WWE Survivor Series 2014
Live from the Scottrade Centre in
St. Louis Missouri on Pay Per View on Sunday 23rd November, WWE presented one of its Big Four, Survivor
Series. Would WWE produce its “epic” show and what surprises would WWE deliver?
Would they live up to the hype or be a one moment wear off instantly? Can it
survive on the notion of a surprise when a lacking card was thrown together
around one match and its hero? Let’s
find out…
Survivor Series opens up with Steph, Triple H and a special
guest, Mr.McMahon!
“Thank you for such a warm welcome. I feel the love” Steph
embraced the crowd.
Triple H pandered as he so often does for power. “Give it up
for Vince McMahon!” he said.
“Woooooooooooooooooooooo!” Steph vividly cheered before an
absurd rendition of “VINCE VINCE VINCE!”
Mr.McMahon claimed that this Survivor Series would change
WWEs history and be “epic.” Seth Rollins going to win the gold? Brock turns up
and costs Cena the win, but Seth cashes in!? Surely? That would be epic, right?
If Team Authority wins we are reminded of the late
stipulation that all of John Cena’s teammates will be fired, but not Cena, of
course.
Triple H got carried away and told Cena he would be “personably”
responsible.
As soon as they’re gone, they will be forgotten. The crowd
will drop them in a second. Steph added to Cena about the fickle fans who have
no business understanding.
“Even if you can’t see us here, we’ll still be running the
show, isn’t that right dad?” Steph barked.
“Not exactly what I had in mind.” Vince replied.
Both will retain their des jobs but have no influence” over the
careers of WWE superstars. Yes. Vince layed down the law. The Authority would
run its course, if defeated.
Hilariously Steph used her kids to granddad McMahon. Remember
that promo against Paul Heyman getting a slap to “never use my kids”? Classic.
Stare down with Triple H. Ooh chemistry.
Vince uptalked SuperCena as the only one who could stop them.
“You’re a McMahon dammit! Don’t let me down!” Vince told his
daughter.
Steph was then empowered by her father. “I love this! I’m a
McMahon! Adversity only makes me stronger!”
Cena said The Authority had “No Chance in hell.”
There is always a chance but they are very slim when Cena’s
in town.
There is a Spanish Announce table. Someone is going through
that tonight.
WWE Tag Team Championship
Fatal 4 Way
The Uso’s Vs Stardust and Goldust (c) Vs The Miz and Damien
Mizdow Vs Los Matadores
Stardust and Fernando begin the technical jostling. Great roll over pin
attempt from Fernando. The Miz tags in from behind to battle the Matadorian.
“We want Mizdow!” the crowd cheer. JBL tells us Papa Shango put a curse on Miz
years ago. Quite possibly… Mizdow mimicks Miz who was being beaten down, to
huge elation. Miz prompts for Mizdow and tells the crowd no. They boo vividly.
It’s not Mizdow’s fault he’s lumbered with a loser. Uso’s both tagged in with Jimmy
before then Jey replacing. Headlock on Fernando. Jey tipped over the rope by
Stardust. Cheap, but no rules against it.
Stardust gets a legal tag and brings in Goldie. Goldust
doesn’t lock a convincing hold with huge gaping issues on Uso. Stardust back
in. “We want Mizdow!” One fall by Stardust. Stardust cheekily plays a tag for
Mizdow and refuses. The crowd are dumb enough to be played. Uso falls into Los Matadores
corner for a tag as he battles Miz with great skill. Jimmy saves the pin by
Diego. Goldust gets a cheap outside clothesline from apron, allowing Miz to
capitalise over Diego. Tag for Mizdow? No, but crowd cheer Mizdow and boo Miz
until the tag is made! The crowd erupts! Goldust tagged himself in. Ha! WWE
played you again.
Stadust comes back as the crowd gets riotous with Mizdow
chants. The action between Star-d and Diego is ignored for Mizdow as Stardust
yells you don’t want him but Stardust. Yeah, sure. Goldie returns. Two fall.
Louder Mizdow chants no-one could ever deny. WWE don’t like Sandow, yet fans
are in love with him. Will WWE finally cave in and admit defeat to turn a
positive? Two fall from Goldust after some more action. El Torito rallies the
crowd. Miz breaks a three count. Diego gets momentum back as the pair counter
piledriver attempts. Both he and Stardust dropped one another down. Jimmy Uso returns.
Uso is flung into Miz, on the apron who is now legal but forgotten. Uso smacks
into Goldust as Michael Cole announces Jey is legal from tag from Jimmy who isn’t
legal man as The Miz still is. From knockdown
tag.
The Uso’s switch tags now and then, which means neither of
them are technically legal and doing all the work, but WWE forget this for real
and ignore the blind tag on Miz earlier. This is WWE and their rules can be
changed when they forget things for a ‘moment’ in the match. It makes them look
sloppy.
El Torito then took the stage and launched onto everyone.
Goldust stops his top turnbuckle climb. One of the Uso’s splashes heavy on
Goldust. The Miz tags in quickly like a rat to grab the win but Mizdow tags in
and covers Goldust to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. The Miz is shocked at
the pin taken by his stunt double but grabs the titles and celebrates his easy opportunity
to brag. Clearly WWE are going for the Kane/Daniel Bryan dysfunction angle
again. Miz behaved more like Bryan too doing the jumping belt snatching and
pandering for cheers. Mizdow was cheered, Miz was not. Selfish Miz keeps
holding both the titles for himself. Not the best way to sell the tag titles.
Adam Rose is backstage selling
merchandise with his Bunny and loser extras. Speaking of which, Titus and
Slater enter to mock Rose. Rose showed a level of bitterness and possible
change. As predictable and lacking is the card, Rose challenged a tag match for
later in the evening. A thrown together card is not any chance “epic.”
Traditional Divas 4 on 4 Elimination
match
Paige, Cameron, Summer Rae and
Layla Vs Natalya w/ Tyson Kidd, Naomi, Emma and Alicia Fox
Summer Rae and Layla have
magically turned nasty again after being lovely. Huh?
Paige takes the lead with Natalya
guiding her to try and wrestle a non-flunkie match. Natalya uses weak non-connective
knees. Baseball slide into Paige outside was ruined by Paige not selling and
waiting to move and fall down with no effect. Layla tagged in. Missed kick as
Emma comes in. Good roll over and back fling from Emma. Strong counters for
both. Emma showing promise. Layla fighting for her place not to be sacked.
Paige back in when Emma is beat down. Fluke opportunist uses weak knees on Emma
who is convincing and smashes Paige back with a forearm. Paige uses the hair grab
and calls her a “stupid cow” as they go to the top. Emma perfectly swings a
suplex. Paige tags Cameron who barbs down on Emma. Slaps Emma after placing her
on ropes from outside. “We want Mizdow!” Cameron fails to take the pin on Emma
at two. Cameron tries but looks unconvincing just holding arms back and sitting
there. Bland. Emma gets a little fan support and makes her way to the corner
while fighting back technically. Naomi rips down Cameron, but walks into a gut
kick. Reverses fling up backdrop. Alicia Fox in as Summer Rae runs in. Emma
shoves her out. Natalya swing clotheslines Paige. The show is all messed now as
Nat tries to stop Cameron who gets running bulldog. Cameron loses sight and
Naomi rolls over Cameron to eliminate her.
Summer Rae screams as Naomi
almost face down dropkicks her. The Kelly Kelly clones won’t work at this rate.
Don’t copy it. Career will be over, dear. Rae dropped down on the floor and
barges down the rest of the divas outside. Rae misses multiple attacks with Fox
who drags in Paige. Crazy Fox takes all three divas down with cross body. Fox
howls as Layla is sent in. Alicia ferociously deals with Layla. Fine, but it’s
all a bit rushed and too frenzied that ruins the feel. Powerful backbreaker
flip to knee to eliminate Layla.
Rae gets lifted to shoulders and
misses tag to Paige. Paige cowardly moves from a Nattie attempt to attack.
Paige uses a leg from outside to get a fluke attack and then enter the match.
Misses a sharpshooter from Rae save. Rae is back in. Rae bashed off the apron
as Paige looks over her with annoyance and throws her back in. Emma sets the
pace on Rae. Locks in a very good Tarantula from nowhere. The Emma sandwich
leads to a stunning submission back lock of Summer Rae who is now out of there.
WWE should have given her a bit more power though to seem convincing as effect
wore off a little. Emma stops Paige leaving, who is outnumbered.
Paige stomps on Emma. Emma fights
back with a grasp of her leg very well. Natalya smashed with a kick. Nat flips
over a strong suplex of Paige. Naomi misses a Moonsault from Paige’s knees up,
both intended and a botch. Could have been bad. Naomi smashes Paige and
covers her to get the victory for their team!
Pre Show
The “new and improved Fandango”
has been placed with Rosa. Oh dear. He beat Justin Gabriel. Limp shouting loser
Wade (Borette) Barrett came back with some “Bad News” doing the same old thing
as before. Bore off. Cesaro also battled Jack Swagger in a nothing match as
Cesaro is being quietly punished by WWE for speaking up on issues. He gave
another powerful match well.
Panel Time!
Renee Young is with Booker T,
Alex Riley and Paul Heyman.
Dean Ambrose Vs Bray Wyatt
“Don’t you know who I am? Don’t
you know what it is I can do?” “I can fix you.” – Bray Wyatt.
After the opener both threw instant
attacks. “Dean Ambrose doesn’t have a plan” Jerry Lawler said.
“Bray Wyatt doesn’t even know
what he’s going to do” JBL responded.
Ambrose gets the advantage over
Wyatt early on but both remain equals in standing, done well by all. Ambrose
charges over the tope rope down smacked by an uppercut from Wyatt outside.
Wyatt steps on Dean’s hand on the steps. Swift suplex over by Bray. Bray crafts
Ambrose into back arm lock convincingly. Ambrose breaks free by biting. Ambrose
then slammed into Wyatt, stopping his tracks. Both are knocked down outside as
both run a clothesline. Countout begins as Wyatt breaks at 8 with Ambrose
sliding in too. Both go face to face with headbutts and fists. Fast paced action
and heavy hitting make for a strong battle. Ambrose mocks Wyatt with the crab
upside down lunge from corner at the ropes.
Ambrose rolls up after frenzied
interludes. Wyatt is trapped in ropes from outside as Ambrose kisses him and
charges him down. Both are atop the turnbuckle as Ambrose fights off Wyatt,
drops down, countered and the pair swift change until Wyatt chokeslams down
Ambrose in another pressure cooker thrill.
Wyatt sits up top but misses a
backdrop splash. Ambrose tries a two count. Ambrose flips to the top and elbows
down Bray for two. “This is awesome!”
the crowd praise. Wyatt counters Ambrose for a powerbomb, missed and follows up
with a nasty clothesline. Fantastic display. A fierce chokeslam on Dean on the
steel steps outside. Wyatt gains two only. Wyatt gets a microphone and yells at
Ambrose. “It didn’t have to be like this. You and me, we could have ruled the
world. We’re special. I’m sorry man, but you chose your path.” Wyatt them
hammers a fist at Ambrose. Wyatt reaches out for a chair from under the ring. Ambrose
grabs the chair as Wyatt kneels for Ambrose to use it. Ambrose jabs the chair
into Wyatt’s gut as the crowd erupts. “Ambrose made his decision” adds Michael
Cole. The Dirty Deeds of Dean Ambrose is dropped as Bray Wyatt is slammed into
the chair.
Ambrose gets a month too early
and brings out the table. Racked and ready, Ambrose readies Wyatt. Ambrose goes
high as Wyatt is on the wood plank. Dean Ambrose hurls down onto Bray Wyatt
through the table to cover and win the match after. Ambrose puts another table
over Wyatt and slams a chair. The Lunatic Fringe adds more chairs to the ring
and throws them on Wyatt. Ambrose brings out the ladder now. Ambrose sets and
climbs it. Looking out from the top Ambrose stands atop the ladder feeling
victorious in snubbing Wyatt’s hand. Referee’s now enter to stop Ambrose
jumping off the ladder and make him leave while tending to Wyatt.
The Authority line up their
dressing room with a pre-necessary pep talk from leading guru of popularity
choices Triple H. Steph highlights the prospect of earning money with a
heartfelt plea for only a victory counts. This is a moment where everything
changes for everyone Trips brags on about. Failure to win won’t warrant a fire.
HHH will make sure you wish you were instead.
“If you’re not a champion, you
never will be” Triple H says to Seth Rollins. Great way to demean your star
worker. Triple H spoke way too long as usual. They were rattled though. “FIGHT,
FIGHT, FIGHT!” they barked at Tripper’s boost.
Impromptu
Adam Rose and The Bunny Vs Heath
Slater and Titus O’Neil
It was quick and filled a hole,
but what was the point? Adam Rose and The Bunny won.
Cena is seen giving his guys a
pep talk now backstage.
WWE Divas Championship
AJ (c) Vs Nikki Bella w/ Brie
Bella
Brie stands behind AJ with the
divas title on her shoulders as AJ is shocked. She turns around to stop Brie who
kisses AJ in shock as Nikki Bella beats her down and then drops the Rack Attack
to cover AJ for a three fall victory and become the new Divas championship. Her
time is now. WWE replayed the Daniel Bryan moment over the Wrestlemania 28 AJ
kiss loss title change. This made AJ look feeble but was passable. It would
have been far better to have a longer match. WWE certainly had the time available.
This would also have given both a better standing as a respected worker.
Traditional 5 on 5 Elimination
Match
Team Cena Vs Team Authority
Kane, Luke Harper, Rusev w/ Lana,
Seth Rolins and Mark Henry Vs John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Erick Rowan
and Ryback
Having a front row seat are guests
Stephanie and Tripper, The Authority.
Sheamus became injured beforehand;
Luke Harper became Intercontinental champion from a shock win on television beforehand
from Dolph Ziggler. Randy Orton was given a storyline injury to enhance intrigue.
Saviour of the WWE John Cena
entered to huge boos. How can that be right? WWE need to figure strategy than
just hope for the best.
Henry and Show start us off.
Henry runs into a Knockout punch and Mark Henry is eliminated. Whoops!
It is taking a bit of time to remove Henry from the ring by officials but
that’s good for the fact he just been KO’ed.
The group convene as Harper
distracts while superstar Seth Rollins enters to take the challenge. Strong leadership
qualities here. Kane gets the tag in. Cena gets his tag to heavy upset. Cena
has trouble clotheslining Kane but follows a dropkick in decent fashion. Erick
Rowan squares off with Luke Harper. A swift replacement for Sheamus, Rowan was
due to turn regardless, but got sped up. Seth tagged himself in. Rowan takes
charge with heavy drills on Rollins.
Ryback rips into Rollins with
heavy boos. The crowd is loudly intolerant to Ryback. Harper is now in instead
as Ryback dismantles a prospect with a suplex. Kane in now. Ryback calls Kane
“stupid” but fails to follow up with a two fall only after a splash. Rusev is
now entering. Both smash fists. Rusev nabs a knee into Ryback, who failed to
move closer to connect believability. The crowd chant for Ryback only for their
hate for Rusev. Everyone clambers in for a beat down. Rollins curb stomps
Ryback and Rusev batter rams Ryback and eliminates him from the match.
Steph and Lana cheer with the finger pointing “YES!” in joy.
Big Show battles the Bulgarian
Brute now. Show claps on a clutch but fails to follow a chokeslam as Harper
tags in. Rollins returns to batter down Big Show. Kane comes in. Kane hits a
good leg dropkick to the chest in a quick frenzy. Harper puts the Gator Roll on
Show to wear down a submission. Show eventually slams down Harper to be free.
IC loser Ziggler comes in now. Ziggs knocks Rollins off he apron and walks into
a sidewalk slam from Harper for a close two pin. Rollins is back in. Rusev is
back in.
Kane deals with Ziggles. Hard
back slam swish which Cole says is the side walk slam. Not quite. Big Boot. Two
fall. Harper returns. Slapped down Dolph Ziggler. Rusev back. Ziggler tries to
fight back with tappy slaps as Rusev holds Ziggler over the top rope and knee
jerks him hard. Seth deals now. Ziggler taking a pasting. Rollins smashed
Ziggler into the corner post. It should have been three but two fall followed.
Rusev applies an arm hold submission around the body well. Dolph jumps over
Rusev and lands a DDT. Cena gets the tag and destroys house. Everyone gets a
move. Rowan goes for a powerbomb on Rollins Flips him outside on people
instead. Rusev high flies a leg kick. Rusev powerbombs Ziggler outside onto
everyone.
The Spanish announce table is in
play now. Ziggler is put on it as Rusev uses other table for height. Rusev goes
high with a body jump splash as Ziggler slips away and Rusev smashes down through
the table. Countouts are in play. Dolph makes the count as Rusev gets
eliminated despite Jaime Noble and Joey Mercury trying to put him back in. Lana
is dismayed. Kane picks up with Ziggs. Cena is tagged. The rapid rush Superman
factor comes into play. The Five Knuckle Shuffle is followed with an Attitude
Adjustment. Rollins Curb Stomp’s Cena. Cena messed it up again. Rowan and
Harper get the tags and battle it out. Rowan on top. Shoves Kane off the
outside. Harper gets an amazing roundhouse kick from Rowan. Wowsers! Kane tries
but Rollins hits flying down charge and Harper smashes Erick Rowan down
to eliminate him next.
The only guy on his feet, Big
Show takes the challenge. All three stare him down. Cena gets to his feet as
Big Show then smacks John Cena in the face with the KO punch. Seth Rollins
clambers over John Cena as Stephanie cheers like nuts. Show shakes the hand of
Triple H. Show then walks away. Show should have laid down to be pinned instead
of walking out for stronger match effect. It was passable though. Big Show is counted out.
Dolph Ziggler is the last man
left. Steph gloats in Cena’s face. Soon enough Authority stronghold Kane
gets eliminated by Dolph. Luke Harper then gets eliminated by Ziggler in
quick fashion. Rollins is left. Cheap
roll up and a close two fall on Rollins from chance move by spot monkey
Ziggler.
Ziggler climbs up top. Rollins
jump misses and is knocked by a Fame Asser by Ziggs. Mercury comes in as
Ziggler attacks. Two fall cover as Triple H sneakily pulls the ref out. It was
rather stupid to let Rollins look so weak to punitive Ziggler. Noble and
Mercury get stopped by Ziggler and knocked into Stephanie on the apron off into
HHH outside. The Authority is down. Superkick to Mercury but Dolph misses
Rollins. Many interactions as Ziggler gets another pin on Seth. Triple H then
punches ref Rod Zapata. You b*tch. Lol. Triple H clotheslines down Ziggler.
Hunter smashes down the Pedigree on Ziggs to keep his power. Triple H places
Rollins over Ziggler as a ref arrives. Scott Armstrong arrives for The Authority
and then WWE bring out… Sting!
WCW’s own has been and failed TNA
washed up ignorance arrived. The rip-off Undertaker and modern age Max Waltham
black and white paint charade arrived. The self-professed ICW got their boners.
Look at bigger picture once the novelty wears off. It was a very lukewarm
entrance to arrive, stand, stare down, attack Triple H and leave.
HHH lunges for Sting. Sting then
backdrops Triple H. Sting then places Ziggler over Seth Rollins who are still
somehow out of it for a good three to five minutes at least. Dolph Ziggler gets
the cheap victory over Seth Rollins and survives by the skin of his
fluke teeth. John Cena congratulates Ziggler who won thanks to Sting, an
ignorant, honourable man helping him cheat.
Stephanie awakes to shock and
realisation.
Oh No, No, Nooooooooooooooo!
NaNaNaNahhh….
Both realise their power days are
over. It’s back to running NXT Tripper.
“NaNaNaNa…” the crowd sing the
song as a new theme song for The Authority.
“It’s not over!” Stephanie yells.
“You got fired” the crowd chant.
Stephanie goes ballistic in the
ring! As the PPV draws to a close and The Authority’s leading days are
seemingly over.
PPV Rating – 6/10
Men/Women of their matches – Damien
Sandow, Emma, Bray Wyatt, Heath Slater, AJ, Seth Rollins
Man/Woman of the PPV – Emma
Survivor Series lately has the
tradition of causing rifts with fans. For WWE they feel they can’t win and
resort afterward to the same formula of the past instead once fans on the
internet mindset complain. For fans their point is clear, they are frustrated
that the show became so meekly booked to begin with. It wasn’t strong enough to
gain sales with only Cena and another man of Triple H’s minute for popularity
by using Ziggler either. Fans don’t want shoehorned matches thrown together at
the last moment. They want a meaning and logical point to the build of such
stakes. Why would they bother to fight The Authority too? Fans require strong
names, good scenarios and a level of reason.
Last year’s Orton/Show main event was pants. No-one can remember the
card. This year is a one match endeavour. That’s shambolic. Injuries have taken
competitors away including Randy Orton, Sheamus and others. Some faked, some
real, WWE have no big names other than John Cena. All the more reason to
establish future. WWE cannot make a show with just John Cena alone. Even he
needs people to pose a challenge, even though Cena will destroy all their
momentum and plow through them. WWE decided to combat this, it would give the
show away for free and provide surprises that made it “epic” instead. The
secret, however was that the Network didn’t offer the show for free. You had to
sign up with a payment option to be tricked into a six month signage to aces
the ‘free’ show. Genius.
Sting’s arrival in WWE was for a
record book and money making exercise only. It wasn’t for the fans. It was an
attempt to influence sales of the disastrous Network and enhance merchandise sales.
WWE are desperate. So much so that they booked Sting to try and hide that
notion. Once the novelty of the ageing old timer wears off, what can Sting
honestly bring to WWE as an old has been not even relatable to younger fans and
not fully engaged with the modern ones living out a mild fantasy for two
minutes? Ignorant, self-0centrerd and only there for the money, sting doesn’t
care one bit for the fans, despite his character attempts. Dupe the fans and
get the cash. Don’t be so easily played WWE Universe. It’s another John Cena
moment with a rip off version to an old and modern ball grasper of the
wrestling industry with Undertaker and Waltham.
Absent is the WWE champion as
well, for a second running PPV. What show are WWE running here? With champ
Brock Lesnar already seeking another jump back to the UFC arena, whilst wearing
WWE’s transit championship, WWE needed to book a match or ditch the title from
him in a TV/PPV loss. The title, resigned to nothingness, in no man’s land, is
detrimental to business, company and performer. The title has lost its lineage
and needs to be fixed instantly. As much a supporter of Lesnar we may be, there
can be no reasoning to hold up the title. This is supposed to be the company’s
flagship focal point. No man is bigger than they company, as once noted by WWE
HQ themselves.
The surprise should have been
used. WWE had two or three in place. Randy Orton, Sting and the hidden option.
WWE should have caused Brock Lesnar to help The Authority and cost John Cena
the win. Then Seth Rollins, who would have been eliminated, could have cashed
in a won the title after Cena responds by battering Lesnar. The Authority could
easily have lost and had this in place too, but I’m not going to tell you
everyway all the time.
The tag off free PPV on the WWE
Network all this November was no real selling point for an increase in sales.
Lack of good content was not enough to produce such flocking surge of sales.
Now, with WWE having a lot of performers out for whatever reason and only Cena,
the company’s most divisive figure front of house, WWE still, after seven or
more years failed to allow anyone through the main event blockade. Rollins is
breaking past, but Antonio Cesaro is being blocked. Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler
and others are not reliable. WWE cannot simply wait for them. Calling up mid
card level to main event level in WWE’s mind might be strange but Damien
Sandow, Curtis Axel (quietly relegated to Superstars
to fill space) and NXT fringes are required. More coming on this at a soon but
later date. Charlotte of course is and should come up as noted previously.
Some are capable of the main
event floatation; others can replace them by calling up some but not all of NXT
stars. It has never been more crucial for WWE to launch the new breed once
again and fill up the surplus they take out of NXT. Talented people instead of
silly favourites with no real skill for Triple H’s popularity machine need to
be prioritised. Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Callihan and Kallisto won’t
be the ones we want to envisage despite the “call up Paige” screams for internet
ramblers. They are all distant failures. And they will fail. That’s a cast iron
guarantee. They won’t be the future of the WWE, nor even NXT and were
‘orgasmic’ impulse hires by Triple ‘ I can prove to Vince I’m good enough’ H.
Being good is not hiring what fickle fans bleat on about to feel a part of the
WWE Universe. What makes them expert is finding real, relatable talent, not
popularity or models. No-one said Seth Rollins was the bread winner of the
future except for Max Waltham. Seth Rollins is the only star that we knew had
the goods. You cannot deny this is apparent. Rollins is breaking the chain to
the top imminently. He is the leader of WWE’s new age, but he cannot do it
alone. Cesaro needs the main event boost. Axel should be brought up to the
mid-card with Sandow, individually. NXT should import the high flying Briton with
sheer skill. The rest, mentioned above, need to be let go. WWE has lost most of
its workforce and more likely to come over the WWE Network launch and the new
lot from NXT. WWE would have been in a stronger position if it maintained old
stock with a few releases than all releases to make way for NXT newbies. Get
rid of them all except for Finn Balor. He can wait two years to develop. He isn’t that mesmeric as often perceived
though there are plans for him.
The tag titles were a good multi
match of interest. Miz and Mizdow where the only real options, but WWE are
intent on making Damien ‘Max Waltham’ Sandow a joke character than a
professional star that he is. He is loved by the public for his
skill,(shocking) and is capable of his standards available. Lumbered with The
Miz is detrimental to him. WWE need to dump Miz from him and push hard on
Sandow. Miz needs future endeavours. He has reached his peak and is always
given minor titles that no-one can believe is credible. He has nothing new to offer
and it is probably better someone leaves on a decent note of their career than
an awful one. It would have been better for Los Matadores to hold the tiles. Seriously.
The traditional divas was a good
match. What a shocker. When given enough time, even still rushed and a chance
with fairly decent wrestling skills on show the divas can flourish. This was a
good battle and everyone benefitted from it, even fluke diva Paige. Emma is
clearly a star and worked fluently, technically and was the star of the show,
shadowed by over-hype. Her skill is high and needs a boost. She displayed a
bright future if WWE give her wrestling chances over comedy routines. She has
it.
AJ was clearly going to lose.
Rightly so, the title needed to switch to Bella. If she didn’t win it now, she
never would. Her momentum is high and the title win seems to have repair the
Bellas recent split. Is that lovely? False rumours continue to swirl around AJ
including a family beginning for her and former WWE star and husband CM Punk. Whether
true or not, AJ had to lose to enhance the division and make both performers
meaningful. The problem was making it entirely brief. Both could have showed
what they are capable of to earn true respect from fans with levels of excitement
as well.
The team battle sold a lot of new
talent and used Mark Henry well. It gave them allsoemthing and none really
outstayed their welcome. Well, almost all. Dolph Ziggler only stayed so long
because Sheamus was originally intended to be in his place. With a real injury
Ziggler was the only back up option WWE had. Ever the dependable beau, Ziggler
is nothing more than fodder for WWE. That is never a quality for any star to be
placed into. His action is weak and desperate. WWE should have re-made the show
with more of Cesaro, Axel, Sandow and Lesnar/Cena/Rolllins. Maybe next month,
then.
WWE could launch a new group if
it bothered, but it doesn't wish too. A supergroup of Cesaro, Orton and Axel
would be good, but WWE would have to switch them and figure out new ways
forward. Difficult when stuck in the past.
Fire Ryback. For real. He won’t
ever grow. Do it now.
Ambrose and Wyatt was an epic
challenge making the best of both young and developing stars. Wyatt can’t win
all the time to give his opponents a chance, but WWE need to present him
stronger as a supernatural being that has higher meaning than average man.
Post Survivor Series is often the
‘Wrestlemania season’ in terms of WWE planning. Holding Lesnar off till a
defence in April is far too long for an absent title, no matter how invincible
he seems. This direction was not thought through properly and hence this is the
shabby result. Plus having a star who is secretly planning to jump, no matter
how much we love him, is not acceptable as leading champion. Careful how cards
are played Brock and WWE, this is 2004 all over again.
Once again, it was missed opportunities with a cheap plug of Sting to try and sell the Network pulling wool over fan eyes as entertaining. If the fans are willing to allow
themselves to be duped then WWE will be laughing all the way to the bank. The
only problem is that not only will WWE, the stars and the wrestling business
suffer, the fans will not get any entertainment business or value. This is
because they placed themselves into the bracket of accepting whatever bone is
thrown to them. Now WWE will plan to feed anything it wants and expect you to
willingly accept anything on offer.
© Max Waltham 25th November
2014
