|
Welcome back to the Excellence in Column Writing as we wind down to this column's series finale at Royal Rumble 2015. Say what you will about the WWE Creative Team, but every January, I become a completely unapologetic wrestling fan. Why? I LOVE the Royal Rumble event. Even in the WWE's worst years, both creatively and financially, the Rumble most always delivered. Something about the Rumble Match's format just works. 30 wrestlers but each enter the ring separately based on a random drawing (although #1 and sometimes #30 are usually selected via storylines). The anticipation of the next guy coming out is unmatched in pro wrestling, in my opinion. Furthermore, the Rumble Match winner gets the Wrestlemania World Title shot. Anticipation mixed in with a "sense of urgency" works no matter what. Usually, the Rumble Match itself draws... But the WWE puts legitimate thought into the other matches on the card. This year's Rumble event was supposed to have the final John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar match. The series is tied 1-1-1 and this was, in all likelihood, to be their last match together as Brock Lesnar may leave the WWE after Wrestlemania 31. However, this has changed... Per RAW, the WWE added Seth Rollins to the match to make it a 3 Way Dance. At first, and you can read my Tweets, I was like "oh no, the WWE just ruined a special drawing match"... But then a few of you reminded me how disappointed I was with both 2014 match-ups. You are correct... The more I thought about this match and booking change, the more I began favoring it... Why? 1) The readers were right. I was disappointed in John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar matches for 2014. 2) Helps Seth Rollins, bigtime. 3) Wrestlemania 31 booking plays may be changing. Before, the booking plan was to have Roman Reigns defeat Brock Lesnar for the WWE title. Based on early reactions and possibly the fear of Reigns looking bad against Lesnar, the WWE may have changed their mind. I believe that a SHIELD 3 WAY match is shaping up for Seth Rollins(c) vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns. Very likely that John Cena will continue his match with Rusev. What about Brock Lesnar? I believe that 2 "dream" matches may in order. If Seth Rollins walks out of the Royal Rumble match as champion, I believe Brock Lesnar goes on to face Randy Orton or Daniel Bryan, two unique match possibilities. Either way, I'm happy with those matches and rebooking. Likely that we'd see Sting vs. Triple H and maybe Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt, we'll see. Not a bad Wrestlemania 31, if rebooked. Let's get back to point #2 on Seth Rollins. If the Seth Rollins addition to the Cena/Lesnar match actually grows business down the line, then I'll proudly admit to being wrong about initially scolding it. Why? I was wrong on Seth Rollins being a Main Event star after the Shield and secondly, I was wrong about the HEEL turn on the Shield by Rollins. When the Shield first started, it appeared that Rollins was the "spot guy", Roman Reigns was the muscle, and Dean Ambrose was the psychological one. As 2013 progressed, however, they gave more opportunities for Seth Rollins to show off his personality and mic skills while continuing to impress people in the ring. Then, during 2014 with the babyface push against Evolution, the guy was getting over as a face. Better yet for Rollins, his physique improved as he seemed to add on more muscle (take that Carlito!). He was ready for prime time... After the Evolution feud, Seth Rollins turned on the Shield and joined the Authority. Fans now can't wait to pay their hard earned money to yell "YOU SOLD OUT" to Rollins at live WWE events. I certainly cringed during last week's RAW when the Authority came back... But guess who that helps? Seth Rollins. And how did they come back? Because Rollins attacked an innocent Edge, whom everybody knows retired due to a neck injury, and threatened to break Edge's neck if John Cena refused to bring back the Authority. While that move should land Rollins in jail, it was a big heat seeking moment for Rollins that put the company's top babyface star at odds. The Authority coming back only props Rollins up further as a heel and we're seeing that already with the rewiring of the Lesnar/Cena match at the Rumble with Seth Rollins being added. Rollins is playing it up and acting like the "pussy heel" with utter perfection. Better yet for Rollins, he's acting chummy with Paul Heyman which will only serve to add more heat towards this Royal Rumble match. I may be very wrong on this Rumble match rebooking. And that's fine... I have no problems being wrong when WWE Creative can use gutsy booking calls to get wrestlers unexpectedly over. Better yet with Seth Rollins, he's actually the Main Event HEEL that the WWE has been waiting for... In my opinion, the main reason why John Cena hasn't grown the business as much as Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, or the Rock is because he has lacked a strong heel. Back in the day, Hulk Hogan had armies of top drawing heels like Andre "the Giant", Mr. Wonderful, Roddy Piper, and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. WWE seemed to peak just after 1989 when Hogan suddenly had weaker heels to wrestle. Look at Steve Austin. He had Vince McMahon in the storylines but he also had the Rock to wrestle 3 times at Wrestlemania. Austin also feuded with Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, and Mick Foley. The Rock, in addition to Steve Austin, had extensive feuds with Mick Foley and Triple H. ALL TIME great opponents. Who has John Cena feuded with as heel counterparts? Well, there's Randy Orton many times... Not bad, but his drawing ability isn't on the level of the guys listed above for Austin, Rock, and Foley. Ditto for Edge, although I'm a big fan of his work. The guy brought out the best in Cena. Triple H, however, was a good feud but I'd argue was past HHH's prime. And of course, CM Punk, whom the WWE derailed quickly in 2011 after drawing great business with Cena at Money in the Bank 2011 and then SummerSlam 2011. Good feuds but I just can't compare the heel counterparts with what Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and the Rock had as babyfaces. Cena just didn't have a strong drawing counterpart in his era, though I'd argue that he almost had it with CM Punk. However, John Cena may have it with Seth Rollins. Rollins presents the WWE with a nice mix of in-ring ability with personality, charisma, and improving mic skills. He gives the Authority a top drawing heel that fans would pay money to see lose. You didn't see that with Randy Orton. Orton is a talented in-ring performer, but he lacks the other intangible qualities to get over strong as a heel or a babyface. Worse yet for Orton, he's unemotional in the ring and very controlling. As a heel, he'll just control the match and it's not much different from his style as babyface. Seth Rollins, however, begs for mercy and always looks for a cheap way out to his matches. That's just a brief difference between Orton and Rollins. Rollins also has the benefit of the doubt of still being relatively new to the WWE while Randy Orton has been seen in the WWE since 2002 with many opportunities granted to him to succeed. Better yet with Seth Rollins, he represents the RARE case in which the WWE and its fanbase actually agree on a particular wrestler. Even the internet fans (or "Internet Wrestling Community") are on board with pushing Seth Rollins. He's the one wrestler that most fans "get". However, WWE and its fanbase strongly disagree on other wrestlers and that disconnect continues to limit the WWE from growing. In 2011, the WWE wanted to push Alberto Del Rio but wrestling fans quickly fell in love with CM Punk's new anti-establishment persona. WWE has missed several oppotunities on Daniel Bryan when Sheamus destroyed him at Wrestlemania and Batista stole his Wrestlemania push during 2014. Towards the end of 2013, WWE fell back in love with Randy Orton and tried to derail Daniel Bryan then. He became a Wyatt Family member but fans revolted to change things in the WWE for Wrestlemania 30. Fans were heavily behind Cesaro after Wrestlemania 30 but the WWE management is clearly not in favor of him. Vince McMahon even admitted as much on Steve Austin's podcast. Now, the WWE is smitten with Roman Reigns even though the adult fanbase were cheering hard for Dean Ambrose before he started losing repeatedly following the Evolution feuds. Dolph Ziggler is nearly unmatched in terms of ability in the ring, but WWE doesn't let him win... Often punishes him for petty things, too. The younger fanbase is still holding onto John Cena as their #1 guy. Until the WWE finds a guy who everybody, WWE and the fanbase, can get behind, I'm afraid growth for the WWE won't happen. They need to find a babyface replacement for John Cena. In my opinion, I don't see him yet... I like Dean Ambrose, but I have worries that he may struggle to appeal with younger fans. Roman Reigns appears to have the "look" of what the WWE wants as its next star, but he lacks many qualities of being a Main Event star such as in-ring ability, personality, charisma, mic skills, etc. Like Miz, Jack Swagger, Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio before them, the WWE is assuming that a World Title reign will make Reigns into an instant Main Eventer. History says otherwise and WWE Management's track record on selecting the next stars has been off. I would believe in Roman Reigns more if WWE Management between Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn, Triple H, and Stephanie had better resumes in picking the next stars. They were blessed by Jim Ross's "Class of 2002" Developmental Class and have been running on its fumes ever since (Cena, Orton, Lesnar, Batista). They are also reliant on bringing older stars back (Lesnar, Sting, Rock, Batista, etc.). Do I believe that the next TOP DRAWING BABYFACE wrestler is on the roster now? I just don't know... I like Dean Ambrose, but I just don't know about his raw style and personality being the face of the WWE Corporation. I could be wrong on Roman Reigns, but I have faith and confidence in my call when even Jim Ross agrees with me on Reigns not being ready for prime time... yet. Maybe Bray Wyatt is that next top star, as a babyface flip could work. Lots of talent there... I like Cesaro and Dolph Ziggler, but I'm with the WWE on those guys... They need more personality injected into their characters instead of just being great in-ring workers. Love Wade Barrett, but I worry about his health. He has it all, but the injuries loom... Speaking of injuries, I worry about Daniel Bryan's return. Scary neck injury. Worse yet for Bryan, the WWE Creative Team has already lost faith in him so many times... I'm not so sure on Rusev or Ryback, but a few tweaks to their characters and abilities to get them less reliant on their gimmick could go a long way. Maybe the next TOP DRAWING BABYFACE is in NXT? I'm hearing nothing but rave reviews over Finn Balor whom many knew before as Prince Devitt. Maybe Adrian Neville or Sami Zayn could make it? Or maybe, the WWE has a guy in development who hasn't debuted on NXT or maybe it's a guy that they are about to sign. Who knows? At this point, I just don't see anyone being able to fill John Cena's shoes. Maybe it will be a collection of babyfaces to go up against the Authority and Seth Rollins? Hard to say... But in my opinion, and I'm guessing Royal Rumble 2015 might prove it further, the WWE has its #1 HEEL in place for years to come in Seth Rollins. Just line up all babyfaces to challenge him and you'll make enough money. Maybe get WWE Network subscribers, too. People love to pay to see a great heel lose. SO JUST CHILL... 'TIL THE NEXT EPISODE! Comments and feedback are welcome. Follow and Tweet me @titowrestling or login in below to post comments. © Mr. Tito and LordsofPain.net/WrestlingHeadlines.com - 1998-2015
|
