KawadaSmile

Miz has been booked just as strong, if not stronger than Kevin Owens. Were the nWo comedy heels because of this? The problem is that Miz is easily dismissed, Lord knows why. Someone mentioned Jericho, and I think that there is a very valid comparison point here: how many comedy bits has Jericho done throughout his career, as both a face and a heel? In fact, during his most recent heel run he might've done MORE comedy than the Miz. Is he described as just a "comedy midcard heel"? Of course not.

I don't see how Miz could fit into the "comedy heel" category, really. Was it the Total BS sketches? If so, then how isn't Owens also a comedy heel?

I think they still do have plans for him. Remember how long it took Sami to win the NXT Title, usually because some fuckery happened at the last minute? Bollywood Boys appearing and costing him the #1 contendership is pretty much in line with that.

I honestly think that the Wrestlemania 33 fiasco had more to do with Bray than with Orton.

KO sadly doesn't do anything for me anymore. The time he was engaging was when from his debut to him beating the fuck out of Sami to get the NXT Title. Maybe the start of the Cena feud, too. I imagine if they did a CJ Parker/KO rematch today, Parker would just outclass him in terms of performances, it wouldn't even be funny.

I think it would be way too much effort to associate the Bollywood Boys with him, have him get this rich/intelectually superior asshole gimmick just for the sake of punishing him later.

Jesus Christ. Jinder Mahal is going to have a match for the WWE Championship and he has ACTUAL HEEL HEAT

Isn't RIZIN also a japanese promotion? That might've been it.

Those two just have amazing chemistry together. You pair off Big Show, a talented dude with the shape of his career, with a great newcomer like Braun, and you are bound to get a great super heavyweight match. I love how they bust out armdrags and kip ups and baseball slides because of their unique match up. Also a very good work with teasing the superplex spot. You knew it was coming, but they did a great job of keeping the suspense high. When it actually happened, people obviously lost their shit. This is such a great and fun match,people. **** 1/4

Did they even show anything Roman related yesterday? Most of the times Roman was mentioned was to get Strowman a pop, really. It seems that Rosey, aka the Super Hero In Training, passed away today. That's awful news.

I'm willing to bet that the one with the least interesting names - Tye vs Young, that is - is actually going to be the best out of those three.

There's a different angle on that moment and yeah, it wasn't a good fall. https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/854172116152975360 Must've suuuuuuuuuucked.

She was the best performer in her match at Wrestlemania, specially with her offense. Match quality took a dive when she was eliminated, and it wasn't different today. When she was in the ring, things were good, but when she wasn't...

Drifter actually getting pops in his weird random cameos shows how much the Full Sail crowd knows. Also what the fuck, Wyatt is at WILLOW levels of shittiness.

Nia Jax once again being the best performer in a multi woman match.

Legend Killer Randy Orto was great, and his recent run had him the most over he's even been since 2009 and he had a very good run of TV matches, either tag or singles. It's not that he is lackluster for not being a good wrestler - he is - but he never seems to put the effort on his matches, unless it's actually something very very important.

The home promotion ace and one of Japan's biggest names vs a comedy heel and a guy from TNA. Guess who's winning this one. I've literally never heard about KAZMA and I have no idea if he's good or not. His looks are awful, so not a very good starting point. Things start off with him and Mutoh going at it, with lots of matwork, with the veteran getting the upper hand. Tags are made, and the true star of this match enters - Moose. His interactions with Marufuji is what make this match watchable, because as it turns out, KAZMA is actually pretty fucking bad, and Mutoh can barely get his legs straight. The crowd is well into the Moose chants, and his athleticism and crazy agility (he randomly busts a running senton/2nd rope moonsault combination) also get pops. Marufuji plays FIP for a while until he reverses a powerbomb into a DDT, and makes a hot tag to Mutoh. It's a bit sad to see him with almost zero mobility, but he keeps his stuff safe. Thank fuck there wasn't a moonsault. Finishing stretch sees Marufuji and Mutoh getting a flurry of offense on KAZMA, including a Ko'Oh/Shining Wizard combo that looked pretty cool. All 4 end up shaking hands after the pin, and the crowd chants for Moose as he leaves Harmless stuff, despite KAZMA being pretty bad and Mutoh almost not being able to move. A Moose/Marufuji match has potential to be actually pretty good. ** 3/4

This one is for the vacant Triple Crown Championship. Zeus looks like such an asshole with his sunglasses at a closed building. Great look for a heel. The match itself features your usual story of strenght vs speed. They thankfully leave the feeling out process to a minimum, and while there is some matwork, it feels like they are actually testing each other instead of doing it for the sake of doing it. Story of the match is Miyahara working from underneath after Zeus works on his back, doing a whole lot of slams and holds targetting that region. However, he just cannot get a sustainable offense, instead doing short flurries before getting cut out by Zeus overwhelming power. He is a big boy. The finishing stretch is just bomb throwing after bomb throwing, and Kento does raise the suspense after not being able to bridge on a German Suplex - is he going to overcome the odds? With a nice sense of urgence, Kento finally seals the deal and beats Zeus with an armtrap German. Kento is pretty darn good at playing the babyface ace who gives his all fighting from underneath, and Zeus is charismatic as shit as this heelish roided freak. Some spots felt disjointed at points, and at times the pacing of the match felt slow, but otherwise a good watch. *** 3/4

This match, on a mechanical perspective, was good, bordering on great, up to the tombstone spot. From then on it got uncomfortable to watch, as Undertaker clearly couldn't go no longer. However, from a storytelling perspective this was a blast. Taker saying Roman didn't have the balls to finish him off is a great moment and encapsulates the story. Roman realized that the old man never really stood much of a chance against him, and him having to basically a mercy kill isn't what he signed up for. Great story, but not so good action. Still, the concept was very fucking interesting to me. *** 3/4.

Things seem to be going on the usual TV match route when those two guys lock up. Roman pushes Jinder to the corner, and when the ref tries to split them apart, Jinder uses this break for a cheap shot, and then gives Reigns a god damn potato. What a fucking loud punch, Jesus Christ. That was actually a blessing for the match. Roman working as an angry beast added a layer of aggressivity that kinda made things more personal. Undertaker mind games make Mahal get the upper hand again and holy shit he just beats the shit out of Roman with a basement dropkick. Roman finishes Jinder with two Superman Punches, looking extremely pissed with that many potatoes. An actually very enjoyable, sub 5 minute match that brings out some (unnecessary, maybe) stiffness at times. *** 1/2

What I am saying is that nothing we can actually see - the rant, the twitter mockery - is anything other than the usual heel/face dynamic. Of course I wouldn't be surprised if something backstage related actually happened, but I have serious doubt that the rant is what caused Mauro to have a breakdown.

Neither was there any storyline reason for Mauro to openly mock JBL - which mind you, led into that rant. They bickered on air not unlike Brain and Monsoon did in their time. Otunga also gets made fun of. Is there any storyline reason for that? Not at all. Heel/face dynamics between the broadcasting team always existed, and sometimes even between wrestlers and announcers - Kevin Owens makes fun of Michael for no given reason other than just because.

The thing is that we all know JBL is a bully, a piece of shit and someone with the mentality of old times. That is out of question. However, based on what we actually have access to, nothing of what he did is exactly out of line - how is any of what he said on BittT any worse than what he says about James Ellsworth? He also gives Ambrose a lot of shit on commentary, and to say that his mini rant on that show was completely out of bounds is quite frankly disingenuous. Besides, Mauro was on twitter mocking JBL for winning the WON awards and Bradshaw ranking almost at the bottom. When JBL mocks Mauro in return, it's a no-no? Look - is there the possibility that JBL might've actually bullied and harassed Mauro? Absolutely, he does have a quite extensive record. If that indeed happened, is it available to us currently? Not at all. Based on whatever concrete info we have, it goes more in line with JBL actually playing a heel than him being a real piece of shit to Mauro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7_CnVv8s78 wow, such a shithead, amirite?

That's one of the reasons I liked Breezango's insertion in the Miz & Maryse/Cena & Nikki feud. In like 10 minutes they had more development than in 4 months. That kind of stuff is important. Also they were clearly having a blast there.