WWE TV: July 10-16

[The Thread Killer]

Raw takes place from Houston, Texas tonight.

 

WWE announced that Kurt Angle will personally congratulate Lesnar on his win last night against Samoa Joe at Great Balls of Fire. Angle will also give an update on Braun Strowman’s condition.

 

PWInsider reports that as of earlier today, the plan for Raw was to announce a #1 contenders’ match next week between Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe. The winner would get a WWE Universal Championship match against Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.

 

Also set for the show is a rematch between Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt and an “awards segment” on Miz TV.

 

Courtesy Jeremy Thomas

 

If this report is true, I feel it sets an interesting precedent for WWE Superstars.

 

"Want to be considered for the #1 Contender's spot? What you need to do is lose a big championship match when you do get your chance - or try to straight up murder your opponent on PPV. Either one will get you in the running."

 

Also, Rollins vs. Wyatt II, the match nobody asked for, and nobody wanted. Yay.

[Ricky Jackson]

I think it's clever booking if Braun is out past Summerslam selling the ambulance injuries after defeating Reigns in the match, thus denying him a rightful shot against Brock. Reigns can get the Summerslam title match, presumably win the strap, and then have Braun as an uncrowned champion to challenge him post-Summerslam. It's far better than the easy route of having Reigns beat Braun and then challenge Brock. Now you have a heel who has defeated Reigns twice in a row ready for him after Summerslam. Throw in Wyatt, Cass, Joe and another Brock match and you have a decent sucession of challengers for Reigns to cruise into Mania for an epic showdown with Cena

[TravJ1979]

Do any of you think the multiple head "shots" that Matt took tonight on Raw is a build up for the return of Broken Matt?

[Loss]

Ha, if they really wanted to put more heat on Roman, it would have been hilarious for the ambulance match to also have a #1 contender stip and for Roman to get the shot anyway since Braun can't step up to accept the match. Then they don't have to do Reigns vs Joe, who Reigns has yet to beat, and Reigns has two opponents right out of the gate. Not a big deal that they're doing it this way, but it's one little detail that would have made a difference.

[AlmostNinjaLike]

Joe was put over so strong in that segment. Hopefully this means they won't forget about him if he loses next week.

[sek69]

Kayfabe wise, I agree with Brock that Roman hasn't done shit to warrant a title match. All he's done is get beat up by Braun and somehow that warrants being in the #1 contender's match because reasons.

[WingedEagle]

Joe was put over so strong in that segment. Hopefully this means they won't forget about him if he loses next week.

 

Between the setup with all 3 in the ring tonight and Braun's non-appearance, it very much feels like Braun returns next week to build for a Summerslam 4 way.

[AlmostNinjaLike]

Kayfabe wise, I agree with Brock that Roman hasn't done shit to warrant a title match. All he's done is get beat up by Braun and somehow that warrants being in the #1 contender's match because reasons.

 

I think that Heyman said something like "my opinion matters around here" last night, and that was why Roman gets a shot? Maybe? That could've just as easily been a throwaway line though.

[FMKK]

Kayfabe wise, I agree with Brock that Roman hasn't done shit to warrant a title match. All he's done is get beat up by Braun and somehow that warrants being in the #1 contender's match because reasons.

He retired the Undertaker a couple of months ago

[sek69]

Retiring the Undertaker at that point was like putting down the family dog when it turns 17 and they're blind and can't walk and start peeing everywhere.

 

 

Once again there's a guy who's way more over that fans want to see fight for the title, but we're going to get Roman thrust in that spot again because the old man running the company secretly wants to fuck him, so I'm sure when he gets booed yet again there will still be "smart" fans crying that people are just mad about Daniel Bryan.

[Mad Dog]

My thing with Reigns is exactly like my problem with Orton. You can never really enjoy whatever Orton is doing because you know they're going to get thrust into the title picture at the exact wrong moment and usually at the expense of someone or an angle you were really enjoying.

[BBscout]

Retiring the Undertaker at that point was like putting down the family dog when it turns 17 and they're blind and can't walk and start peeing everywhere.

 

 

Once again there's a guy who's way more over that fans want to see fight for the title, but we're going to get Roman thrust in that spot again because the old man running the company secretly wants to fuck him, so I'm sure when he gets booed yet again there will still be "smart" fans crying that people are just mad about Daniel Bryan.

That's probably what they're going for. Something close to a memorable "turn" is more likely to happen at an A-PPV than some B-PPV anyway, for historical and video package sake.

 

Looking like a 4way more and more though.

[El-P]

My thing with Reigns is exactly like my problem with Orton.

 

Funny you'd mention Orton, because there's one thing absolutely comparable to me : the boring entrance. Orton and Reigns have that deliberate, devoid of any charisma, forced "supposed big star" entrance. With Orton I guess he's supposed to look evil and shit, while Roman's supposed to look bad-ass and impressive. I don't see get shit from either. Roman's just a big, good looking guy with a bullet proof vest (which is a look I can't stand, why can't he just show his body ? I mean, seriously). He's neither Goldy nor Taker. Hell, he's not even Lex Luger, who had this bodybuilder look that was unique back in the days. You see he's "supposed" to the the Man, and he's just not. Kinda like HHH, but HHH did had the ridiculous entrance with lightnings, spitting water and fucking Motörhead. Reigns is just boring. I can't stand Lesnar anymore as his matches are all garbage, but he *looks* special. Hell, Samoa Joe looks much more special and a big deal than Reigns, who's a complete robot coming out, much like Orton has been his entire career.

[Strummer]

Cena/AJ at Summerslam? Sign me up

[Loss]

Roman has what it takes to be a top guy in terms of in-ring and presence and all of that. I even think based on the outside media I've heard him do he could be a force if he had a little more freedom on promos. The problem has been awful booking getting him there. Fans want to feel like they were part of that climb, and that they played a part in the wrestler getting to the top. That dynamic is completely missing with Reigns. There's nothing really to share when he's victorious, because no one was ever allowed in. He's meant to receive admiration for his hair, not empathy for his heart. That said, he's the top heel to people who want to boo him and the top babyface to people who want to cheer him. He's already in that role. He has been for a long time, and will be for a long time. In that sense, it's working.

 

I just find it humorous that "business is fine" is the reason WWE isn't seeking changes. Business being fine with Jinder Mahal as champion on one side and a guy who does a six minute title defense in his first match in three months on the other, which means they could put whoever they wanted in those spots, book whatever shit they wanted, and not really see any difference. (One could argue they have to an extent, even if there are definitely lower periods for the company aesthetically, and there are a decent number of feuds clicking at the moment.) I'd prefer an optimist streak where they just go all the way giving their fans what they actually want to see, realizing business is not going to change no matter what they do with rare exceptions. If Jinder as champ doesn't prove there's no bottom to drop now, what does?

[Strummer]

Yeah, Loss, I can remember you pointing out how weird it was when Reigns and Bryan both returned in late 2014 how all the tv was centered around Bryan and his comeback and .Reigns seemed like a peripheral player. Obviously wwe had no intention of going with .Bryan so why focus on him and not start an arc with Roman to his eventual rise? The people were given no story about his rise to the top that they could go along he just won the rumble and was supposed to be the new top guy like that. I mean it was going to be a disaster with Bryan in the rumble no matter what but they didn't even try to be creative with Roman. They still haven't really told a personal compelling story with his character

[Jesse Ewiak]

Am I the only one who thinks Summerslam was originally supposed to be Cena/Somebody and Owens/AJ and Owens got too hurt to have a big-time match or something?

[FMKK]

Roman has what it takes to be a top guy in terms of in-ring and presence and all of that. I even think based on the outside media I've heard him do he could be a force if he had a little more freedom on promos. The problem has been awful booking getting him there. Fans want to feel like they were part of that climb, and that they played a part in the wrestler getting to the top. That dynamic is completely missing with Reigns. There's nothing really to share when he's victorious, because no one was ever allowed in. He's meant to receive admiration for his hair, not empathy for his heart. That said, he's the top heel to people who want to boo him and the top babyface to people who want to cheer him. He's already in that role. He has been for a long time, and will be for a long time. In that sense, it's working.

 

I just find it humorous that "business is fine" is the reason WWE isn't seeking changes. Business being fine with Jinder Mahal as champion on one side and a guy who does a six minute title defense in his first match in three months on the other, which means they could put whoever they wanted in those spots, book whatever shit they wanted, and not really see any difference. (One could argue they have to an extent, even if there are definitely lower periods for the company aesthetically, and there are a decent number of feuds clicking at the moment.) I'd prefer an optimist streak where they just go all the way giving their fans what they actually want to see, realizing business is not going to change no matter what they do with rare exceptions. If Jinder as champ doesn't prove there's no bottom to drop now, what does?

If Roman Reigns sells more merchandise than any other full timer and gets the most consistently strong reactions on TV every week, how can it be determined that pushing him isn't giving the fans what they want?

 

Outside of that, how do you determine it? I certainly don't think they should be booking for smarks 100% but really WWE have already made loads of compromise in that direction. Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura etc are all pushed as stars (to one degree or another) and they're allowed to wrestle in a very similar style to their independent careers. They're created NXT as a workrate promotion that also has goofy gimmicks that get over with that segment of the audience. What more should WWE really do other than junking half of their audience and turning into a mid-2000s ROH revival promotion? That's not a show that I would have any interest in whatsoever considering I find Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman, John Cena and The Miz to be consistently more entertaining than all of those I listed earlier with the exception of Styles.

[Loss]

There is a vast difference between the hard numbers and what we all see plain as day in front of us. More than anything, I just wish WWE would try to figure out the root cause of that and fix it. They could make Sami Zayn champ and have the crowd (I mean that figuratively) or they could improve their creative so that their top babyfaces get cheered. Either way is fine with me. I just want crowd reactions and booking direction to align again.

[El-P]

Since he's been pushed down the throat of the audience for what, three years straight now as the Man, him not selling the most merch (let's not forget what "pushed as the Man" implies as far as merch availability and marketing either) and not getting the most reaction (which is not to say is a good thing since the audience rejects him as the Man) would be pretty pathetic actually. It's totally the Man-by-Default.

 

Picture if the WWE put the same effort pushing someone the audience actually *wanted*, with the same TV time and merch push. Crazy idea that it would be *more* successful and make *more* money ? It's just stupid. Plus, the hardcores are the one spending the most money on wrestling now. And the hardcores will never accept Reigns. That's just a fact at this point.

 

So yeah, they're doing "ok" I guess. Instead of even trying to do great by listening to their own audience. Which also makes the product very unlikable as a whole. They're a bunch of dumbfucks. Look at what they did with Bailey… They have no idea.

[goc]

There is a vast difference between the hard numbers and what we all see plain as day in front of us. More than anything, I just wish WWE would try to figure out the root cause of that and fix it. They could make Sami Zayn champ and have the crowd (I mean that figuratively) or they could improve their creative so that their top babyfaces get cheered. Either way is fine with me. I just want crowd reactions and booking direction to align again.

Why would one assume that the people who are in the crowds make up the majority opinion about Raw instead of thinking that maybe they are a hardcore minority of people who spend tons of money going to shows? I'd trust the hard numbers more than I would fickle crowds who boo Roman and supposedly want someone else in his spot yet chant CM Punk while Sami Zayn is in the ring in a talking segment or play with a beach ball during a cruiserweight match.

 

And before someone says something about how they might alienate their fans by pushing someone those fans "reject" let's not discount signs that say "I came to boo Roman Reigns" the fact that we already saw that didn't happen with John Cena or that a lot of "I'm a smart, REAL wrestling fan!" are actually really stupid and are the types of people who buy tickets so they can go and attempt to "hijack" the show with chants.

[Mad Dog]

Meltzer said that they even boo Reigns on house shows and they never really did that with Cena. I would also point out that ratings have been historically bad with Reigns and Rollins around the top of the card the last few years.

 

The hard numbers are ratings are in the toilet and the primary audience are old men. That's not very encouraging.

[El-P]

This whole "fans who boo Roman Reigns are stooopid, they want indy darlings, MOVEZ and such, they think they so smart but they aren't because trve fans luuuuv storytelling like Memphis ya know" talking point has jumped the shark a long, long time ago. Those fans who boo the shit out of Reigns love Braun. Braun, Das Indy Darling.

 

(and maybe they would care more about Sami Zayn if he wasn't positioned like a JTTS, crazy notion I know)

[Mad Dog]

I'm with you on all counts. This sentiment of "other fans are stupid because they don't like what I like" needs to go away already.

 

And they aren't even what people should be talking about. It's the fact that a lot of people just don't watch. A lot of my friends just stopped watching because they can't take the tedious TV and the fact that Rollins and Reigns are just boring. Merchandise isn't a good metric when the company makes most of their money off of TV and their audience has been crashing and burning the last couple of years.

[Stiva]

Meltzer said that they even boo Reigns on house shows and they never really did that with Cena. I would also point out that ratings have been historically bad with Reigns and Rollins around the top of the card the last few years.

 

The hard numbers are ratings are in the toilet and the primary audience are old men. That's not very encouraging.

 

Isn't it a case that more and more younger people have new, more convenient ways to watch than tuning in live though? Not to defend them as Rollins, in particular, had a total business tanking quality run on top but aren't TV ratings meaning less and less these days?