WWE Money in the Bank 2016

Money in the Bank 2016

Live on Pay Per View from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, WWE presented its seventh Money in the Bank Pay Per View. Would it be oh so lucky for WWE, taking such a gamble on its loosely overflowing card? 

Let's find out...

Tonight WWE re-opened its doors to a number of WWE stars in the hope of becoming its new number one contender in waiting over twelve months or less, namely scoring the Money in the Bank contract briefcase. With only two real stars worthy of victory, and WWE's lack of roster talent on offer, the match itself is in severe doubt at value or entertainment. A reflection of WWE's modern era is also under high scrutiny, something they seem not so interested to care about.

Tag Team Championship

Tag Team

Fatal Four Way

The New Day (c) w/ Xavier Woods Vs Enzo Amore and Big Cass Vs The Vaudevillains Vs Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows

WWE could have got onto a real winner here but instead settled for a cheap option. A Triple Threat would have been very juicy but a late addition of highly ignorant bookend Karl Anderson and talented but in a one way option Luke Gallows saw WWE cave in to standard directionless booking.

The Vaudevillians (Simon Gotch and Aiden English) have been the hottest team and refreshing air the division needed since their two month call up to main roster. WWE have once again failed to push them forward and stalled them to the titles with more lukewarm efforts. WWE have no ambition at  this point and continue to phone in their decision making as well as its matches.

New Day have grown stale, Big Cass and Enzo are a sad attempt at little and large with nothing to them and the other bookends where one ignorant floater does not actually do a single thing and is no right fit for WWE.

Work the crowd Enzo and Cass rambling fluffers to warm up crowd for PPV. It made no sense. Sexual references with Lady Luck. She smiles down on you and laughs right now. Spelling Bee Cass was not a hoot. 

Dapper Gentleman from the backstreets of Ye Olde London arrive. Very debonair. :)

Bookend chicken legs strode in, in a PVC leather coat to no effect and points up. Thrilling cast off before even beginning. 

Grinding titles disgrace. It's not funny. It's sad and tacky. Chewbacca impression. Pathetic. Monopoly Men jibes at the VV's now. They joked about collecting $200. I'll collect something from them, alright. :) Then the baldies got Booty O'ed. This interlude was painful to watch. New Day's title reign was mentioned at 301 days having to beat 334. So the tag division is a bust again for history book scribbles? How sad for WWE. No conviction. 

Kofi and Karl. Aiden tagged in and Big E Belly splashed looking stupid again. Tasked with developing Big E better. He deserves better. New Day take on the new Edge and Christian budget version. English gets the legs up to get some momentum back on Kofi with a beatdown. Gotch tagged in to double team Kofi down effectively. Very grateful for Aiden English camera position. Big Cass comes in to do the running lunatic on everyone clear out thing. Launch Enzo over Big E, English and Gallows. Gallows saves the pin of Enzo to partner as English stirs with Gotch. Blind tag to Kofi as Enzo rolls Gotch. Kofi missed as a perfect back mule kick of Gotch landed. English gets a strong cover to huge disappointment as pinfall broken in a flurry of frenzy.

Kofi Kingston whirls through Aiden English with respect from the fans on a good pairing. "This is awesome" rallies as Anderson enters to a beat down ring empty. The pair use the bookend drop thing on English as Big E grabs the block for Kofi to smash down Anderson as legal man Aiden English is simply covered after too long of New Day pinning that made the ending somewhat limp for Kofi Kingston to retain the titles with Big E. It was alright, but nothing special. 

This could have been the most exciting match if it wasn't for the rushed sloppiness and whopping boy mentality of Aiden English.

Dolph Ziggler Vs Baron Corbin

After having three back to back pre-show matches in a nothing feud, Dolph and Barry Corbin were upgraded to the main card. Last month WWE said it was their rubber match. Even WWE can't be bothered to tell the truth or stick to it. This is already dire and has nothing to offer. No-one cares and neither star is interesting. WWE cheating the viewers once more. Great entertainment.

By the time it made the main stage three months too late, it was already over as a toilet break. 

Loudly heard calling spots and the crowd yelled "Boring" in response. Score!

Baron Corbin won to no effect despite effort the match was drained from the get go by WWE booking. The crowd was non-existent. Why WWE thought it was solid was plain confusing. 

Tag Team

Charlotte and Dana Brooke Vs Natalya and Becky Lynch

Women's champion Charlotte was given yet another night off in defence of title at a PPV, no less, further making a complete mockery of the re-launched division, title and female wrestling. Charlotte, who has never wrestled one PPV with skill. has always been carried by a plus one. WWE are hoping to give her a new record for the title books 'cos she's Ric Flair's daughter. She dumped Flair last month for Brooke instead. She still can't offer anything to fans or the sport as yet. WWE are truly useless.

WWE lauded her uneventful reign at 273 days. Simply holding titles doesn't make a champion in the record books, but WWE thinks that will do. How boring and weak of them. Dana Brooke's childish mannerisms were also likened to a five year old.

Dana tried to prove herself with Natalya first which became absolutely dreadful.

Becky 'stink' Lynch was in next to jump around and fall short of the top. At least she has border line ignorance at Pretty Wrangling Garbage events.

The match continued its tepid flow of emptiness. Call me when it's over.

Natalya' big moment came with a Sharpshooter, which was the only highlight, if that's what we can call it. Animated Dana Brooke grabs were simply pathetic. Charlotte lands a Facebuster as Dana Brooke distracts the referee with hollering to pick up another cheated victory in another boring WWE run through of no value.

After the match an incensed Natalya ferociously attacks Becky Lynch for bumping into her, costing the match. Great heat it was but lost momentum in booking application. WWE messed that up too, so randomly.

Dean Ambrose made a weak and empty promo which was plain tiresome.

Apollo Crews Vs Sheamus

Next up is some green wannabee used for his skin tone than skillset. The green flapjack replacement for Titus O'Neil in Apollo Crews is not only unflattering but severely flawed in entertainment value. No personality, no drive and a spot booking, WWE have always been desperate to try and make a black star of agile frame not matter how racist it is booked to avoid the race issue WWE has with never respecting black culture. No black star apart from The Rock has been made. (Yet fans have often fiercely debated that The Rock isn't technically black). Talk to the fans about it, you'll find a hotbed of polarising opinion.

Highly ignorant flounder Apollo Crews, who seems to have served only a month in NXT training before a main roster call up donation to 'skills' transferable, was booked against Sheamus. A pathetic booking plea to encourage fans to be manipulated into chanting for Crews over their hate of Sheamus, who still has nothing useful to offer wrestling at this time, despite WWE and Triple H's gym buddy being favoured for nothing.

This was yet another nothing match that had no moments and nothing sustainable to offer. Botch fest.

No reaction and bland as emulsion. 

Evergreen

Bad arm clubs, rushed moments and sloppy transitions. Can't even take a bump properly with any effect. Go back to wrestling school, kiddo.

Stop and start moments and two draining stars zapped all the energy from a good PPV potentially. Not even Sheamus can still get over. WWE need to seriously think on the drawing board.

An hour in to the PPV and it feels like three. Damn. Tough break.

Apollo Crews secured a cheap roll up on Sheamus to get a dishourable failed pin after Sheamus did all the work and argued with the referee. Crews just took a White Noise off the top turnbuckle and failed to sell the move at all. All teeth and no style.

John Cena Vs AJ Styles

Superhero John Cena has returned to WWE to take on some flying looney tune in Action Man AJ Styles. The man who has been treading water with ignorance in WWE since his lacklustre debut months ago had the perfect opponent to get some sympathy cheers. No Cena love doesn't equal AJ stardom. AJ, a pint size spot monkey, has nothing to offer, even in recent title matches which saw him more than uneventful. Triple H is so clever at hiring ignorance on personal fandom choices that have crushed WWE over the last two years, huh? Are the ratings down?

A Dream Match they billed it as. Who came up with that? Some TNA douche against a WWE douche? Sounds about right then. It aint CM Punk / Daniel Bryan by any standards.

You can be praised by marks all you like, fanzines and dirt sheets amount for nothing for guys like AJ Styles. This is WWE, son.

AJ Styles enters with his arms open and stands there still like an extra. Styles is one in a line of many who is simply the middle man when WWE need a break from title and event change ups. Fluffer central. 

Running the ropes. Yay! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Headlocks and holdups.

Heard calling spots loudly.

Slow. 

Walking around mat work. Pitiful.

People will tell themselves what they want to hear. Yay for the fans!

If this is what a Dream Match constitutes in today's age, Sloppy, loose, inaccurate transitions, Wrestling really is dumbed down.

STF on Styles. Rope reached by AJ. 

Jumped up onto Cena AA as AJ rolls him through to a lying mat single leg Boston Crab called Calf Crusher. Cena reaches the rope break. Cena clotheslines AJ to hard effect as he attempts the Knuckle fall. Cena waits for AJ to get up in stalled time too long to lift AJ for the Attitude Adjustment. Styles kicks out at two as the pair are on their backs.

Cena tried selling the leg pain but then easily walked to the outside with it lifting finely. He jumped from the top as AJ countered. Styles wakes and lays over Cena for a cheap two fall. 

AJ lands the Styles Clash as Cena kicks out of the roll up at two. To his credit Cena locked his arms behind Styles' legs perfectly. That was the only highlight in this match.

Styles did more flips as all he can do which land him on Cena's knees to wind him. The pair attempted a re-run of five minutes ago, countering every move until Styles inadvertently whacked the referee out the match as Cena lands the AA to get a three fall victory pin. 

AJ's boyfriends Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson came in to beat down John Cena and place AJ Styles onto Cena to win as the official gathers himself to count the call.

Ha!! AJ Styles can't even win properly. Some classic man. Always an Action Man mid carder hoping for the big time.

There we have it. Styles can't win a match against the heavyweights in WWE. 

Money in the Bank

Ladder

Cesaro Vs Chris Jericho Vs Sami Zayn Vs Dean Ambrose Vs Kevin Owens Vs Alberto Del Rio

"Tonight is about Destiny" Michael Cole says. Oh no. Alberto Del Bore-o is going to swerve, huh? Just pick Ambrose or Cesaro.  No one else is good enough.

Once more WWE laced the entire jobbers filling match supposed to get someone over as Heavyweight title material featured multiple high ignorance dirtbags.

Highly ignorant racist Alberto Del Rio, Highly ignorant blubber boy Kevin Owens and ignorant old hag Chris Jericho honestly could not offer anything new, original or worthwhile as a champion in waiting. What an embarrassment for WWE. Yet WWE still never learn and simply defiance will never win them such. Ratings are down. These have contributed to it.

High flying spot monkey Sami Zayn was never even an option. Dean Ambrose is the late favourite where WWE think he is valuable after giving him typecast feuds that have crushed his movement. Ceasro is the man that should but never will 'cos Vince don't like it enough. Fans have left because of all these decisions while some are clinging on with fading hope. Hope is, comforting. Not one of them looked promising for the future and its directionless writing to anyone making this a glorious waste of time despite such effort put in by a couple.

Kevin Owens' biggest challenge isn't to unhook the case, it's to climb and not fall off the ladder with balancing issues.

"Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole..." Taxi for Zayn.

Cesaro charged the ladder onto Jericho who tried to use it on him. All brawled outside as Sami Zayn did his spot jumping over the rope on everyone again. Zayn and Owens jiggled their guts tossing over a ladder as he kicked Zayn and Owens screamed like a child again making no sense at all. Jericho shut the bumbling oaf down with a ladder as Owens tumbled over once more. 

Cesaro was dropped onto the ladder by Y2J, being exposed with his manspread whities for viewer compensation. Dean Ambrose charged back in and bashed Jericho on the ladder. Jericho got the better of Amrbose and clipped his back hind leg. Ambrose was again under the ladder in another sign of bad luck as Y2J hammered it down on him. 

Rio now has his ladder moment placing on the top of the turnbuckle, Cesaro blocked and upper-cutted them all in the ring to elbow train Ambrose, Rio and Jericho in the corners. The audience was fully compelled until floating waiter in the wings Owens bumbled in to get another back attack. Owens then "went Bowling" as JBL added as the bowling ball with legs followed Cesaro's lead. 

Sami Zayn then came in and did his. He began the first climb, all alone. Del Rio makes the save. 

Cesaro was upside down on a ladder laid beneath the turnbuckle as Rio had a big moment built only to tepidly foot stomp on Cesaro. Wasted moment. Rio climbs. Cesaro climbs and stops Rio with Rio locking in a cross armbreaker as Kevin Owens gets another opportunity to appear and disappear. Cesaro stopped him and Dean Ambrose takes out Cesaro in another whirlwind moment changer with everyone. Ambrose and Jericho had it out as Y2J slammed the Codebreaker. Jericho began the slow, mountainous climb. He got his hands on it as Sami Zayn peeped himself up. 

Textbook save as Kevin the lazy bones Owens tipped the ladder over. Rio stopped him so he could roll around the matt some more.

Cesaro returned to deal with Del Rio. Clear and able, the Cesaro swing on Rio pleased the crowd. It looked like it gave Alberto Del Rio an erection. Cesaro did it to Jericho too. 

Ambrose retuned as Owens slithered in on the ground like a bumbling sluig. He whacked a ladder on Ambrose as his back was turned. Owens did a body splash on Ambrose over a ladder. Use your assets, I suppose. Not much else there, huh?

Surprise! Sami Zayn and Owens go at it again. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz...Zayn beautifully "bent Owens in half" after an amazing Michinoku Driver dropped Owens onto the ladder. 

Zayn took to the air to climb. Del Rio returned to use the ladder to smash him off. They were tiny taps that looked ineffective. Rio then set a ladder longways between the main ladder and turnbuckle as Jericho climbed the back of the ladder with Zayn and Rio battling the other side. Cesaro sets the ladder on the other side as everyone clambers on now. It was a moment, that's for sure. 

Cesaro sets a new ladder as Del Rio returns. All six are going for it. Cesi and Bertie are sent off with Cesaro's goolies caught on the ropes. :( 

Zayn is back on top reaching. Jericho runs along the ladder bridge as Ambrose nabs at his feet. Dirty Deeds off the bridge stops Jericho. Kevin Owens returns to drop Zayn. Zzzzzzz.... He powerbombs him on the ladder and screams again as he bumbles over to the top, greeted by Dean Ambrose.

Kevin Owens falls back and drops down through the ladder as Ambrose shames him. Dean Ambrose unhooks the briefcase after a long tease to become the winner of the Money in the Bank in a rather tepid encounter with little effort from Ambrose to seem worthy winner. The typecast test will be his biggest.

Last year failed, this year success.

Too predictable and boring. No drive and another wasted opportunity in a nothing victory. The win is meant to be all in abundance. There were only two contenders, with Cesaro the latter, though WWE would not consider him.

United States Championship

Rusev (c) w/ Lana Vs Titus O'Neil

Fresh back from wrongful suspension for jokingly touching Vince McMahon, the man was given a title opportunity to silence the masses that WWE could well be racist or simply unfair to black people. Another political decision that backfired in WWE's face nonce more.

Rusev checks out Titus' kids at ringside as the pair run around the corner to a double clothesline outside. 

Rusev clipped Titus after a climb on the steel steps which O'Neil took perfectly. Rushed power moves where this match could and should have gone on earlier with more time to be better effective. This was more match worthy than the first hour of boring trash.

Rusev tainted Titus in front of his children on Father's Day in a sit down back hold. 

Titus returned with some powerful shoulder blocks. Rusev recovered as swung his own brute force to knock Titus for six. Rusev gave Titus strong chances to be powerful again taking a heavy smash down with grace and honour most do not choose to work for their opponent. Titus was also given a two cover. 

Rusev is the man. Giving more than enough chances for opponent to get over. No-one else does that. Holding his own. Impressive.

Rusev showed more drive and personality than anyone else in the last how many hours on a tepid PPV, in a short match where the Accolade crushed Titus O'Neil as Rusev retains the United States Title. 

Rusev told Titus' kids to look at their loser father on this special day. If only they had more time.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Seth Rollins Vs Roman Reigns (c)

After returning last month and jumping straight into the title scene with no story whatsoever, Seth Rollins billed as 'the man who never lost the title' was set to reclaim it from old pal turned rival Roman Reigns. Reigns, a man who had no support and still doesn't as three time champion (twice transitional failure) is meant to be the main event but both have somehow drained the momentum.

WWE still using The Shield of three years past to sell this feud once again. Give it up already. We've gone past this haven't we? Is WWE still that far in the past it can't create future? 

With ten minutes left to the end of the show, WWE spent eight minutes on the video package and four for the entrances and one for introductions.  Eek. Talk about stretched time mismanagement. A main event with just seven minutes? Hmmm... They also rang the bell before Lillian announced them and referee holding up title. What a fail. The ref got the bell rung again. Another minute gone.

Roman Reigns entered to sheer hate from the audience for being forced on them by WWE's misguided leaders.

lock up and barge downs, mostly in Reigns' favour. Seth offers quick counters and knee barges Roman outside to launch on him for momentum. Back in the ring imminently landed into a Samoan Drop by Reigns. 

"You Can't Wrestle" and "Roman Sucks" began ringing after WWE failed to improve Roman's in-ring direction. Reigns continued to walk around unsure of what to do. It is not a good look for a champion, let alone a star hoping to be something for WWE's future.

Reigns formed into John Cena Mark II again with clubbing blows to Rollins in the corner. Rollins walked into a Whirl Slam for a two. Fans were uninterested. Pay Per View time has now officially extended. Oops!

Rollins ironically then slapped Roman Reigns in the face. Reigns did the clubbing blows to no effect next, as did Rollins with animated jabs.

Rollins was flung outside like a chump with no chance of getting back into the game from "ring rust" commentary earlier stated.

Roman dismantles the announce table as the crowd are pleased off that much. Rollins is battered to a pulp like a limp noodle as he gets a return by knocking Reigns into the Steel Steps. Reigns landed a very good Razor's Edge powerbomb pin after a long time getting it going, taken perfectly by Rollins.

Reigns missed his trademark Punch not being so super as Seth tries to stand. Roman inadvertently helps him flip up to gain the advantage as Rollins barges to the outside on Reigns twice, yet the second time went over Reigns and botched somewhat. Oh well.

Rollins tries someone else's move with the Pedigree only to have Roman Reigns punch him down. Reigns got a close two fall. Seth Rollins lands a Frog Splash of the late Eddie Guerrero to a tight two fall.

Caught on top turnbuckle, Reigns tries a suplex as Seth tries to counter with running powerbomb to opposite turnbuckle on Reigns with a heel kick to the face for a strong two count. 

Rollins runs up for a suplex rolled into second suplex on the ground from the turnbuckle for a tense two fall once again. Reigns almost lost that one. 

Reigns powered up and single handidly clutch powerbombed Seth down for a near fall with perfection from both.

Rollins flips another turnbuckle powerbomb as Reigns counters on a fall with a last ditch Superman Punch. 

Roman on the outside launched a fast running spear on Rollins who moved and Reigns clambered through the fall away corner barricade on the outside. Officials arrive to tend to Roman who plans to carry on with pride. Rollins sees the opportunity with giddy Reigns and brings him back inside Rollins goes for a Pedigree which lands into the official, as Roman Reigns nails a Spear instead. The official turns over, dazed to count as Seth Rollins drastically kicks out.

Roman Reigns runs into a Pedigree as the intensity is amplified by a near fall on tenderhooks. Seth Rollins hits the Pedigree one more time to cover and become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion to shock and adulated awe.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Dean Ambrose Vs Seth Rollins (c)

Now Dean Ambrose arrives to greet Seth Rollins. He nails Rollins with the briefcase and officially cashes it in.

Dean Ambrose hits the Dirty Deeds to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion from Seth Rollins.

It was all very rushed and another transitional championship run that will undoubtedly ruin Ambrose like Roman Reigns was and Seth Rollins will be used to get the pair over. After the hype wears off Ambrose just does not fit WWE champion with his look and direction. To make WWE understand, this is basically a levelled up Zack Ryder being champion. Something they take very seriously.

May have made statement but after the hype the fit of champ to lacking direction will not elevate a star. Sorry, it's true. Empty, weak and wasteful re-runs of the trio from years past. WWE need to timewarp to the present day to lay the future. It is the same old repetitive nature WWE proves therefore it has no understanding of what to do. 

The show also overran by 20 or so minutes. Strange when they could have simplified the time of earlier matches (Corbin/Ziggler) or scrapped it altogether. It was a late addition to bump the card anyway, which in hindsight, categorically failed. 

The show is over.

Pre-Show

No-one cared.

Golden Truth, R-Truth and Goldust beat Breezango, Fandango and Tyler Breeze.

The ignorance of Kalisto with pard Sin Cara beat homophobic ignorant Bubba Ray Dudley and his brother D'von, who filled the show with botches equally with the midget jumper. WWE must be so proud to have re-hired novelty acts that cannot attain any worth to a future. 

PPV Rating - 3/10

Men/Women of their matches - Aiden English, Dolph Ziggler, Natalya, Sheamus, John Cena, Sami Zayn, Rusev, Seth Rollins, Seth Rollins

Man/Woman of the PPV - Rusev

The matches could not have been more obvious to the trained eye. The novelty of all three champs in one night facing each other passing around a trinket for all to become meaningless. Classic. Such a transition can be more harm than good. It was all so predictable but for some caught up in the match quality and their hate of Roman Reigns they forgot about a cash in which provided some interest, albeit short. Reigns is trying but is doomed and WWE knew it needed to move the strap along. Seth Rollins never lost but winning and losing as the middle man is somewhat dangerous for a career boost. Dean Ambrose as standing victor provided fandom but outside of it, the bubble will burst on the typecast loon. WWE need new options, but Ambrose like Reigns before him is highly green and unfit for title prominence. Not bothered to write for him and sidelined for Reigns, Ambrose has the toughest challenge on his shoulders now more than ever with huge expectations. 

Despite the big moments, none of the three were still enough to provide character and depth that Rusev did in only half the time. Rusev should have had much more time available. A pure pro who has come leaps and bounds.

The big news is that WWE are re-launching the Brand Split of Raw and Smackdown, to coincide with the now live premier of Smackdown on Tuesday's. With a short stacking roster WWE finally realised with egg on their faces that they need big rosters to exclusively split stars to each brand. For this they have begun re-hiring old age stars in their 40's + to fill space. How novel and thrilling for a "New Era" of old hat WWE. WWE fail to learn what to do everytime.

Once the initial buzz wears off, the brand extension, which would have worked a couple of years ago, won't work now. The rosters are thin, lack real stars, have high ignorance at Triple H's hiring behest destroying the product everytime and lacks any real ambition. Writing is poor, direction is empty and talent is slim. 

Vying for GM roles?

Defiance in WWE's corner to make it work is simply clueless. It either needs the right people at the helm (ie. Max Waltham) or it will simply flounder as a burnout failure. WWE think if they push it with all their might it will work, but this will only expose how many exhausted options they have run out of. More ignorance leads to even more destruction. Don't tempt fate for fun. Karma is real.

The future is bleak for wrestling in 2016 and many have stated that no-one knows the formula to pick it back up. Well, we all know that is utter tosh. Only one man, this writer, knows what to do and is free to offers, but many stubborn fools would rather lose than win. Fans have left and are leaving. Only a handful of loyalists are desperately hoping that the mark fandom hiring's of Triple H's one time tape viewing of some guy jumping about or rolling around will be sufficient to include and succeed. Laughable.

WWE are said to be looking to "raid NXT hard" for draft rosters, which has somewhat pleased and worried Triple H's playground brand. NXT, originally WWE's developmental department was turned into a brand to keep Triple H happy and think he had some value to running WWE after letting Vince McMahon down with so many failed roster call ups Triple H takes no responsibility for.

What's the future? Selling out a crowd of 200 on an NXT tour around the world for bragging rights to feel big?

HHH's personal ambition to hog the limelight even with developmental has cost him dearly. His choices to try and be Max Waltham and overturn Waltham's success for H's own has become a dismal failure. The moment developmental is turned into a brand, the moment developmental attitudes are lost. This is no playhouse. For those fans who stated "Triple H is the reason we have NXT" you're oblivious nature is somewhat hilarious. You fail to look hard enough that the only reason you have NXT is because of Max Waltham, which Triple H jumped on to overturn into his own personal point scoring success story with highly ignorant failings that have become costly to the WWE way of working and lacking respect for the business overall. That is why Triple H's grand succession and NXT's limp wrist, lackadaisical fluffers have no potential in the modern future of WWE or wrestling. They have exposed themselves perfectly, and this writer didn't even have to do anything for fans to finally wise up to the loosely skilled wannabees who hope they can make it in WWE as their professional wrestling calling card.

Hope is, comforting.

So there we have it, Money in the Bank 2016 was an empty PPV once more, which while had its fun jumpy  spots and a bit of action better than the last three at 1/10 back to back, wasn't enough to win over proper fans. 

That's the WWE future, coin it in and offer barely any talented stars. Returning stars wont be able to pick up where they left up either as WWE's cash cows. The infrastructure has changed beyond WWE's recognition. Every decision it makes is now more crucial than ever, and everyone seems to be the wrong one.

If Vince McMahon, WWE, stars and Triple H really cared about WWE, they would finally adapt and hire the loyalty package that will help with them than against them. How much of WWE's egotistical worth is more important than fixing its flagging breed? 

Ratings, down, Fans down. Stock, down. Social Media ratings fixed by Nielsen Media don't count and are still lower than what is manipulated. Crowd and ticket sales, somewhat down. At what point is your legacy protection more important than the point of no return? Get on the phone (email) dear. That's how it's done nowadays. 

You're Welcome!

© Max Waltham 20th June 2016

All Rights Reserved

WWE Fastlane 2016

WWE Fast Lane 2016

Vroom Vroom, it's another lap of racing cars in WWE. WWE's second year of gimmick themed Pay Per View, Fastlane, which no-one really knows what it stands for, came live on Sunday 21st February from the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Was this WWE's desperate attempt to select a region that might be less aggressive and more 'open' to 'new' talent emerging? the same 'new' talent that has become old, stale and useless for a good number of years?

Let's find out...

Tag Team

Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks Vs Naomi and Tamina

Dropped from team B.A.D for going it alone, vanilla diva Sasha Banks, who has no role on the main roster and treading water for months, has failed to materialise. After last month's viewing for Charlotte's Diva title prize and attacking Becky Lynch in a fake dishonourable turn to become likeable again, the pair are now best buds in a random tag match. The pair are being lined up for a triple threat with Charlotte as an NXT nostalgia exercise. It was a sideshow to protect Charlotte going to Wrestlemania as another uneventful champion, who has failed to wrestle as champion since.

Tamina started out with decent mic chatter as the action got underway. Becky once again did all the work for her team as Tamina worked very well with her taking bumps too. It all seemed a little rushed, however, which signifies they will have low time to work this match. WWE are not committed when its favourites aren't included. Naomi contributed well also as eventually Becky Lynch was on the outside being counted down. She got back in at an 8 count. Naomi and Tamina continued the dominance on Becky. Sasha continued to wear out the apron. She continued to look poor, empty and an afterthought. There was literally nothing to her. she held her hand out for a tag and took the role as waiting for the hot tag plus one.

Sasha not doing anything and looks weakly exposed as plus one tonight. Interest is lost on her now. She's bland as Charlotte. 

Becky finally got the hot tag as predicted as Sasha weakly and hurriedly flings Naomi around. It lacked sass that Sasha was once beloved for. Naomi, however, was made to look incredibly weak yet is a strong contender. 

Tamina pulled Banks out as Naomi was almost placed into submission. Naomi uses such distraction to get a close fall after a Rear View butt thump on Banks. Banks simply moved out of the way as Naomi lands into a post. Tamina whacks a smashing superkick as Becky breaks up the pin.

Team B.A.D regain control but Banks randomly avoids a move as Becky flied back in. Sasha Banks then gets Tamina on a cheap interaction distraction as Naomi charges to protect her gal pal. Becky Lynch places her submission on Naomi as Tamina is forced to tap out to Sasha Banks in a weakly anticipated and poor Wrestlemania builder. WWE continue to disrespect its female workers that can really provide given the chance.

Intercontinental Championship

Kevin Owens (c) Vs Dolph Ziggler

After a cheap, random victory on Raw, (beating Tyler Breeze after hiding outside the ring in a five man match) ignorance of the highest order and random nobody on the roster Kevin Owens was given another freebie from Triple H, namely the Intercontinental Championship, at the expense of jobber champ Dean Ambrose. Given everything, failing to ever work in the ring and waiting and expecting for everyone else to do all the work, tonight was filler opponent Dolph Ziggler. Talk about slim pickings. WWE fail to learn Owens is useless, provides no future and needs to be sacked and demoted imminently. WWE continue its own problems for fun poking. Many reasons are apparent, but Owens was one of them that lost a huge chunk of ratings. WWE continue to favour some bowling ball with legs. Some future. The guy even had the cheek to request a match with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. What a disgrace. Not even in WWE for a year and already think he is good enough to taint The Undertaker? WWE are a laughing stock at this point.

Photo Credit goes to the whiney b*tches at
Titan Towers, yet wasn't from their site.
You're Welcome!

Owens continued to use rest holds and breather spots to carry him through after Ziggler did all the work. Owens' holds continued to have huge gaping issues with no believable pressure and were dirty and unclean elbows resembling jaundice. It was not appealing. Owens then ran into a post and tumbled to the outside to bide more time. 

Owens then allowed his opponent some offence, which Ziggler did all the work again as Owens continued to lie on the mat in rest spots. Owens once again failed to do any wrestling moves or put in any performance. He has yet to wrestle since his debut. For WWE it is the highest embarrassment on a national stage. They just don't care, and neither does the ignorant Owens. It looks entirely pathetic and juvenile.

The future of WWE.

Dolph Ziggler simply got up and walked into a on the spot reversal and clothesline powerbomb to retain the title. What a weak and pathetic random finisher it was again. Nothing ever changes, this is a Kevin Owens constant failure. It was embarrassing yet again. Kevin Owens walked off with the title looking like a complete overstenched state. This really is not the future of WWE. Anyone who would think so is insanely deluded. Rolling around on your back is not wrestling. Go to play school. 

Six Man Tag Match

Ryback, Big Show and Kane Vs Erick Rowan, Luke Harper and Braun Strowman w/ Bray Wyatt

Yet another job squad booking for the Wyatt Family was scheduled, against, wait for it, three jobbers. WWE don't like people being called jobbers, but encourage it on screen. You can't have it both ways. You book this dross.

Still not sexy. You aint CM Punk, neither.

How Ryback is still employed is a miracle. His partner's in shamed talker Big Show and company workhorse Kane was poor, sloppy and all over the place. This is meant to be quality entertainment that fans pay so much for in tickets that reflects the action on the card. What a waste of cash, even on cable/satellite.

Braun Strowman was being earmarked for a showdown with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. That would be just as bad as Undertaker / Mark Henry's casket match. That was terrible. Vince McMahon has been said to be 100% behind Strowman's booking to make him look credible with plans for a heavyweight scene run. Three words. The Great Khali. As for Undertaker, he will now face "someone who isn't on the WWE roster" at 'Mania. Wow. Another slap in the face to fans, WWE and 'Taker. What is the point of that? Pathetic. Undertaker deserves better.

One thought the leotard was bad, but Ryback now looks even more disgusting without it. How this useless block is still employed is a miracle.

Ryback has now resorted to even sadder times by using CM Punk's infamous running knee manoeuvre. How WWE, or Ryback could possibly think fans would cheer for stealing Punk's move as a disgruntled attitude problem is somewhat confusing.

Liability Ryback struck again with a heavily mismanaged shell shock on Harper which drooped him awkwardly in pain at him arm and shoulder region.

To top it all, the nonsense team of randoms put together at the last minute, Big Show, Kane and Ryback easily defeated Luke Harper, Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman in one of the weakest portrayals of tag match work for a while. Embarrassing. The Wyatt's lose. WWE have no clue what to do and the WWE Universe is finally at the end of its tether with the lack of direction for the Wyatt's that they have and will abandon them altogether. Way to go WWE, you royally mess that one up, didn't you? Some have already left. It's done.

Divas Championship 

Charlotte (c) w/ Ric Flair Vs Brie Bella

When all else fails,
use your 'assets' dear.

Charlotte, who is being carried to Wrestlemania as champion, which has been a stretch at skill, somewhat, still fails to shake off the shadow of her ignorant daddy Ric Flair. WWE and Charlotte have now decided to diss the fans and the sport and just continue making her 'Ric Flair's daughter' believing this will be what fans have to accept. They won't. They have already turned on Charlotte and WWE's lack of direction or unwillingness to change that has forced fans to bail. Are the ratings down? Vince is trying to claim he doesn't care, well he does and should. he's trying to save face in his mass failure to believe he is invincible. Nothing is eternal.

Her opponent in this filler match was jobber Brie Bella, who is now a random lovely again, with no explanation. WWE need to plug Total Divas with John Cena's lovely partner Nikki Bella, who happens to be Brie's sister. Ahh, WWE, the stench of nepotism everywhere.

Shambles. One of the worst diva matches
on record, to which there have been many.

The pair had an outright shambles with a botchfest galore. It was utterly shambolic and purely shameful. Both were just horrendous. Not one move connected, flow was dismal and transitions were clumsy. It really did put an even bigger shame onto the show called Diva's revolution. Charlotte still cannot wrestle one match. Brie, trying to become popular on her husband's fame in his gear, still messes up in the ring as standard. As for Flair, an old, ignorant hanger on hogging a limelight so dim from the past was breathtakingly irrelevant. What a shambles.

Furthermore, the pair used blood in their match and made it to be a part of the match with Flair hollering as cheerleader, too. So much for WWE's no blood policy rule breaking. Hepatitis C is soooo sexy. 

Brie Bella feigned an injury angle and taps out to the ever poorly connected Figure Eight from Charlotte.

After the match the referee donned a rubber glove to cheek in between the divas mouths. I doubt there shall be a wisdom tooth found in there. 

AJ Styles Vs Chris Jericho

After gushing over his new Indie darling, Triple H, who thinks he has staged a coup in gaining some random TNA Action Man on the roster from New Japan took to PPV. Since his lacklustre debut last month at Royal Rumble, AJ 'Action Man' Styles continued to have no flair, no passion and an empty vessel clogging up WWE's payroll. All for what? Triple H thinking he has got something invaluable? Lol. This guy really has no clue how to run WWE in the future and shockingly makes Dixie Carter look good.

Action Man!

Taking on ignorance filler and only there for another paycheck, Chris Jericho, who is also way past his prime, AJ no Styles entered another boredom laced checklist run through of match box ticking. 

AJ Styles came out to no reaction what so ever by the crowd, as well as himself. Bland, boring and empty, AJ 'no' Styles is as pale as they come. WWE had thought it would be epic. Triple h has succeeded again. Not one month in and another of his grand concepts has failed immensely. Will he ever learn and listen? The man is a fool. Now he has yet another WW failure on his hands at running WWE. What a laughing stock this is. You were creatively advised. Triple h chose to snub once again. Look at him go. Such a pro. Triple h is a mark and is ruining his own business plan. What a tool. Lose the ego and get with the program. AJ Styles had failed in a sterling 0-60. Ignorance is not a virtue.

AJ and Chris were given a lot more time than most, which exposed them more than protected. WWE wanted to ram their ego down fans throats to accept it. AJ Styles is doomed. Jericho kicked out of a Styles Clash, which unlike in the UK a couple of years ago, Styles did not almost cripple and manslaughter an opponent in the ring with the then poorly utilised manoeuvre from the so called grand master of the Clash.

Action Man strikes again!

Both are ignorant out of touch randoms who add no value or skill and that was apparent tonight. The pair, especially AJ, cannot 'go' in WWE. Proof that any random hire is not best for business as some people just can't be WWE material. Jericho continues to be old, dated, out of shape and lacks relevance in 2016. He keeps coming back for a paycheck. Everytime he comes back, he ruins a prospect from growing and more importantly, WWE, as a company. The fans suffer. WWE don't care.

AJ Styles beat Chris Jericho in predictable fashion. Tepid was an accurate evaluation.

Edge and Christian plug their new Network show with a New Day skit which was terribly borderline with racism that fans were so outraged with in attendance and at home. WWE thought it was funny. It was pure disgusting. It is also Black History Month, something WWE pounced on years ago to avoid a PR storm that it has a problem with black wrestlers (which it does). 

In other news, two weeks prior to Fastlane, Titus O'Neil was shockingly suspended and fined $5,000 for grabbing Vince McMahon's arm in a joking manner at the end of Raw on the titantron. McMahon said it was to teach the locker-room a lesson. That's the weird world of McMahon. McMahon playfully body bashed Titus on the handshake pull as a measure of knowing. 

PIC.

GIF.

Every tag team in WWE were thrown out there to build some random super tag match at Wrestlemania. Like a Raw build up on PPV. Blimey. How creative. 

Impromptu 

Curtis Axel w/ Heath Slater, Bo Dallas and Adam Rose Vs R-Truth

WWE had time to slip in a filler match. WWE didn't value either but considering the card, the pair could have had a better match than the others that were on the show and a reason to be there. WWE simply couldn't care less and needed to fill time. The match was not advertised whatsoever and clearly breaks broadcasting code.

Curtis Axel once again proved he is highly capable in singles action and worked so well. R-Truth held his own decently, but it was all very rushed thanks to lack of time management by WWE bookers.

Triple Threat

Number One Contendership to WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Dean Ambrose Vs Roman Reigns Vs Brock Lesnar

The winner will secure a title opportunity against absent champion who has no defended it at all since Royal Rumble, Triple H, a company boss. Fans have often argued anyone who does not defend major titles every month be stripped and the legitimacy has been once again wiped clean. Triple H is having two months off till 'Mania, where it is already written in stone he will lose the title to Roman Reigns. WWE are desperately looking for a Special Referee theme and were turned down by Batista. WWE mistreated him to the hilt. Good for him. They've also asked Shawn Michaels, Triple H's retired friend. Are we flogging that horse to water?

Chump champ Dean Ambrose will take on his pal and Chump champ Roman Reigns. Reigns, who has been a two time champion with no skill, long time run and transitional connection is the predictable outcome as everyone knows. Ignorant has been farmer who decided to show up tonight, Brock Lesnar, is also vying for attentions to Triple H's Wrestlemania extravaganza. 

Everyone believes the know the winner before it has begun. Could it really change? A year and a half in the making, Roman Reigns' path to World title dominance as a muscly big guy Vince oh so favours, has had a difficult time out of the starting blocks. With dodgy writing, childish jokes, use of his children and a transitional champion twice over before he has begun, it is not looking promising under WWE's misdirection. All they had to do was keep the title on his and build him strongly, but WWE failed it and now Reigns is an abysmal failure.

So could he really lose this one? Putting the cat amongst the pigeons with his 'brother' and Wrestling buddy Dean Ambrose against some ignorant beast in Brock Lesnar, the pair relied once more on their The Shield trio days, using the triple now double powerbomb through the outside table on Lesnar, silencing him from contention after his boring German Suplex gimmick.

Did Dean Ambrose really stand a chance as a hurriedly dropped Intercontinental champion that should never have been given to him in the first place as a mechanism to get over as a main potential star? No. Ambrose put in another decent show tonight and better than the other two, but jobber instead of main potential star WWE have continued to mould him into. Ambrose is now so irrelevant there is no belief he'll ever achieve just like Reigns. The fans are really not keen on Reigns at all. WWE are continuing the push in its traditional 'up yours' mentality to fans pushing what they want as their idea. Even if it is a bad one.

Roman Reigns beat Brock Lesnar and Dean Ambrose to become the number one contender. There was nothing really to speak about as it was again, the same old routine worse than a regular Raw or Smackdown encounter.

Pre-Show

United States Championship

Two Out of Three Falls

Kalisto (c) Vs Alberto Del Rio

Vanilla midget with no skill of high ignorance Craplisto took on equally high order of ignorance Alberto Del Rio in a poor attempt at securing Mexican/Hispanic audiences for the ever dwindling WWE ratings. WWE, who continually overdo a program beyond creativity and zap all the buzz from it, with two stars the audience really hates to see on screen, failed once again. The pair were thankfully dropped to the pre-show, where once again, neither of them mattered and both are poor in-ring workers that fail to entertain. How either of them graced the prestigious United States title for random attempts to gauge fans was purely shameful of WWE. Kalisto retained.

PPV Rating - 1/10

Men / Women of their matches - Becky Lynch, Dolph Ziggler, Luke Harper, (No diva was good enough), (No one was good enough), Curtis Axel, Dean Ambrose

Man / Woman of the PPV - Roman Reigns

Fastlane had so much promise and once again was another throwaway PPV from WWE. Out of touch, stale, mild, old and boring, WWE has clearly lost its edge at structuring its content. 

It's ignorant attitude of insider behaviour, booking and lack of solutions to genuine problems is affecting its hierarchal foundations.

WWE are stubbornly clueless and open to using lacking, poor stars, underdeveloped and useless as Triple H's favourites.

The result is clear. The product has suffered and it seems ever likely the predictable outcomes will dampen fans for WWE's so called future.

Triple H cannot put his ego aside in his desperation to please McMahon and the misses. Lacking understanding of product for his own ideas, which lack any gumption, and his negative attitude to support or connect with what has proven to assist the product loyally has put WWE in tough times. Fans are slowly waking up to the realisation wrestling, alongside WWE is stalling and is failing to vamp up to fifth gear.

WWE does not look promising for 2016. For investors, they should ditch stock and allegiance after Wrestlemania (or now). It really won't improve. Fans will hope it will but after its grand season, people know what they hate to admit. WWE's current standards and abusive directions of those who support and assist are ripping WWE to shreds. They are their own worst enemy. The love-in is over and fans sadly know it. there are better things to spend time on and WWE offers nothing new, interesting or creative. Fans are seeking alternatives outside of wrestling instead. Vince McMahon needs a creative fixer pronto. Yet he still has a disgruntled outlook on his personal lunacy than what can help. Triple H is no better and a vile, ignorant abuser who plans to avoid the solution for his own bragging rights ego. Every choice since, under Triple H's management has categorically flopped. Sin Cara, Kharma, Tag division, Divas Revolution. Ignorance hires. NXT as an Indy Promotion filled with favouritism. Need we go on?

Trophy champs.

The trophy husband is desperate to prove the honourary McMahon can be engraved in WWE's inner circle for eternity.

All lack credibility in the failure to truly provide what is 'best for business'. Running NXT like a juvenile school day out, indie promotion and a main roster with no skills or talent, despite injured stars on the bench being no excuse, just phoning it in and failing to please fans, WWE won't materialise. 

It needs to ditch its ego pronto and work with what will make it great again. The McMahon's, however, have an ego problem. They want bragging rights. That's what affects everything in WWE's interior walls, alongside their failure to listen and take constructive criticism.

Their failure at stubborn behaviour with a negative nature lacking any creative direction with those who have proven can support WWE to the fullest.

If they simply put their pride aside, WWE would soar again. Until then, WWE, who think they are invincible, are starting to feel the heat.

So much for the 'cleaned up' WWE it loves to try and bill itself as. It is still as much abusive currently today as it was in the 80's and 90's. Unless the change for the better, it's not promising at all.

Wrestlemania is going to suck, badly. 

Ric Flair continues to babysit his daughter and steal the limelight too. The washed up old hag adds nothing to Charlotte and WWE still have decided her 'creative' angle is to be Ric Flair's daughter. She fails to wrestle well on the main stage, is way too green and once again, has no character. A flunkie wearing a title because she is a strong member of the lucky sperm club. WWE have also erased and covered up last month's sexual assault by dirty old man Ric Flair on Becky Lynch. Interesting. Triple H, who idolised Ric Flair, and likes Charlotte as another of his fandom call ups from his Indy playground running of NXT, swung it for him and Charlotte to be champions until Wrestlemania at least. This is someone who is trying to prove he can run WWE to his wife and father in law. Fans are not stupid. They've left. 

The Wyatt's jobbing and Ryback's new look made WWE a laughing stock. Creative have nothing for themselves, at this point. Even trying to rip off CM Punk as a sticking point made Ryback look worse than ever, not to mention his failure to wrestle and continue to be a mass liability in the ring with opponents once more, almost injuring another star in Luke Harper.

Team B.A.D were predictably going to lose. This is how 'creative' WWE are. Plans already launched beforehand to have a three way with Becky, Sasha and Charlotte at 'Mania provided the obvious outcome. There was no explanation why Becky and Sasha were friendly after butting heads in this build up. Moreso, it would have been better to lead them into 'Mania as losers to Team B.A.D and go up against Charlotte as underdogs with more to prove. Once again WWE don't think and are useless at creativity today. They miss so many goals for 'looking good' with their ego. Sasha is utterly boring and Becky is the only real star of the three, but again, WWE don't value her. What a complete mess of this 'Divas Revolution' The Authority tried to claim for themselves. Only Max Waltham knows how to make women excel in the ring. WWE just haven't a clue at this point. Stubborn is not the word. Now, they look like fools.

Dolph Ziggler came to the ring braided up like a blonde Rastafarian. Is this an inside joke or something? What is going on? The match however, with Ziggler doing everything for easy going Kevin Owens was another huge disrespect to the business, title and fans. Owens is a disgraced high ignorance 'thing' that contributes nothing, botches everything and embarrasses WWE at the highest level. WWE just don't care. They continue to reward him with the 'Triple H favouritism prize as a friend' once again, which continues to question Triple H's interpersonal relationships with WWE personnel. 

Rasta Ziggles. Yah Mahn!

AJ Styles and Y2J shouldn't have bothered. It was pointless, tepid, dry and boring. It was supposed to be everything but. Yeah a few fans are still trying to pop their wrestling boners. It won't be long now till they reach that point of no return. Both provide nothing and it is hilarious that WWE blew so much money on Action Man AJ, who has been the biggest letdown of the year so far. What a coup, Triple H, what a coup. Stop being a mark.

WWE's pre-selected Triple Threat, where Triple H avoided defending the championship on mainstream PPV, with three run of the mill, overused characters was not its most shining light. Roman Reigns continues to be the WWE favourite but clearly not the fans. They hate him. Hates a strong word. They hate him. Though they do not have any love for the old and bumbling Triple H either, abusing his position in WWE for a nostalgic and quite possibly one of the worst championship runs in WWE history. The efforts to force and build Roman Reigns as the new WWE star, on his third championship run, will not benefit WWE at all. WWE, when giving Reigns time out last year after 'Mania to slow down and re-work him, it failed to give him anything to work with and left him to rot for six months. Roman Reigns cannot be made into a mainstream star this way. WWE need to think harder. Patience is a virtue but WWE fail to have it. WWE can't direct so they should get someone to advise Stamford, but, alas, they can't bring themselves to back their ego down. Its failed. 

Who is this? Answers on
a postcard please.

Dean Ambrose once again worked his socks off, but was always going to be left in the shadows as the spare. That sums up his WWE career. An extra. 

Brock Lesnar decided to show up for once and take time off his farm to do a few suplexes and then sit out for Reigns to look powerful. Lesnar has been overdone already too. Fans want something new, and WWE don't have it.

A filler match to end all fillers. Charming. WWE coining it in with no drive. Why are fans leaving the poorly produced shows? 

The late addition of the singles match was a good filler, but sadly that is what WWE value its stars as. It doesn't want to call them jobbers but makes them do exactly that. Curtis Axel really does have potential to be a higher mid-main level star. WWE are clueless and moronic what to do to make that happen. 

Though it was right to dump that pathetic limp noodle of the US title to the Pre-Show.

Fresh from the Royal Rumble Fastlane was out of gear and stumbled to find its footing. All filler, no thriller. So with WWE's constant flashbacks in overdrive and the promise of McMahon 'being creative' to give a good Wrestlemania next month, Fastlane stalled magnificently. Comparable to a regular television episode, lacked immense creativity setting the bar for fan engagement. The WWE Network stream was suffering immense technical difficulties also mostly in providing the actual show. $9.99? Cheap is what you get. Only in its second year and taking up the regular February slot of boredom, irrelevance and filler PPV for the big one, the 'E phoned in their own PPV. Vince McMahon's WWE speedway is starting to break down on the motorway. Ouch. WWE are still reluctant to call in the pickup truck. Instead he would rather be carted off in a pulley than push forward with a new car berretta and super exhaust pipe. Tut tut. Oh well. Until you figure out what you want, good luck to you. "Happy New Year, pal!"

© Max Waltham 22nd February 2016

All Rights Reserved