TWC Report #2 – 04/15/16

Image via WWE.com

“I’m not a good guy. I’m not a bad guy. I’m just THE GUY”
– Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns, the most controversial superstar of the current WWE roster and now the reigning and defending WWE World Heavyweight Champion (not with that beautiful belt displayed in the picture above). Reigns’s name cannot be uttered or brought up on social media without an outpour of fan response debating the WWE’s chosen one and his recent push to the top. No matter how hard they try to push the Samoan badass, he just can’t win over the crowd. They even tried to build him up as an anti Authority figure, who punched the boss Mr. McMahon and finally, as per now, single handedly got rid of the Authority at Wrestlemania when he defeated Triple H for the WWE Championship. Yet, that didn’t gain him any popularity points, but instead he was boo’d out of the AT&T Stadium and the fans were actually cheering for the evil Authority, who referred to us as puppets and sheep during their entrance. As the months go by, the heat towards him from the crowd gets worse and worse. If one is getting that much heat, wouldn’t the initial response be to turn him heel? There are few reasons why I think the WWE may not want to do that.
Firstly, he is their chosen one to be the face of the company. The next “John Cena” to carry the company for the next decade or so. He’s the Ultimate Warrior to Cena’s Hulk Hogan. Reigns is the one who does all the major media events, is making wishes and featured in the most prominent spots in the opening packages of WWE Television programs. If the company is so behind him to be the face of the company, it’s not ideal to turn their top star into a bad guy. However, John Cena is still the man “running” the place. I don’t see the harm of Roman Reigns having a quick heel run heading into the Summer, to help him get over with the fans as a bad guy, while Cena is still around. They could even have him battle a returning Cena at Summerslam. Then I would not have Reigns turn babyface until maybe building towards next years Wrestlemania. Where in my fantasy booking journal, I would have the returning baby face Rollins, already turned back into, the role he fits best as a heel and as the champion going into the new year. Moving forward to Wrestlemania, you could either go Roman vs. Cena in a rematch or a Shield triple threat for the Championship, but that’s a blog for another day. With that in mind, I don’t think they want to turn their chosen one heel, because of the fear of possibly not being able to come back from that if it fails. The worse case scenario being he does turn face again eventually when they need him too, he doesn’t get over as a babyface  yet again.
Secondly, another reason they may not want to push Roman as a heel is because at the end of the day, the WWE is still a business and Vince McMahon loves making money. According to Scott Hall, from an interview he did during Wrestlemania week, Roman Reigns merchandise sales are right below the regular top seller John Cena. Now you may question why this is even is a factor, when previously CM Punk was once in that position as a top merchandise seller and he always did okay as face or heel. He didn’t totally get the same treatment as Reigns, as he barley even got to main event the PPV’s during his historic championship reign and he didn’t get to main event Wrestlemania when he was over as fuck? Yet, Punk got to turn heel while he was popular, where he continued to be a top merchandise seller. Therefore, it makes you curious why they fear turning Roman heel, even if he is a top merchandise seller and a strongly booked one on top of that.
Well it’s because he’s only over with a specific portion of the audience. The main target audience for the WWE is children. Children get their parents to fork out money to buy them merchandise. Although, some of the parents themselves may not be Roman Reigns fans, they’re not going to let their child not support their favourite. Did your dad stop you from buying a Hulkamania shirt, when he was more of a Hot Rod or Macho Madness fan? I don’t think so. There is only so much you can do to raise your child to cheer for the same guys as you do before you have to accept their own preferences. Roman has won over the young ones, with the way he’s been booked and cool moves such as the Superman Punch. Roman also has majority of the women audience supporting him, for various different reasons that I’m not going to talk about on here. Overall, Reigns does have grown male fans, that stayed loyal to him since his Shield days but that is also the portion where the majority of his heat comes from. Reigns, knows it too. In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel with well known pro wrestling writer and radio host Brian Fitz conducted, Roman stated that,
“Typically if you hear the boos, it generally is grown men my age and I’m not really in this business for the grown men. (laughs) I’m in this business for the families. That’s what we are; we’re a PG product. We’re a family-based product. We’re here to entertain families and give them enjoyment. If you’re a 30-year-old man and you want to flip me off at a kids show, then, hey, like I said, you paid your money but just be careful because you could get kicked out”.
The difference between Punk being able to turn heel as top merchandise seller compared to Roman doing it was that, one CM Punk was already over with the fans, and the grown male ones as well, that make up most of the auidence, yell the loudest and are bringing their kids to the shows. Also, Punk was never chosen to be the face of the company, Roman has been.
However, in the weeks following Wrestlemania, it’s almost as if they’re leaning towards Roman turning heel or even just playing a tweener. They’re putting him against someone who’s over with the male demographic, as well as over with kids and women in AJ Styles. It’s what the fans want to see but at the same time it’s a step in the danger zone. AJ Styles symbolizes everything that Reigns is not. He’s the type of superstar that the fans who boo Reigns, think deserves Reigns spot. Instead, in their mind they’re putting Styles directly against Reigns, to make Reigns look strong and more credible as wrestler, because he beat the “Phenomenal” AJ Styles. It’s almost a throwback to when they had Reigns go over a “wrestling wrestler” Daniel Bryan last year at Fastlane in a solid match for the opportunity to face then champion Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 31. Where after the match, Bryan shook Reigns hand, to show respect for the fight Reigns brought to him, in a subtle nod of support from someone the Roman haters respect, to try to make Roman seem more credible. However, I think that ship has sailed to try to get Reigns over in that fashion but it’s just going to add more fuel to fire of those who boo Roman Reigns. It’s just going to keep Reigns over with the same fans he’s already over with.  That is only if the WWE doesn’t for some unpredictable reason, have Roman actually lose to AJ Styles to start a whole new storyline. That would still get fans ultimately more behind Styles and more angry when Reigns wins the title back, if that was the scenario.
Therefore, the only route they can go to even attempt to get Reigns over at this point, is to turn him heel briefly. I understand the reasons it’s a risk to turn Roman heel, and why it may never happen. Although, if they want Roman over with the entire audience, it’s what they have to do. It worked for his cousin The Rock, didn’t it. Do they have to do it? No, Reigns could legitimately be the next John Cena and just “Rise Above Hate”, or the WWE could actually take a risk and gamble on a heel turn, hoping that when he does turn face again, the fans will behind him in a way they can only dream about. However if that fails, the Roman Empire crumbles. Regardless, at this very moment in time, as much as I dislike the phrase, “Roman Reigns is not a good guy. He’s not a bad guy. He’s the guy.”

Image via WWE.com

In a lot of ways, Shane McMahon has been a breath of fresh in the WWE. He had left in 2009, to go out and make it on his own as an entrepreneur, out of his father’s shadow. Ever since he left, I’ve been waiting for “prodigal son” to return to reclaim his throne. In the history of The Wrestling Classic on social media, I even popularized the hashtag #BringBackShaneOMac. Therefore, on February 22, 2016, during a segment where Vince McMahon was awarding Stephanie with the “Vincent J McMahon Legacy Award”, when the sound of “Here Comes the Money!” hit the PA system in Detroit, not only did the fans in the Joe Louis Arena erupt, but I was marking out and jumping around at home.
In my mind, tied with his father, Shane McMahon is the most charismatic and entertaining McMahon. He’s also the McMahon that would do anything, and I mean anything to make sure when he’s wrestling, you get your money’s worth. He left us with so many memories growing up, of him just putting his body on the line to show he wasn’t just Vince McMahon’s son, but ready to take risks in and out of that ring just as any other wrestler in the locker room would. Everyone, who grew up in the late 90s or forward, has a memory of one of Shane’s daredevil leaps of faith or brutal beatings. I couldn’t have been happier when he returned going into Wrestlemania 32, that was suffering from the lack of top star talent due to injuries.
Shane returned to save Wrestlemania, and in his own words in an interview, he came back to wrestle one more time so that his three young sons could witness their father in the ring during their lifetime. However storyline wise the match was made on his return night, and the stipulations were set right away. It was going to be Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell, where if Shane won, he would get control of Monday Night Raw. Therefore, he could save the WWE from the downward spiral it was going in, considering the ratings, the stock, plethora of injured talent and keep the legacy of the McMahon family promoting wrestling alive for the next generations of McMahons. Shane McMahon returned and like a democratic/liberal politician, he offered us hope and change. As the weeks went by, Shane was getting more and more in shape and every time he appeared it was a mark out moment for me. One of the weeks, the stakes were made even higher where if Undertaker lost at Wrestlemania, he would never compete at Wrestlemania again. The week of Wrestlemania, Shane returned to Raw for a confrontation with the Deadman that lead to a leap of faith from the top rope to the outside announce table, landing an elbow on The Undertaker, showing the fans, that he was still the same old Shane O Mac.
Wrestlemania 32 came around and I was there live to witness Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker. Shane McMahon fought the Phenom with everything he had, including a spot where he jumped off the  20ft high Hell in the Cell, crashing onto the announce table because the Undertaker got out-of-the-way just in time. In the end Shane McMahon fell to defeat after a tombstone. Although, Shane McMahon was not victorious at Wrestlemania 32, he once again Shane left us with a memory. He was carted out by the medical staff but left the fans with a thumbs up halfway up the ramp, letting the fans know he was okay.
(To read my full review on Shane vs. Undertaker and for Wrestlemania 32, just click here.)
The following night on Raw, which I attended live as well, I was not expecting to see Shane O Mac. With his loss at Wrestlemania, all hope of the WWE going in a different direction, with Shane playing the charismatic leader on air was gone. However, during the opening segment where Vince McMahon was cutting a promo, Shane’s music hit again and he limped onto the stage. Shane came to say goodbye but Vince thought of it as Shane’s way to get one up on him. Therefore, he allowed Shane to run Raw, with the hope that he would fail tremendously. To a lot of people’s confusion we weren’t sure if it was for just that night, or for a while. Also, it made the whole build up to his match at Wrestlemania, seem pointless and the decision to let Shane run Raw the following night after losing to the Undertaker lack logic. Regardless, we were excited about the announcement and it felt like a great time to be a wrestling fan.
The last couple of weeks with Shane in charge, has been full of surprises, with new stars getting new opportunities, awesome matches being booked and many new faces appearing on the main roster. NXT stars such as Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, the Vaude Villains and Enzo and Cass made their main roster debuts. Cesaro made his return, and AJ Styles became the new number one contender for the WWE Championship. Shockingly enough, not really knowing the amount of input Shane has, if he even any at all with the booking and writing decisions the last couple of weeks, its been really good. Plus, having Shane be the on air credit to all of it, makes it seem more fresh and new. There are so many ways they can go with this angle of having Shane running Raw. A segment this week with Kevin Owens, got people wanting Shane having a match against him at Payback. Proving that no matter how you look at it, right now Shane McMahon is a hot commodity, and equals ratings and money. The fans are invested in Shane O Mac and are happy to have him back. Having Shane around does sort of feel like a new era has begun in the WWE, and an era the hardcore wrestling fans can get behind. Shane McMahon is the symbol of hope and change, in the WWE. However there are so many questions left unanswered.
How long is Shane going to be around for? Is this just a short time stint? We know the Authority is going to be off television for a while. Does that mean Shane will be in charge on TV, until their return? Will Shane actually stay with the WWE, and take an actual executive role after the success of this return? How and when does this angle end? When do we see the last of Shane McMahon? Does he leave again for years to do his own thing? Does Vince, ultimately win at the end? Does Shane wrestle another match? What’s next?
When Shane returned, the opening lyrics to his theme song couldn’t have been any more ironic to what Shane personifies to the WWE right now. Which leaves one final question to ask, which is do we have to worry that as soon as the money comes….the money’s going to have to go? Only time will tell and I’m going to enjoy the ride. Its a great time to be a WWE fan. Dig It?

Image via WWE.com

Bullet Club’s Luke “Doc” Gallows & “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson, made their debut as a tandem this week on Raw attacking the Uso’s. As I do expect a match against the Uso’s at Payback, I hope after that they focus on going after the tag team titles or just away from the Uso’s. Personally, I would love them attacking random tag teams who are taking part of the tournament the upcoming weeks, until finally being confronted by whoever is in charge and put on contract. They’re attack, for those who actually knew who they were, felt similar to when the Outsiders invaded WCW in 1996. Why not, play off of that and have them continuously attack tag teams, and say they’re not going to wrestle until they’re offered a contracts and a tag team title shot immediately. Make them attack the Uso’s, then the Lucha Dragons and maybe after that the VaudeVillians or something. The whole storyline would make the tag division feel fresh, whichever team wins the tag title tournament already have multiple teams gunning after them, make the tag team titles seem prestigious and also make Gallows and Anderson seem like very important.
When they finally sign the contracts, have them get swerved.  Let whoever the Authority figure be at the time, tell them they got their contracts and have a chance to face the tag team champions, but the contracts state they have to defeat the other three teams that they have attacked at Payback first in four corners elimination tag match. That would be one scenario I would go with. That is unless they get involved in a main event feud reuniting with one of either of their two former leaders….if you get where I’m going.
I couldn’t be happier that the two of them are a part of the WWE roster. I’m really excited to see Karl Anderson in the WWE, since I never actually saw the day he would be apart of the WWE coming, However, from watching NJPW here and there the past couple of years again, I always thought he was a talented old school wrestler. Luke Gallows has been in the WWE before as the fake imposter “Kane”, as Festus and under the name Luke Gallows apart of the Straight Edge Society. It’s crazy to see the WWE picked up on how popular the Bullet Club was, that these four former members got signed within the last 2 years. Three who made they debut directly onto the main roster.
Finally, I know sometimes wrestling fans like to dig deep, and I saw something on Twitter that made me laugh. I know Gallow’s is back and I know CM Punk mentioned him in his 2011 famous “Pipebomb”, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to bring CM Punk back. There’s being creatively optimistic and then there is just reaching beyond believe. Stop digging and reaching so far.

The lady sitting in front of us at Wrestlemania, who was with her son and his girlfriend, recognized my Sasha Banks shirt and asked me if I had met her before. When I said I haven’t met Sasha before, but that I am just a huge supporter of hers, she let me know that they personally knew Sasha Banks aka Mercedes – as they chose to refer to her by her real name. The ladies son, grew up with her, as they were around the same age and their families lived in the same area. The lady knew Sasha’s old home address and everything, as she mentioned them during her story. The lady shared a story about how her son’s friend asked Sasha to prom, and since Sasha was home schooled and never had gone to prom or would have the opportunity to go to a prom, she said yes. For some reason, that wasn’t shared in the story, her son’s friend never ended up taking Sasha, thus standing her up. Now years later, thinking about how popular and successful Sasha has become, and how many guys would love to take her to prom, it leaves you wanting to laugh at that guy who stood her up for being such an idiot. Whether this story is true or not, the moral of the story is choose wisely who you let down or stand up, because you never know if you’ll regret it later in life. That’s my after school sitcom message of the week for you, I hope you learn from it.

• Sasha Banks was not on this weeks Raw or Smackdown. Rumours spread, as I told over Instagram by my followers, that she was injured. Yet, she’s working the Wrestlemania revenge tour in Europe, which implies that she’s not….so what’s next for the Boss? I’m waiting patiently. but I’m not a fan of when they keep her off TV for weeks. If they are doing so, I hope they have something planned for when she returns to TV. Similar to how they perfectly executed her comeback from her last absence from TV when she returned at the Royal Rumble.
• Bray Wyatt has suffered a calf injury in Europe and is hasn’t been said how long he might be out for. It couldn’t have been at worse timing, as the company has finally decided to go in a different direction with the Wyatt Family as babyface’s. I might write a little more about this once more information about the injury and how long Bray will be out for will be made available.
• At Wrestlemania, we saw the Ravishing Russian Lana make in her in ring debut, but now the question is, when will we see her wrestle again?
• I can’t be the only one concerned about how they’re going to have so many talented women on the roster, but not enough time to produce legitimate feuds and rivalries for all of them. There were at least 13 divas featured on this years Wrestlemania card, that was not including Nikki Bella or Amanda, which would make 15. Also, although all of them may not make it to the main roster, there is a plethora of women wrestlers on the NXT roster, or just being signed to development. I know many of you don’t agree with this theory, but with all these women wrestlers and just one title in their division just doesn’t cut it. If they’re giving the Women’s division a facelift, how about introducing the Women’s tag team titles, going into Summerslam. Let it be a thing, as long as it can, even if it’s short-term.
• How great is it to have Cesaro back? I can’t even exaggerate how happy I am he returned when he did. It looks like he’s going after the Miz and the Intercontinental championship. I’m actually loving the Miz right now, as having his real-life wife Maryse in his corner makes him feel fresh. I’m okay with this feud running a few months. Poor Zack Ryder though, but at least he got his Wrestlemania moment.
• Is it just me, or is Sami Zayn on a hot streak of providing classic matches. Keep it going Zayn. Ole!
• I’m really intrigued by NXT right now. Baler’s still the champion, but it after NXT Takeover: Dallas, it leaves me wondering whats next for Balor. As well as it makes me wonder whats next for Samoa Joe, Austin Aries and the Japanese sensation and King of Strong Style Shinsuke Nakamura. Also, is Bobby Roode joining NXT? I always get worried when they call NXT stars up to the main roster, that NXT is going to suffer, but they always surprise us. I don’t read the spoilers, so I actually have no idea whats going to happen next, and I like it that way.
• Enzo and Cass are hilarious and bring so much charisma to the main roster and tag division. If you don’t watch NXT, you’re in for a treat. If you don’t like them right now, trust me they’ll grow on you.
• I watched a bunch of Impact Wrestling clips on YouTube yesterday and really enjoyed it. I love what they’re going with “The Miracle” Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis. I was a huge fan of them in Ring of Honor and specifically went to go check how they were doing in TNA, and I enjoyed it, I think the EC3 and Bennett feud has tons of potential. I checked out a bunch of other stuff and thought it was cool as well. Such as the Decay, Angles retirement, Lashley’s heel turn and the Hardy Boys drama. I can tell their live television program is a few tapings behind, because Beer Money are still tag team champions and Roode is no longer with the company but once again, I don’t read spoilers, therefore I don’t much of whats going to happen next and it makes TNA more interesting that way. One thing that bothered me was the commentary from Josh Matthews and the Pope. Damn, that was bad, and I was a huge Pope fan pre Hogan TNA era.

I’m going to end that here, because if I’m going to be doing this regularly, I need to keep some thoughts for the next or for main topics for the next report. Hell, you might even see some of these random thoughts pop up, with further elaboration with more detail.
Quick reminder, Im still accepting emails from those interested in writing for the website. Email me thewrasslinclassic@gmail.com. I hope you Misfits enjoyed this edition of the TWC Report. Thanks for checking it out. Keep loving the greatest form of art and athleticism, professional wrestling. Dig It?!

Start a discussion below in the comments section, by leaving your comments, feedback and thoughts on some of these topics. Also, if you have any suggestions on what you want me to focus on or elaborate more on for the next TWC Report, comment below.