the 1989 King of the Ring tournament in June, it wasn't on the big stage. They had another encounter in November, 1990 on The Main Event, when Santana submitted to Martel's Boston Crab. Again, this was a feud I feel should have been resolved on a major Pay-Per-View. They feuded the remainder of 1989 and into 1990 but usually during multi-man matches. At SummerSlam 1989, Martel teamed with fellow French-Canadians the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers and took on Tito Santana and The Rockers. At the Survivor Series, Martel and Santana found themselves on opposite teams again. Martel teamed with the Honky Tonk Man, Bad News Brown and team captain the Big Bossman. Santana joined the Red Rooster, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, and team captain Dusty Rhodes. At the 1990 Royal Rumble, the two men went at it wildly when they found themselves in the ring at the same time.

During this time period, it wasn't uncommon for feuds reaching the better part of a year. Logic would dictate that the two should have a singles encounter at WrestleMania VI. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be! Both ended up in separate and largely forgettable matches with no back stories to them. Martel defeated Koko B. Ware, while Santana lost to The Barbarian, who was recently split from his Powers of Pain tag team partner, The Warlord. Instead of two matches with no story that didn't matter, I would have put these two together in a match to finally resolve their feud. The winner wouldn't have been as important as the match itself. With at least respect for continuity, the WWF always made sure to remind fans these two men didn't get a along. They found themselves on opposite teams at the 1990 Survivor Series in the Ultimate Survivor match and went at it again, as well as a few other Royal Rumble matches as the years went on.

For me, it would have been nice to resolve this feud with an actual match at a major event like WrestleMania, the very stage where the team was torn apart in the first place a year earlier. Even though Strike Force was a short-lived team, the split led to a great feud that never formally got resolved. Some people compare the pushes after their breakup to The Rockers, who did it two years later with much more violent results. I have friends that say Santana was essentially the Marty Jannetty of Strike Force. I disagree, however, as neither Santana nor Martel climbed to the heights they once had. While yes, Martel received a new character and feuds that took center stage, he wasn't any more or less successful than Santana, and didn't win any Championships, meaning Martel was also not the Shawn Michaels of Strike Force.

I wrote this blog to talk about the unresolved major feud these two men had but also to speak highly of both men. I had the pleasure of meeting Tito Santana two years ago and he couldn't have been nicer. He even let me hold the old Intercontinental Championship. I've yet to meet Rick Martel, but he's definitely on my bucket list. Tito was a guy that I rooted for, even if he was likely to lose. He was a great pick to lose to Mr. Perfect in the finals of the Intercontinental Championship tournament and was the perfect first opponent for Shawn Michaels as a singles competitor. Meanwhile, Martel's high profile feud with Jake Roberts, caused by Martel blinding Roberts with "Arrogance" was fantastic. In a similar vein to Santana, Martel was the go-to guy on the heel side of things, being the first major feud for newcomer Tatanka and losing in the finals of the Intercontinental Title battle royal to Razor Ramon. I have the utmost respect for both men and when the time finally comes when Rick Martel gets inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, I hope Tito Santana will be there to induct him.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Okay, I'll Say it! BikerTaker Sucked!

For the life of me, I'll never understand the love given to the Undertaker's "biker" persona, "The American Bad Ass!" It was my least favorite version of the Undertaker by far. Despite the whole "real world" vibe wrestling was trying to put out there, I still wanted the Undertaker to retain his old persona. The Undertaker progressed and changed with the times, the biker persona notwithstanding. He was a chameleon and adapted very well throughout his career, always making slight adjustments.

The debut of the Undertaker character in 1990 was somewhat risky, and could have gone either way. He came in during a time when the over the top gimmicks were still happening but long enough before that kind of thing was frowned upon by fans. If that character debuted any time after he did, it could have been disastrous. I just turned 11 years old when I saw the Undertaker make his way to the ring at the 1990 Survivor Series and fondly remember being scared. Back then, I don't think anyone knew, including the Undertaker himself, what kind of legacy he would eventually have. No one could have predicted the unbelievable career he had.

Minor changes were made over the years. He remained somewhat similar in the early 90's but his hair got a little darker and he wasn't as pale. He started selling more than he used to. He traded in the gray for purple in 1994 when he returned to dispatch the fake Undertaker and eventually avenge his loss to Yokozuna by defeating the 500lb behemoth in a Casket Match. After his initial feud with the likes of Hulk Hogan and his first taste of Championship gold, he became the man that slayed the beasts. He was fed all the big men, from Kamala to Giant Gonzales and beyond. In 1995, he had his orbital bone broken my Mabel and came back with another tweak, in somewhat of a Phantom type mask. Fortunately, this led to WWE changing the kind of opponents the Undertaker would normally have. He became a much better wrestler after being paired with opponents like Bret Hart.

By 1997, he looked a little different. His former manager by that time, Paul Bearer, began tormenting the Undertaker with an apparent big secret the fans were not aware of. Taker then bore a teardrop tattoo under his eye. Bearer made mention of the Undertaker's brother, who was thought to have died in a fire. That man would be known as Kane, who's also had a fairly legendary career. The Undertaker got a lot more serious due to his feud with Kane throughout 1998. If it was even possible, the Undertaker got even darker than ever and started the Ministry of Darkness as its leader. He would perform rituals, tried to marry Stephanie McMahon, and even attempted to "crucify" Stone Cold Steve Austin. He was the personification of evil! After an injury in the fall of 1999, he was on the shelf for almost a year.

When the Undertaker returned, he was no longer perceived to be an undead Zombie of sorts. He returned wearing leather and denim attire, with a long trench coat. He transitioned that to riding out on a motorcycle and thus the birth of "The American Bad Ass." His theme at first was by Kid Rock and would later change it to "Rollin" by Limp Bizkit. He would then cut his signature long hair. I hated this gimmick! It wasn't the Undertaker! My friends and I refer to this as the "amnesia years." It was important to stand out so that's why I don't see the appeal of this version of his character. He's the Undertaker! I disliked trying to make him more human. While he did produce great matches and even got another Title run, I could never get behind this gimmick. After Kane and Vince McMahon buried him alive at the 2003 Survivor Series, little did the fans know what the Undertaker would do or look like upon his return. Thankfully, he came back as the Dead Man we knew and loved!

The over the top nature of the Undertaker's character is what I like about him. That's the whole point. Someone I know once said that the Biker gimmick was his favorite version of the Undertaker because it seemed the most real. I am the complete opposite way and informed this person that the Biker gimmick was in fact, something I hated and preferred the Undertaker to be the Dead Man. Who cares about real? This is professional wrestling! Overall, I absolutely despised "BikerTaker" and wish it never took place. I know they're inducting Kid Rock into the WWE Hall of Fame and along with how wrong I think that in itself is, I really hope he doesn't play the Undertaker out to the ring as Taker comes out under his biker persona. That's not the lasting memory of the Undertaker that I want!

Monday, March 12, 2018

Fastlane Review

We are now continuing without interruptions on the Road To WrestleMania, as last night's Fastlane PPV was the last pit stop. Fastlane served its purpose and was a pretty decent event. Nothing spectacular but for the most part, things went as planned. We now have clear indications of the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania, as well as the Smackdown Women's Championship program.

Kick-Off Show - Fashion Police & Tye Dillinger vs. Chad Gable, Shelton Benjamin, & Mojo Rawley

This match was completely thrown together at the last minute and in fact, I didn't even know about it until after I wrote my predictions blog. In any event, when I made my prediction for this match, the result was the complete opposite. Based on who was in the match, I made the assessment that the heels would win. Much to my surprise, the "Perfect Ten" and the Fashion Police came out on top. It was a fun match and a good way to get the crowd going before Fastlane began.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev

There isn't much back story to this match but it was entertaining. Since Nakamura's Royal Rumble win, he hasn't had much to do between then and his upcoming WWE Title match at WrestleMania. I was hesitant about his opponent being Rusev, considering how over he and "Rusev Day" has been getting. Despite Rusev's new popularity, WWE seems intent on keeping him heel, no matter how much fans resist. It was a pretty even contest and I'm glad Rusev came out of it looking good, even in a loss. Nakamura needs all the momentum in the world right now so it was pretty easy to predict his victory. Even so, there were a few times where it looked like he was about to lose. After his win was the obligatory pointing to the WrestleMania sign!

US Title - Bobby Roode vs. Randy Orton

Going in, I was confident about three things. One, it would be a good match. Two, Jinder Mahal was likely to get involved somehow. Three, Roode was going to walk out still the United States Champion. Well, as Meatloaf once said, two out of three ain't bad! I am not upset at the result but merely shocked! Then again, I should have seen it coming! They were really hammering in the point that the US Title was the last thing Orton needed to join the ranks of Grand Slam Champion. That should have been a clue! It was a great match and Roode doesn't lose any status at all. Jinder Mahal came out to attack Orton after his victory and then Roode cleared the ring of Mahal. For good measure, Roode nailed Orton with a Glorious DDT. It seems to me that a Triple Threat Match between these men for the US Championship at WrestleMania is in the works.

Natalya and Carmella vs. Becky Lynch and Naomi

This was yet another match of which the result I predicted incorrectly. I didn't really have any reasoning for choosing Becky and Naomi. I just figured Nattie and Carmella would take the loss, especially because Carmella could bounce back at any time to cash in her "Money In the Bank" briefcase. It was pretty good and got a decent amount of time, with three out of the four being good in the ring. I was really digging Becky's "straight fire" attire and it reminded me of Bam Bam Bigelow. I'm not sure where these women will be come WrestleMania.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles - The Usos vs. The New Day

Even though we've seen this match many times over, these teams have such amazing chemistry and always produce classics. Just as we were getting settled into another one, out walked the Bludgeon Brothers, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, formerly disciples of the Wyatt Family. Their hideous outfits and cheesy gimmicks aside, they are quite the intimidating presence. The only problem I had was that the Bludgeon Brothers ruined the match by interfering, causing a no contest ruling. They viciously attacked both teams and left them laying. I would have preferred if this attack happened after the match. It seems to me we're headed to a Triple Threat Match for the Smackdown Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania.

Smackdown Women's Title - Charlotte Flair vs. Ruby Riot

You'll notice I spelled Riot with one T and not two. I don't care for WWE's attempt to be hip with an extra T or a Z in place of an S. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. This match came together after a pretty decent feud, with Charlotte getting the better of Ruby's "Riot Squad" counterparts Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, and Ruby getting the better of Charlotte's allies Becky Lynch and Naomi. As important as it was for Charlotte to further establish her dominance and greatness, it was just as important to give the match time and also let Ruby shine on her own as a performer. As good as the match was, the highlight was afterward when Royal Rumble winner Asuka showed up and without a word, made her intentions known that she's coming after Charlotte and her Championship at WrestleMania. As excited as I am for this match, and wary of how important it is to separate Asuka from Ronda Rousey for a while, I'm slightly bummed, as I feel that the Raw Women's Championship is the real deal, as opposed to Smackdown's. I don't like two titles of the same perceived importance as it dilutes the very idea of a Champion in the first place. Either way, I'm still excited!

WWE Title Six Pack Challenge - AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin vs. John Cena

I was thinking the match would be predictable and was actually hoping for it. I chose AJ to retain and I had several near heart attacks thinking someone else could win. I can't speak for people but I really wanted to see AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. This match was really good, especially because it was filled with close calls and moments that I second guessed myself. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility for John Cena to pick up number 17 last night. Speaking of John Cena, I really enjoyed that moment when the other five men attacked him because he's John Cena. He's earned the honor of being the man everyone needs to get rid of first. I figured Owens and Zayn would cancel each other out. Though it appeared the best friends were at each other's throats, it's clear Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon is not done with either of them. Who knows where that is going towards Wrestlemania? The even bigger question is what does Cena do? I know rumors have been floating around about the Undertaker but I'm not so sure. If he doesn't show up by tomorrow night's Smackdown, it will be a poor amount of time to build. Not only that, how do you end WrestleMania last year with Taker not only losing but leaving his gear in the ring, only for him to wrestle again. I'm not opposed to it but it's somewhat irrelevant now without the streak. AJ got by five other men and retained the WWE Title.

I really hope AJ's match with Nakamura will be the main event! Despite how much more "mainstream" the Brock/Roman match is, I can't help but think it's a mistake to close the show with that match. Also, despite how popular Ronda Rousey is, I feel that her mixed tag match should also not close WrestleMania. If WWE wants WrestleMania to end on a positive note, I'd recommend AJ/Shinsuke! If given enough time, it could be one of the best matches on the card. I don't even care who wins, as long as the match gets time. Even so, it's pretty likely we'll see Shinsuke Nakamura became the first Japanese born WWE Champion. For those of you about to chime in about Yokozuna, he was Samoan.