WWE TV 1/4/16-1/10/16

[Strummer]

Meltz says that Jericho is set to return tonight on Raw and from the sound of it he will be a regular going forward. Can't say I'm excited about that at all.

 

Main event should kick off the big angle that will lead to the Rumble title match. I'll say Hunter returns to set up him v Reigns at the PPV

[conker8]

A program with Ambrose could be good. Or awful WWE comedy.

[Russellmania]

Jericho is pretty smart really. knows he can do his podcast and music stuff and have a pretty comfy lifestyle and then come back for wrestlemania season and get paid for a few months and leave whenever he wants. I don't know why more guys don't get wise to how much WWE treats people who leave and come back. I mean look at the deal Del Rio got. If I'm Sheamus then I take off after wrestlemania for 6 or 8 months and then wait for them to beg me to come back at the first major injury to a top guy.

[Exposer]

If Jericho returns I'm guessing he goes into a program with Ambrose. That would be my guess based off the Night of Champions tag post-match.

[Coffey]

I think Chris Jericho & Rob Van Dam are the two biggest names I care about the least when they return to WWE. It just happens so often that it's not special anymore. Jericho is the new Foley.

[Death From Above]

I'll say this for Neville, he takes some unbelievable highlight reel bumps.

 

This has been a fun match with Owens. I'm starting to think Owens is the most consistent guy in the company (other than maybe Roman, who I have no real problem with once matches start).

[scg84]

Neville was out there trying to impress somebody tonight.

[Death From Above]

I love Ric Flair for all he's done in wrestling, but I'm really ready to never see him on TV ever again.

[scg84]

As of the commercial break, this Becky/Charlotte match is WAY better then Sasha/Becky last week...

 

EDIT: Ok, that was really good. Crowd was into it, too.

[Coffey]

Becky/Charlotte was good. One of the better Divas matches since all the NXT call-ups. Outside of that match though, they're not giving this live crowd a lot. I guess they got up for the Ambrose table spot though. But Stardust Vs. Titus and now Big Show Vs. Ryback. Oof.

 

EDIT: Welp, nevermind on the Ryback/Show match! haha

[Death From Above]

I don't understand what the point of the Show/Ryback/Wyatts segment was.

 

Crowd is asleep. Can't really blame them.

[Parties]

Someone on Twitter made an interesting note: WWE has turned into Dragon Gate with all the factions. The League of Nations, Social Outcasts, The New Day, The Wyatts, Team Extreme (or whatever they're called), Team Bella, and B.A.D. Plus the Usos, Prime Time Players, Matadores, Ascension, and Reigns/Ambrose.

[scg84]

Not enough jumping from group to group.

[...TG]

Vince is of course in amazing shape, but man he looks every bit of 70 tonight. He's moving slowly, his hair is thinning and grayer than ever. Just kinda makes me sad - you know, the passing of time, etc. It gets us all, no matter how good our pharmacists are.

[Jimmy Redman]

OK, that's pretty cool.

[Strummer]

I like the idea of the Rumble being for the title. It's a way for Reigns to lose without getting pinned. Hunter v Reigns is a lock for Mania now

[Jimmy Redman]

Reigns can beat Hunter at the Feb PPV to get the Mania title shot and win the belt back there.

 

From Brock.

 

I don't see what the Mania title match is otherwise, unless they do Brock vs Rock for the belt or something.

[Loss]

Reigns should win and remain champion, thus earning a title match against himself at Wrestlemania.

[Exposer]

I think HHH will win. Brock will be eliminated by his WM opponent late. Roman-HHH for the title at Mania. Fastlane won't have a title match this year.

[Strummer]

Btw, I think every participant in the main event missed multiple cues. What in the hell happened there?!?

[Strummer]

I know they don't seem to care much about crowd reactions anymore but having Hunter win the Rumble would be tempting fate yet again. Yes he's a heel but they are risking another backlash from the live crowds.

[Jimmy Redman]

Yeah the part where Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick and Vince sat there paralysed and didn't make the count for no apparent reason was hilarious. No idea what went wrong there. Roman also had to wait an age before Steph's music hit.

[Matt D]

Vince is of course in amazing shape, but man he looks every bit of 70 tonight. He's moving slowly, his hair is thinning and grayer than ever. Just kinda makes me sad - you know, the passing of time, etc. It gets us all, no matter how good our pharmacists are.

 

He really had a hard time counting some of Reigns' falls. He really is blind!

[Parties]

The missed cues and all of them being caught on camera are an example of Dunn and the whole operation being a bit rusty when it comes to producing Attitude-era crash TV. You can likewise hear it in the announcing. Everyone's fifteen+ years older and trying to remember how to whip up a frenzy in the moment.

 

I like the Rumble stip as it gives the match a badly needed shot in the arm, but man Twitter geeks were freaking out thinking it means Roman will win. Seems obvious you'll get at least a disputed finish that holds up the title. Hate to say it, but Reigns-HHH at Mania suddenly seems more feasible, esp. if there's some kind of Rock involvement as ref or corner man. Still hoping it ends up Reigns-Brock and HHH-Rock - much better use of a 90K crowd.

[Jimmy James]

Well, hey, it's the first rumble for the title since 1992, so I'm excited about that one, at least.