WWE - November 20 - November 26

[C.S.]

 

To be fair, Finn vs. Brock is a match I have no desire to see.

 

Finn hasn't impressed me one bit in NXT or WWE, and Lazy Brock is Lazy Brock.

 

It just came to me that I bet Finn wins the Rumble and uses that to jump to Smackdown and face AJ for the WWE Title at WrestleMania. Nakamura has been a flop on the main roster, but the last AJ-Finn match was relatively well-received.

I get that you're not impressed with Finn and that there's nothing I could say to make you change your mind, but... Finn vs. AJ was excellent. I know you'll credit it to it being AJ and negate Finn's performance, but that was fantastic.

 

IIRC his match with Reigns on that RAW where he earned a spot in the Universal title match was pretty good too.

 

He was also super over in NXT and is super over on RAW.

 

How has Nakamura been a flop on the main roster? They built his debut as one of the selling points for that one PPV in which he debuted on, gave him various title matches and has been featured as one of the top guys on SDL beating some fo the big names on the show. The fact that he hasn't won the title yet doesn't mean he's been a flop.

 

 

AJ vs. Finn was a decent match, yeah, but wildly overrated and not even my favorite match on that show. With that said, it was last-minute and AJ flew countless hours just to get there. In light of that, it was a damn near miracle.

 

My problem with Finn is that everything with him seems so mechanical, and "The Demon" brings nothing extra to the table other than the entrance and cool look. No added intensity, no different moves, etc. It also feels really forced most of the time. There's nothing natural about anything he does, whether it's plain Finn or Demon Finn.

 

It doesn't even matter whether the Vince "souring" rumors are true, because we just had AJ vs. Brock, so why would you present a much lesser version of that dynamic with the inferior Finn? I don't believe the Vince rumors anyway, because Finn did beat AJ right before AJ regained the World Title.

 

My guess is still that Finn will win the Royal Rumble and jump to Smackdown to face AJ, or at least the possibility is being considered, which could explain why they're moving away from Brock-Finn. Obviously, all of that is wild speculation on my part, but it wouldn't shock me. Then again, it also wouldn't shock me to see Finn in the WrestleMania pre-show or Andre Battle Royal either.

 

Nakamura felt like something really special in NXT, at least at first. But it's been downhill since then, even in NXT. Has there been a great Nakamura match on the main roster? Okay, I'm sure there are 1-2 I'm forgetting, but there should be 20-30 considering how good he actually is.

 

Has anyone read the new Jim Ross book? Is it any good/worth the read?

I liked it, but it's one of those things where you wish it was three times longer.

[Kadaveri]

Has there been a great Nakamura match on the main roster? Okay, I'm sure there are 1-2 I'm forgetting, but there should be 20-30 considering how good he actually is.

 

No I don't think there's been any. His matches against Cena and Orton are his best so far, which I have at 3.75.

 

If he's in a singles match at Wrestlemania I'm sure he'll deliver though. That's just how he is.

[Cap]

I am a big fan of the Bludgeons Brother, but I am not so much a fan of their Kane tribute attire. Lets hope they abandon that sooner rather than later.

[Mrzfn]

Extremely surprised people are down on Ruby Riot. She was one of the people I looked forward to seeing most in NXT, and on the indy scene before that.

[Cap]

Yeah, I don't really get the Riot hate. I like her. I am generally for all the "call ups" even though the execution has been puzzling if not outright lazy. Sure, women like Cross, Sane, Moon are "more ready" I suppose, but the more talented women on both rosters the better as far as I am concerned. I am guessing they will at least work to keep everyone relevant till they can do a 20 woman Royal Rumble. I just hope they keep it up after that.

[Strummer]

Announced that Money in the Bank will be a co branded ppv next year. So that's 5

[The Thread Killer]

Announced that Money in the Bank will be a co branded ppv next year. So that's 5

 

Does that mean there will be two MITB matches, one for each brand/championship, or does it mean the match will be for members of both brands, so whoever wins can cash in against either brand? I think that would be more interesting.

 

More importantly, why do I care?

[sek69]

Looking at the pic of Ruby's crew on the WO front page reminds me how terrible the WWE makeup team is. They must be so used to working on overly tanned/bronzed faces that pale complexioned folks like her and Paige look like mimes on TV.

[Johnny Sorrow]

I know you didnt mean it this way, but "Pale Complextioned Folks" really comes off as something a hillbilly racist would say on the news as he tries to describe his family, be racist, and politically correct at the same time.

 

😆

[Johnny Sorrow]

RIP Hideo Itami (they just did a Coming Soon video for him on 205 Live).

I disagree strongly. The problem with 205 is that they based it on just the guys from the CWC, and there wasn't a lot of star power there. As they add in NXT guys who have been in the system for awhile like Itami and eventually Gargano, you'll see a better show. Shit, that's why Enzo is there.

[sek69]

I know you didnt mean it this way, but "Pale Complextioned Folks" really comes off as something a hillbilly racist would say on the news as he tries to describe his family, be racist, and politically correct at the same time.

 

😆

 

lol I was trying not to say goth looking since I was afraid someone would well-actually me over one or both of them not really being goth or whatnot.

[The Thread Killer]

I thought Paige's makeup was pretty comical on Monday when I saw her. Normally I don't notice stuff like that (or care if I do notice) but I thought they were trying to introduce her as the long lost daughter of Paul Bearer or something.

[Johnny Sorrow]

Paige looked hot as fire. If pretending to not see that is what you need to come to grips with being attracted to Paul Bearer then you just be you, bro. No one is judging.

[The Thread Killer]

Paige looked hot as fire. If pretending to not see that is what you need to come to grips with being attracted to Paul Bearer then you just be you, bro. No one is judging.

 

Incorrect.

 

Please refer to the following photograph:

 

 

Alexa looks hot. Mandy Rose looks incredibly hot. The other girl (whose name I forget) is trying to look look like a female UFC fighter.

 

Paige looks like a painted corpse.

 

Therefore, you are wrong.

 

Again.

[iamthedoctor]

Enough with the "invader" angles already. Ive seen it with the NWO, and Nexus, The Shield, The Wyatts.. and now with the Women, on both RAW AND Smackdown?? It gets interesting for a while, but now its overkill.

[fakeplastictrees]

The worse thing about it is WWE's commitment to not make it look "too real". If the NXT women are surprises and "aren't suppose to be here", etc. Why not just come out wearing street clothes? WWE Security actually pretending, even in some small way, to do its job would also make for a nice visual and up the stakes.

[Edwin]

Not TV, but Starrcade is tonight. As most people who watch the current product, Im bummed this isnt airing anywhere.

[Kadaveri]

Week's YouTube Roundup

 

Raw's most viewed videos

1. Paige returns to WWE alongside Raw newcomers Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville - 2.7m views
2. The Shield drives The Miz through the announce table - 2.2m
3. The Miz vs. Roman Reigns - Intercontinental Championship Match - 1.9m
4. Kurt Angle threatens to retaliate against Triple H
5. Kane brutalizes Braun Strowman with a steel chair - 1.3m

 

Lowest

3. Asuka vs. Dana Brooke - 281k
2. Rich Swann, Cedric Alexander, Akira Tozawa & Mustafa Ali vs. The Zo Train - 118k
1. Enzo Amore and "The Zo Train" give thanks - 112k

 

Smackdown's most viewed videos

 

1. AJ Styles calls out Jinder Mahal - 1m
2. Shane McMahon calls Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn to the ring - 952k
3. The New Day vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn - 899k
4. Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan emerge with a surprise attack - 821k
5. The Hype Bros vs. The Bludgeon Brothers - 797k

 

Lowest

3. Bryan answers Owens' pleas with a match against Orton - 522k
2. Shane makes it clear how he expects Owens & Zayn to be handled - 240k
1. Jey Uso vs. Shelton Benjamin - 218k

[Flyin' Brian]

Not TV, but Starrcade is tonight. As most people who watch the current product, Im bummed this isnt airing anywhere.

Hopefully they filmed it for a future network special. Sounds like it was a good show with a good crowd.

[sek69]

The worse thing about it is WWE's commitment to not make it look "too real". If the NXT women are surprises and "aren't suppose to be here", etc. Why not just come out wearing street clothes? WWE Security actually pretending, even in some small way, to do its job would also make for a nice visual and up the stakes.

 

 

I think part of this stems from not wanting to encourage people to jump the rails, which happened fairly regularly to both companies in the Monday Night Wars era. Ever since then, WWE has gone out of their way whenever possible to make it clear that anyone coming from the crowd is part of the show and not some rando.

 

Also Vince's quirk of people always being in their gear no matter how ridiculous, which among other things gave us the Randy Orton Never Wears Pants meme.

[SteveJRogers]

Also Vince's quirk of people always being in their gear no matter how ridiculous, which among other things gave us the Randy Orton Never Wears Pants meme.

Not sure what is more surreal, Flair showing up to be interviewed by Mooney on Prime Time Wrestling, flanked by Bobby Heenan period, or the fact that Bobby is in a WWF sweatshirt (and not his traditional attire) and Flair looks ready for a match, and not a standard studio interview segment, and not in his usual custom made suit.

[hammerva]

 

Not TV, but Starrcade is tonight. As most people who watch the current product, Im bummed this isnt airing anywhere.

Hopefully they filmed it for a future network special. Sounds like it was a good show with a good crowd.

 

 

We get 2 cage matches, the return of "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes, and Arn does a spinebuster on Dolph Ziggler. Hell yeah I hope this is on the Network as a special <_>

 

Although I could have sworn the Rock N Roll Express was supposed to wrestle Anderson and Gallows and that didn't happen

[Cap]

called it off at least a few days back. I am not sure where I read that, but i remember them killing that match well before the show.

[goc]

The worse thing about it is WWE's commitment to not make it look "too real". If the NXT women are surprises and "aren't suppose to be here", etc. Why not just come out wearing street clothes? WWE Security actually pretending, even in some small way, to do its job would also make for a nice visual and up the stakes.

I don't think it's a good idea to debut a bunch of new people in street clothes. You want them to look like stars to people who've never seen them.

 

 

 

called it off at least a few days back. I am not sure where I read that, but i remember them killing that match well before the show.

 

Probably decided they didn't want Luke Gallows in a match with the Rock N Roll Express because he'd be exposed as more physically washed up than either Ricky or Robert.

[C.S.]

I wonder if Anderson and Gallows are on their way out? Have they made any appearances since the big round of releases? They're not in the least bit over in WWE, and have they had even one memorable match since leaving Japan? (Assuming they had any in Japan.)