Cesaro: The Curse of the "Start/Stop" Push

 

"If Cesaro can't be put into a position, either as a fan favourite or a villain, to be an impactful talent in WWE, it will be a real head scratcher." - Jim Ross (Feb, 2014)

The Neutralizer.

 

The Giant Swing.

 

The Flapjack into a "Very" European Uppercut.

 

The Dead-Weight Gut-Rench Suplex

 

The Super SUPER-Plex from the Apron into the ring.

 

All these are trademarks of one man and one man only...

 

CESARO.

 

Not Antonio Cesaro. Just...CESARO.

 

There's no doubt in the minds of many that Cesaro is destined for greatness in the field of pro wrestling. His size. His look. His strength. His presence. His agility. His uncanny technical ability between the ropes. His ability to gel with WWE's top stars "with the lights on bright". The list goes on and on and on...

All of these qualities should make for an easy transition into WWE main event status.

 

I emphaize the "should".

 

While all of Cesaro's positives ring true, "you can't make a living off potential" as Jim Ross always used to say. Now, in most cases JR referred to talent needing a personal drive to turn potential into legitimate success. However, in this case, Cesaro HAS that drive. He HAS the passion. His undeniable work rate is evidence enough of this. So why isn’t the “Swedish Superman” currently a dominant force in the upper echelon of WWE?

 

The answer, unfortunately, lies with WWE itself and its obsession with what I call the "Start/Stop" push of their talent.

 

Let me explain...

 

For many years, WWE has made a habit of getting behind particular guys/girls...only to change their mind at a time when it feels the talent are on the cusp of "breaking through” to the "next level".

 

This disruption in momentum ultimately sees the fans loose faith and interest in the "pushed" superstar, making it very hard for them to make it anywhere past mid-card status. Sure, a handful can overcome this schizophrenic mentality and becoming someone in WWE. But, as we live in the age of sound bites, most only get a handful of chances to impress. As a result of this "Start/Stop" mentality rearing its ugly head often in WWE, current day fans become very hard to please. This is due to most audiences being conditioned to expect that the guy/girl they love will eventually fall flat on their face just they are beginning to get behind them. Thus, its harder than ever for new superstars to get over in 2014.

 

 

 

 

The hardships attached to getting over are due to history being riddled with “Start/Stop” pushes. Look at Kofi Kingston in 2009. This is a guy who, to this day, still has all the makings of a perfect Ricky Steamboat-esc babyace. However, the WWE machine has "Start/Stop"ed this man so much over the last 6 years that its hard for fans not to see him as anything but a geek.

 

After his gutsy win at Survivor Series 09, it felt like Kingston was on the cusp of becoming a new star fans could invest in. Like Cesaro, he was athletic, he was energetic and he was a helluva hand when it came to grappling. To WWE's credit, they set up his initial push perfectly:

 

1) Have Kofi eliminate two former World Champions in 6 seconds to be named Sole Survivor for his team at SS 09.

 

2) Make sure Kofi wins match after match on RAW and Smackdown.

 

3) Set up a situation in Madison Square Garden where Kofi DESTROYS Randy Orton, setting up an eventual 1-on-1 match between the "up-and-comer" vs the established veteran at TLC 09.

 

 

 

 

If we went by traditional booking trends, we would expect Kofi to go over. Fans cheer as a brand new WWE hero is born right? WRONG. Instead of establishing a new star, WWE changed their mind of Kingston, having him loose clean to Orton via an RKO live on PPV. Backstage politics over Orton not liking Kofi or not, timing is everything in pro-wrestling and Kofi's time had come and gone. This PPV was immediately followed by losses to Orton's Legacy members who, at the time, were nowhere near at the level that Kingston was. Once Kofi was paired with fellow-floundering babyface CM Punk to pursue the Tag Team Titles, it was obvious WWE was done with the Kingston project. Subsequently, it became obvious to WWE fans that Kingston was nothing more than a mid-carder after all.

 



To this day, Kofi gets mini-pushes that, on paper, sound great for generating some interest back on the man from Ghana, West Africa. His EXCELLENT match with Cesaro for the US Championship and post-match interview on Main Event last year was WWE's latest attempt of this. However, the "WWE Universe" responded to this latest push and US Championship win with their remotes. As a result, Kofi's TV segments bombed in the ratings, leaving Kingston back where he started.

 

Once a geek, always a geek under WWE's "Start/Stop” movement.

 

 

 

 

As stated before, there are examples of superstars overcoming this problematic mentality in WWE. CM Punk is probably the best example of someone fighting this crooked system and making noise in an effort to get what he wanted. Sure, Punk's antics always walk on a thin line between arguing for business sake and arguing for egotistical sake. But in the case of forcing the WWE to quit "Start/Stop"ing him, many consider his actions justified.

 

For too long, Punk was given the proverbial "Brass Ring", only to have a sub-par effort put behind him to make him credible in the eyes of the fans. For example, his 1st World Championship reign was a joke in all respects. Yes, he got the belt, but its all about how your portrayed after the fact that truly counts. His only decisive win on PPV was against JBL at The Bash 08 and it wasn't even THE main event of the show. After that it was lame DQ finishes against established stars like Batista. Worse yet, he never officially lost the World Title, having to relinquish the belt after a lame injury angle involving Orton that was never properly paid off. Include his brief/insignificant run as leader of "The New Nexus" and the sudden dispersion of "The Straight Edge Society" and you had a career littered with "Start/Stop" antics.

 

What turned it around for Punk was, of course, the infamous promo pre- Money In The Bank 2011. The promo was as real as it gets, as he boldly ran down the company for many idiotic decisions and truths that we could all relate to when it came to WWE's flippant direction. What’s important to note here is that it took Punk getting to the point that he didn’t care if he was fired or not to get WWE to take him seriously as a legit pro-wrestling draw. In short, he had to RISK HIS JOB to wake Vince and Triple H to what we already knew about Punk: that he was a bonafide main eventer. The end result? Punk went on to Money In The Bank 2011, won the WWE Championship from John Cena in his hometown of Chicago, and solidified himself as a legit star in the company.

 

We have to ask ourselves, is that what it takes to avoid this "Start/Stop" mentality in WWE? Risking one's livelihood to get a proper push in the company?

 

Lets fast forward to current day. When it comes to Cesaro and his recent ascendance in WWE, it certainly seemed to many that the man was on the cusp of greatness. We had seen the former "Kings of Wrestling" member match up against Kofi on Main Event last year and we all took notes on this man’s incredible ability in the ring. From there, it was almost like Cesaro was building a portfolio of moves that fans could relate to when they thought about the Swedish Superman. From The Neutralizer to The Giant Swing, fans began to come to live events looking forward to cheer on these feats of strength.

 

 

 

 

These elements were all great, but most fans properly took noticed of Cesaro when he pinned World Champion Randy Orton clean with a Neutralizer 1-2-3 on Smackdown (Feb 14th, 2014). The booking seemed simple and "old school": have an up-and-comer defeat the champ in convincing fashion so to establish an effective "rub". Fans were shocked and suddenly saw this “Real American” tag team wrestler in a completely different light. They followed this tremendous performance with another tremendous performance from Cesaro against "Mr. Main Event" John Cena on RAW the next week. Just like his previous encounter with Orton, Cesaro held his own and looked incredible. Sure, he lost, but Cena gave him a massive "rub" on prime time television and Cesaro's in-ring skills did the rest. Cesaro, to the "WWE Universe", was, seemingly a made man.

 

All that was left was to break him away from the stagnant "Real Americans". As far as storytelling goes, it was the most logical thing to do: turn Cesaro babyface, fight Swagger and WIN at Wrestlemania and then go from there into the main event picture. For the first couple of weeks, Swagger and Cesaro seemed to be moving down that road. Then, all of a sudden, plans changed and Vince shifted the whole Wrestlemania undercard around. Tag teams were taken out of the Andre Battle Royal and put into different matches, The Shield stopped breaking up and suddenly, there was no animosity between "The Real Americans". In fact, Cesaro and Swagger were added to the Wrestlemania card. NOT as adversaries, but as a TAG TEAM in the Tag Title 3-way.

 

Cesaro had been "Start/Stop"ed due to a lack of foresight by Vince and WWE creative.

 

You might be saying that this example of "Start/Stop"ing isnt as bad as Kofi's or Punks. But, if history is anything to go by, this is where problems could start forming for Cesaro's eventual rise. Putting the man back into "The Real Americans" does nothing but slow down the great momentum gained from the two career making matches he had with WWE's two top stars. We go from considering him a hot new singles star, back to seeing him as a guy that's been part of a team that’s come nowhere near winning the Tag Titles. It’s a terrible move on WWE’s part and one they need to rectify ASAP.

 

Yes, the cream should rise to the top in most situations. But, like i said before, you get a handful of opportunities to impress and take that next step.

 

 

In the end, when it comes to Cesaro, one fact still remains in spite of WWE’s “Start/Stop” fascination:

 

"If Cesaro can't be put into a position, either as a fan favorite or a villain, to be an impactful talent in WWE, it will be a real head scratcher." - Jim Ross (Feb, 2014)

 

 

Thanks for reading folks!

If you like what you read be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on twitter @WrestlingRBreak ! In addition to this blog, I also post regular tweet-reviews of every major pro-wrestling show for the week. PLUS i tweet every important update from all the major names in the industry.

@wrestlingrbreak . Cut. Paste. Follow. It's that easy!
Email: obrien_joel@hotmail.com

The Shield: a throwback to The Simple and The Logical

On November 18th 2012, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns - decked out in nothing but black swat outfits- came out through the crowd and cost John Cena & Ryback a chance to be WWE Champion at Survivor Series 2012.

Hard-core fans lost their lunch. FINALLY Dean Ambrose - the guy who had that amazing rivalry with William Regal back in FCW- , Seth Rollins - The former ROH World Champion - and Roman Reigns were FINALY getting their comeuppance on the big stage in WWE.

Casual fans groaned and expected the worst. To them, it was three geeks from NXT being rushed up to not only the main roster, but the MAIN EVENT roster no less. Most fans at the time had lived through the rise and meteoric fall of Nexus in 2010 and had learnt better than to trust unknown factions. As a result most of them sighed and said "we'll wait and see what happens".

Despite all this, they called themselves The Shield and they would quickly become one of WWE's biggest assets since the rise of John Cena in 2003.

How did they get here i hear you ask? By going back and dusting off the "Old School" Pro Wrestling magic book!

Let me explain....

2012 brought with it a wave of change to WWE. Raw went from two hours to three hours. Strenuous talking segments took a backseat to longer television matches. Big stars came back and were used sparingly. Main Event veterans (Orton/Cena/Rock/Lesner) shared their spotlight with ring generals that had paid their dues long before entering WWE (Daniel Bryan/CM Punk). In short, while some changes were questionable, most were welcoming. Call it Triple H having more say behind the scenes or Vince going through one of his "phases", but it was evident that WWE unofficially declared 2012 the year of returning to Old School wrestling.

In many people's eyes, CM Punk lead this wind of change. His 300 + days of being "The Man" rebuffed the WWE Championship to being the "workers" Title as he continually had 4-Star classics with Cena and Bryan on free-to-air TV and PPV. Combine this with his stellar promos and his eventual association with Paul Heyman and you had a bonafide World Champion that CARED about losing and would do ANYTHING to keep winning. Meanwhile on Smackdown, Daniel Bryan came out of his shell with an alluring charisma never seen before. As a slimy, yet technical World Champion on the B-Show, Bryan encapsulated the same philosophy as Punk: win anyway you can so you can remian the best.

This caring about wins and losses would eventually trickle down into the embryos of The Shield.

As stated in the beginning, most fans initially saw a failed concept in The Shield due to bad experiences with faction storylines of the past. Everyone remembers The Nexus. Some even remember the re-boot of the NWO and WCW/ECW from 2001-2002. The fundamental problem with all these groups is that they were never given COMPLETE credibility between those ring ropes. That is, they were never given enough big time wins on big time stages.

Look at Nexus. Everyone can recall the cataclysmic loss the faction faced at Summerslam 2010. You remember? The one where Cena went "Superman", beat Nexus on a 2-on-1 disadvantage and made Wade Barret - the only potential main eventer in the group- TAP OUT? Considering the storylines that would follow this match, there was no way in HELL Nexus should of lost that match. Post-Summerslam, it was all downhill from there. Nexus wins were covered in contrived finishes and fans NEVER saw them as the threat they could of been.

Fast-forward to Survivor Series 2012. The Shield have just performed their first ever triple power-bomb on Ryback and, much like in the Nexus storyline, we are wondering two things: WHO are these people and is this another Nexus we are about to endure?

Fortunately, The Shield arrived during a time where WWE had their creative facilities in order. Like Nexus, they were given a solid reason for existing: "We are Shield of injustice for WWE...we right wrongs". Sure, "Righting Wrongs' via run-ins and sneak attacks are one thing (although very important). However, such actions are pointless if, when it comes to match time, this faction can’t get the job done.

Thankfully, The Shield was seemingly given Carte Blanc on who they wanted to beat up and who they wanted to defeat in the ring. In simple terms, they won. And they won ALOT. So much so that it wasn't until June 14th of the FOLLOWING YEAR that they received their first loss as a unit. Before then, their victories were a who's who of World Wrestling Entertainment including: Cena, Orton, Undertaker, CM Punk, Bryan, Big Show, Jericho, Sheamus, Kane etc. The Shield ran through the complete main event roster. However they didn't just do this at a PPV here and there. They did it over and over again, every single week.

Pro-wrestling legends have always talked about "The Rub" main eventers can give to lesser-built guys whilst in-ring. If the match is structured appropriately, a mid-card geek can take the main eventer "to the limit" and thus come out looking better than he did coming in. Ric Flair made his career off following this exact process every night. Also, it goes without saying that having ring generals as your opponents most weeks means you'll get better at understanding in-ring phycology and general in-ring mechanics. Thankfully, WWE committed to The Shield by giving them that "rub" every single week. Whether it was Daniel Bryan (currently the man with the most matches against The Shield) giving all three a master class in squared circle technics or Ambrose fighting the Undertaker on the main event of Smackdown in April 2013, The Shield were given all the credibility in the world from their opponents.

Unlike the BS finishes that plagued Nexus' final months together, The Shield ended their matches with ELECTRIC finishes where there was no question who the victor was. Roman Reigns can thank- in part- his current success to WWE agents making his signature spear The Shield's curtain call for The Shield over the year and a half the unit remained undefeated. This continual focus on making The Shield an effective unit that used tremendous tag team wrestling to outsmart and outplay their opponents made them immediate fan favourites. Why? Because they were dominant. Because they could not be stopped. Because they ALWAYS WON IN BIG MATCH SITUATIONS.

This continual build of wins lead to WWE having a no-brainer money match in their pocket for whenever they wanted. Once you have an individual who is on a roll, fans begin to wonder every match “will tonight be the night they lose?". It’s a fact that has rung true throughout the industry's history. The Shield had that added aura at every RAW and Smackdown they participated post-January 2013. While WWE eventually dropped the ball on The Shield's first loss (having Bryan/Kane/Orton defeating the faction on a RANDOM EPISODE OF SMACKDOWN!!!!), no one can deny the excitement that was attached to every Shield match due to their many wins.



Thus, as we near the end of The Shield's life cycle on the road to Wrestlemania 30, it is important to reflect on what made The Shield so great. The answer lies in admitting a truth that many pro-wrestling fans refuse to accept: WWE can still book great factions and great characters. That is, they can go "old school" and ultimately get results. The bread and butter of the situation is that WWE took three complete unknowns, gave them a gimmick, made sure they never lost and gave them credible opponents with credible finishes. As a result, the fans immediately gravitated towards the act. This is not meant to be a hard concept to grasp and it definitely makes us wonder why WWE succeeded with The Shield and failed with factions like The Nexus. However, WWE was lucky to have three incredibly talented men find amazing chemistry as a unit. Stuff like chemistry is something you can defiantly not teach.

Like the proverbial "changing of the guard" at Elimination Chamber 2014, fans were given a new act to follow in The Wyatts. Will they be as successful as The Shield? Only time will tell. But, in this situation, if the history of The Shield has anything to say about it, Factions and superstars of the future might be ok after all.

Believe in The Shield and Believe in Simple Booking!

 

Thanks for reading folks!

If you like what you read be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on twitter @WrestlingRBreak ! In addition to this blog, I also post regular tweet-reviews of every major pro-wrestling show for the week. PLUS i tweet every important update from all the major names in the industry.

@wrestlingrbreak . Cut. Paste. Follow. It's that easy!
Email: obrien_joel@hotmail.com

Babyfaces in Peril: The current state of babyfaces in WWE

 

"Heroes (or babyfaces) are an important part of every sport, but nowhere more so than in professional wrestling...(they) learn to entertain their audiences (and) earn their hearts doing so."
- Heroes & Icons (Johnson/Oliver 2012)
 

For the last month or so, Ive been lucky enough to be live at the last few WWE live events here in the US (Royal Rumble in Phoenix, Elimination Chamber in New Orleans and RAW in Lafayette last Monday). Come Wrestlemania weekend in April, i will be at the ROH PPV, the DragonGate USA PPV AND my 3rd consecutive Wrestlemania. From my time spent at these events already, it is apparent that the industry is about to travel into uncharted territory in the next year or so. Sure, WWE are currently enjoying some great Monday night television ratings along with the promotion of the most profitable event of the year, Wrestlemania 29. However, Im more concerned about what will happen AFTER the "Showcase of the Immortals". Im more concern with WHO is going to be showcased as WWE's most beloved??

From where i stand and from what i have witnessed at these live events, WWE is, once again, booking themselves into a corner as it relates to their babyfaces. You know? The guys who fans are meant to live vicariously through. The guys who fans find they can relate to best. The guys that children, grown men/woman and family members have no problem in forking out hundreds of dollars in merchandise for.

The problem is that these "poster boys" are becoming few and far between. Yes, there are a plentiful amount of guys who are "designated" as babyfaces and work matches with the distinct goal in mind to perform within those boundaries. Quite frankly, it is easy to be taught a formulaic way of being a generic "good guy". As Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka tells us in "The Pro-Wrestling Hall of fame: Heroes & Icons" (A MUST READ for any long-time wrestling fan), the "hero...goes out, gets his heat", performs his "one big babyface comeback, and goes home".

However, if being a babyface was this simple, WWE's future would look a whole lot brighter. Beyond the technical and the physical, Fans need a REASON to fall in love with you. They have to WANT To live vicariously through you during your matches AND your promos.

 

 

Look at the great babyfaces of all time. Ricky Steamboat: Through his amazing work rate, tremendous facials/selling, and a human emphasis on "being the best man he could" via a clean, healthy and law-abiding lifestyle, Steamboat resonated with a world-wide audience. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: a character who became a personification of the feelings that existed within every "working man" in the world (even to this day): a feeling of rebellion and liberation that every man believes they are entitled to.

Finally, we have The Rock: the personification of "Charismatic Coolness", a man that, like Austin, everyone wishes they were. However, through his in-ring work and his promos, Rock establishes a human connection with his audiences and doesn't let go until the final bell of his matches. Being a part of something like "Team Bring it" brings about a community-feel to watching WWE programing, with Rock being the representative of a set goals of to live your life: "Just Bring it" (as if to say, bring LIFE on and never give up).

 

All these examples all hold 1 similar trait that is CRUCIAL for the longevity of babyfaces everywhere, regardless of the promotion: a human connection to the audience. Whether it be via the promotion of traditional competition, rebellion, or "being cool", these babyfaces have remained relevant and memorable due to this eternal union with the fans. In fact, Dr. David Reiss, a contributor at Cauliflower Alley Club seminars states "What (babyfaces) are offering to fans is an alliance with invulnerable heroes...its a SENSE OF CONNECTING with an invulnerable hero".

At Rumble, Chamber and RAW, The Rock continued to demonstrate this union over and over again. To be honest, it has been amazing to watch fans in Phoenix, New Orleans and Lafayette loose themselves in Rock's promos and in-ring work. Even for a fan like me, it never EVER got old.

The only man in the WWE to even hold a candle to The Rock is, of course, John Cena. Love him or hate him, John Cena is a bonafide superstar. He is quite possibly the only other man in WWE that can evoke such a strong reaction, good or bad, in any arena in the country. Why? Because over the years, John Cena has constructed a character that is held together by a set of values that fans can relate to: "Hustle, Loyalty, respect/ Never Give Up". By staying true to these values and never wavering from them during his career, Cena, like The Rock, has established a connection to audiences via a continual rehashing of these universal values.

 

Furthermore, Rock and Cena continually ground their characters to some sort of realism: another crucial benchmark of traditional babyfaces. Like Austin, Rock's character evolved from a legitimate frustration with the WWE fans in the mid-90s. By voicing his feelings on the mic, Rock began to ground his charisma within these realistic parameters. From a legitimate gripe emerged "The People's Champion": a man who spoke from the heart and never shied away from how he actually felt.

Cena on the other hand had a lifestyle outside the ring that based itself within a "Hip-Hop"/"Never give up" foreground. After Stephanie heard the rookie rapping on the road to a WWE live event in 2002, Cena got a chance to begin to express himself from a comfortable/realistic platform in the form of rap. Sure, the days of "Hip-Hop" Cena are long gone, but it was a necessary step for Cena to develop his character within the values he holds dear. Thus, the John Cena we see today is a extension of these home-grounded values which makes it easier for fans to relate to him.

The problem that WWE faces is that Rock and Cena are a dying breed of successful babyfaces that people will pay money to see. Furthermore, a lack of freshness in the "main-event" roster and an inability to create new babyfaces has caused fleshed out characters such as Cena to be turned on by frustrated fans that long for a new hero. However, the current available alternatives are lacking depth and originality.

Long-term speaking, Randy Orton and Sheamus (and Ryback to a certain degree) are the closest things to "draws" in WWE, other than Rock or Cena. However, their characters are so poorly defined that fans struggle to properly get behind them. In short, these guys are not people that would draw the same amount of fans than Rock or Cena. Why? Because of a lack of humility and a legitimate disconnect to their fans.

Look at Randy Orton: here's a guy who is an awesome wrestler, cooly ruthless and "viper-like" in his mannerisms. However, whats the emotional hook for fans other than "he's cool" ? Why should fans get behind this man? What's at stake in his matches? It also doesn't help that his character has had little to no direction in the last 6 months.

Look at Sheamus: a character who likes to fight. What else do we know about him other than he is Irish? While a guy like Cena has been given time to develop his character and speak out to actual values he holds dear, Sheamus remains an aggressive, solid grappler without a proper character arch. In the end, Sheamus becomes an above average performer who wrestles, gets his signature spots in, fans cheer along, he tells some Irish jokes aside. That's it. No character, no real "draw". Nothing for the fans to emotionally invest in week-in and week-out.

 

Ryback is much the same: a "muscle-head" attraction that has a catchphrase that is more popular than his actual in-ring work. Fans don't want to get to know this monster, they want to see him so they can chant for him. A short-term fix for an audience that wants a long-term relationship with their superstars.

What makes this problem even worse is that WWEs top heels are more fleshed out and understood than their top babyfaces, making "bad guys" like CM Punk, The Shield, Dolph Ziggler and Antonio Ceasaro more anti-heroes than villains. Time and time again, Punk and his promos are cheered by a majority of fans regardless of his underhanded tactics in the ring. Guys like Ziggler and Ceasaro are cheered also as their in-ring work and athleticism trumps the weak, cookie-cutter babyfaces that litter WWE's landscape such as The Great Kahli and The Miz. However, like JJ. Dillon says "in pro-wrestling, it takes two to tango" and right now, most WWE dance partners are lacking substance.

Whats the solution? In short, there are many. Start giving guys like Kofi Kingston (one of the most underrated guys on the roster) more credibility in the eyes of fans via more wins than losses. Give these young guys like Kofi, Tyson Kidd and The Miz (to a degree) more time on the mic and let them develop REALISTIC character archs that are easy to understand and easy to connect to. Start giving these young babyfaces truck-loads of Brisco/Rhodes/Steamboat/Samartino videos to study and understand WHY these men are iconic legends. But most importantly, give these guys TIME to develop their new characters. It took someone like Austin and Mick Foley years to finally reach the pinnacle of their career. By having WWE cut the legs off of per-mature babyface pushes, fans find it harder and harder to reinvest their time in a repackaged "good guy".

What ever they do, they are going to need to do it ASAP. As it stands, Rock and Cena being permanently injured is an issue that needs to be avoided at all costs for WWE. For a company that has not built up a legitimate superstar in 9 years, this a MAJOR concern.

As i gear up for Wrestlemania 29, an event based almost primarily on legit babyfaces and heels of the past (HHH vs Lesnar, Punk vs Taker, Rock vs Cena), i just hope that Wrestlemania 30 has some fresh new babyfaces that are ready to connect with an audience that is hungry for a hero that is new.

Thanks for reading folks!

If you like what you read be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on twitter @wrestlingrbreak ! In addition to this blog, I also post regular tweet-reviews of every major pro-wrestling show for the week. PLUS i tweet every important update from all the major names in the industry.

@wrestlingrbreak . Cut. Paste. Follow. It's that easy!
Email: obrien_joel@hotmail.com

 

The PPV Run-Down: WWE Night of Champions 2012

The best things come in life when you least expect them.

When it comes to WWE B-Shows, i find myself conditioned not to get my hope up with regards to watching something memorable/significant. Sure, one of my favourite PPVs of all time was last year's Money in the Bank from Chicago and THAT was a B-Show. However, events like that come once in a blue moon. Gone are the days when each of the 12 PPVs of the year provide the fans with a compelling card that screams "watch me now, or miss out on something special".

Even though the WWE Championship program had a stellar "Go-Home" segment on the 10/09 edition of RAW, this "don't expect anything mentality" stayed with me on the week leading up to the PPV. On paper, Night of Champions showed some promise with three main events that - although we had seen them plenty of times in the last few months - could provide audiences with some compelling wrestling action if given enough time. The undercard was there and looked to ultimately suffer from a lack of attention and lack of build (with the exceptions being the small attention given to the Divas/Tag team title program). Although it boggled my mind as to WHY it took WWE until Friday to advertise the complete Night of Champions card, I hoped - as i sat down to watch yet another WWE PPV - that the promotion that i have been watching since e i was 11 could surprise me one more time.

Like i said, the best things come in life when you least expect them.

By the time the final image of Paul Heyman chanting the phrase "You're the Best in the World! " to C.M Punk faded into WWE's traditional concluding logo, i was a surprised and content pro-wrestling fan. This was a great wrestling-heavy PPV that was - like Summerslam- light on angles and more focused on strong, lengthy grappling contests. Each match was given the perfect amount of time, depending on its place on the card, with the WWE Championship match peaking at 27 minutes. From a booking perspective going forward, there were no drastic/ illogical winners and generally everyone came out better than they came into this event. Furthermore, with a focused emphasis on wrestling, the inclusion of JBL to replace Jerry 'The King Lawler' was, with all due respect, a much better choice than some. Sure, his historical lessons left something to be desired (ie i didn't know that Sin Cara & Rey Mysterio were both former AAA World Champions???), but his passion combined with grounding his comments in an 'old-school' theology made for some very effective commentary

With all that said, granted, this was not the best PPV of WWE's calender year. Not even close. What it was was an example of how WWE B-Shows should always aim to be: a PPV that comes after one of WWE's "Big 4" that provides the fans with matches you cannot see anywhere else but on PPV and an event that ensures everyone gets their $45 worth with respect to entertainment. It wasn't the most flashy of WWE PPVs, but Night of Champions was something i was definitely glad i witnessed.

So, without further ado, lets see what made WWE Night of Champions 2012 tick.....

 

Match Results:

 

 

 

# 1: Fatal 4-Way Match for the Intercontinental Championship

 

 

The Miz (c)

 

def

 

Sin Cara, Rey Mysterio, & Cody Rhodes to retain his Intercontinental Championship

 

 

Rating: **

 

•  As an opener, this was the most logical of matches to get the fans excited for the night's festivities: a match lacking in build, but having enough talent to put on a solid contest. In execution however, it lacked polish and finesse.

 

• Early minutes of the match looked sloppy as Cara's offence left the crowd cold w/ little to no reaction. Definitely not what you want from a superstar that will look to take over Mysterio's spot on the roster some day. More insightful booking is needed to get Cara where he needs to be.
 
 
• Mid- match action saw Rhodes and Miz attempt some "on-the-fly" spots (such as an awkward "one-upsmanship" sequence" that made them look lost and confused as what to do next.) With a Rey vs Cara tease that lasted only about 20 seconds before this, i began to have low hopes for this one.
 
 
• With Boston weirdly chanting for Rhodes of all people, finish came together nicely, combining the ariels of Rey/Cara with some exciting offence on the outside. It helped that Rhodes and Rey knew each others arsenal well as every spot involving these two looked great.

• The finish involving Sin Cara's mask worked on two levels: it played into the Rhodes/Cara storyline, giving the feud some conclusion, while making Miz look strong by having the IC Champion hit his "Skull Crushing Finale" even though he was blindfolded. An original and effective finish to an generally disappointing outing from these four. I definitely expected more.

#2: WWE Tag Team Championship

 

Kane & Daniel Bryan

 

def

 

Kofi Kingston & R-Truth (c) to become the new WWE Tag Team Champions

 

 

Rating: ** 1/2

 

• As much as it was a shame to see The Prime Time Players fail once again to capture the Tag Team Championship, Kane/Bryan were, by storyline standards, a logical duo to take on the champs at Night of Champions. A wrestling fan of not even 6 months could tell WWE were heading towards an "unlikely Tag Team Champions" storyline: Truth/Kofi wernt lighting anyone on fire as of late and Bryan/Kane are one of WWEs top acts.
 
 
• I appreciated two things early with this match. Firstly, i liked JBL's insistingly putting over Kofi/Truth as a solid tag team, which they have been since pairing in April of this year. Even in dropping a championship, its important to get over a duo so that their stock remains somewhat high going forward. Secondly, I loved the early minutes of the match which focused on Truth/Kofi out wrestling Bryan/Kane early. This made a whole lot of sense as, in reality, Truth/Kofi would naturally dominate a makeshift team such as Bryan/Kane, especially if they aren't getting along.
 
 
• The match build to all the expected spots, such as the "hug it out"sequence and a real nice "babyface on fire" series of spots from Kofi (which, unfortunately, never caught on with the pro-Bryan/Kane crowd). While it seems odd that, in their quest to become Tag Team Champions, Kane/Bryan would suddenly stop to hug, Boston LOVED this almost as much as anything on the show. In my perspective, most of this love is directed towards Daniel Bryan: a bonafide superstar in the making.

• Finish came off a bit clunky as Bryan threw Kane off the turnbuckle onto Kofi for a surprising 3-count. Yes, the right team won, but i would of preferred a more crisp/decisive/original finish than one that made Kofi look like a guy who couldn't kick out of a middle-rope splash. The "I am the Tag Team Champions" post-match screaming became overkill in a hurry. Going forward, i hope this is NOT going to be the tag line of the team. It comes across as forced and not funny after 5 times!

 

#3: United States Championship

 

Antonio Ceasaro (c)

 

def

 

Zack Ryder to retain his United States Championship

 

 

Rating: **

 

 

• After a solid recap of the history of the United States Championship via JBL and Michael Cole, we were treated to Ceasaro's longest televised match in WWE. In short, he provided the fans with a simple, well-executed bout that didn't hurt either man once the bell rang.

 

• Ceasaro, combined with his "5 languages" gimmick, is getting over more and more evety time he steps into the ring. At Night of Champions, he showcased his ROH background with varied offence that looked painful and fluid: two essential elements to any pro-wrestlers presentation.

 

• Ryder sold well for Ceasaro. However, like with most matches involving "Long Island Iced-Z", nobody saw him as a credible opponent that could beat the US Champion, which hurt the match. This is the problem with WWE's massive mid-card at the moment: everyone is remaining stagnant and no body wants to risk giving some new babyfaces a proper chance to shine. The end result is a lack luster reaction for a guy who knows how to work.

 

• Match built to a nice finish that saw the heel be a heel (Ceasaro avoids the "Broski Boot" due to Aksana pulling her man out of the way) and the babyface being the babyface (Ryder, not backing down, chased Ceasaro to the outside, where he was blindsided, then pinned after the "Neutraliser" Cradle Piledriver). Simple, effective pro-wrestling.

 

 

#4: Randy Orton

 

def

 

Dolph Ziggler w/ Vickie Guerrero

 

Rating: *** 3/4

 

• Lets get the massive negative out of the way first: Dolph Ziggler looses again. Why? I don't know. Are they ribbing us "hardcore"fans because they know we want him to be somewhere where he is currently not? No. Like i hear all the time, WWE have a plan with Ziggler. Yes, Ziggler will get 'there' eventually. No doubt. Whether he will be in a good place booking-wise once he gets there is another story. I've said it before and ill say it again: you can only play the "upcoming heel took the Main Event babyface to the limit" card so many times until it becomes a running joke. Currently, i take Ziggler's many losses as one of those jokes.
 

 

• If we consider this match as a stand alone bout that we haven't seen before, its hard not to consider this bout as a stellar contest. Sure, the specialness of this match was tainted by its many previous reincarnations over the last few months. However, unsurprisingly, Ziggler had his game face on at Night of Champions, strutting around like a bonafide superstar. Orton, as usual, matched move for move with "The Show Off" throughout in an almost effortless manner. In short, the end result was a memorable outing for two of WWE's best.

 

 
• While Boston showed themselves as a pro-Ziggler crowd, i finally understood the role of Vickie as Ziggler's manager. The only reason Ziggler hasn't dropped Vickie is because WWE need Ziggler to remain a heel. Vickie is heel heat personified. Regardless of how Ziggler would drop Vickie as his manager, she would still be booed and Ziggler would ultimately be cheered for his decision. Does WWE's insecurity surrounding Ziggler's status merit Vickie continually detracting from Ziggler's matches? Absolutely not. At Night of Champions, her constant shrieking went against every unwritten law that relates to the role of a manager/valet in pro-wrestling: stay relevant, but don't draw ultimate attention to your self. However, going forward, i predict Vickie will remain where she is until fans stop cheering for the 'Show Off". Shame!

 

• Mid- Match action felt a tad flat as Ziggler went to his Sleeper Hold numerous times and lost the crowd for a bit. Thankfully, Orton is a master of picking up the pace when needed. Furthermore, the perfectly executed near falls involving both men built to a finish where the words "evently matched" were truly spoken. The Fameasser, Draping DDT on the outside and the eventual Flapjack into an RKO by Orton lead to a conclusion that sent Boston into a frenzy. For a moment after the 3-count, it didn't matter that Ziggler lost. The only thing that did was that Orton and Ziggler just had an awesome contest.

 

#5 Divas Championship

 

Eve

 

def

 

Layla (c) to become the new Divas Champion

 

Rating: 3/4 *

 

• The less time spent on this match, the better. The only positive to come out of this title match was that Eve won the title. Eve is hands down the best female wrestler in WWE today. As a smarmy babyface, she comes across as interesting and likable. Unfortunately, i cant say much for the rest of the division. Also, it should be noted that it was nice to have this title win continue a fairly interesting storyline: was Eve winning the championship her plan all along?

 

• As far as the match goes, it was not good! Why 3/4s of this match centred around eve applying Body Scissors on Layla is beyond me. In the context of fans caring about Layla as a fighting babyface, this continual submission hold would of worked. However, this is a Divas match in 2012. A very small minority of fans pay to see these ladies wrestle. Thus, very few fans are traditionally invested in Layla and Eve. If anything, this is the kind of match u attempt to make into a spot fest. Have the ladies fly around the ring in an attempt to make the audience care again. While the match was barely ok, Boston did not care, so i found it hard to care myself. A filler match if i ever saw one.

 

#5: World Heavyweight Championship

 

Sheamus (c)

 

def

 

Alberto Del Rio (w/ Ricardo Rodriquez & David Otunga)

 

Rating: *** 1/2

 

 

• While it was borderline ridiculous to have Booker T come out and "reinstate" the Brogue Kick before the match (you would think to let the match build to a dramatic climax, THEN have Booker come out and give Sheamus back his finishing move), Sheamus and Del Rio gave the fans yet another great match that made me legitimately think ADR was going to be crowned the new World Heavyweight Champion.

 

• Like the Ziggler/Orton match, Sheamus/ADR suffered from over exposure. This was the 3rd time we had seen ADR attempt and fail to capture the World Title on a WWE PPV. Unfrotunally, this lead to a mid-match that felt rinsed and repeated. There is no body in WWE who works on a body part like ADR. However, it was hard to fully engage in something we had seen multiple times before.

 

• The finish, however, was a different story. Sheamus always has great fire when it comes to his comebacks and it is hard not to get behind him. The work done on Sheamus' arm came full circle as ADR locked in his Cross Armbar multiple times in the dying minutes of the match. Due to some slick reversals and continuous emphasis on Sheamus' bad arm, i couldn't help but think Sheamus was about to tap out in Boston.

 

• Like the Ziggler/Orton match, if we treat this World Title match as a stand alone contest, this was a fantastic match. The multiple storylines involving Sheamus' bad arm and The Brogue Kick becoming legal came together in an electric finish. Going forward however, it is going to be hard to treat ADR as a legitimate World Title contender. Sure, he looked deadly at Night of Champions. But i have seen him in this same situation for 3 consecutive PPVs.

 

 



#6: WWE Championship

 

C.M Punk (w/ Paul Heyman)

 

&

 

John Cena wrestled to a draw (double pin)

 

 

Rating: **** 1/4

 

 

• Ive said it before and ill say it again: C.M Punk and John Cena bring the best out of each other. It was evident on the "go home" edition of RAW and it was sure as hell evident during the Night of Champions main event. These guys know each other so well and because of that, we were treated to an epic battle that worked over time on drilling one fact home: The WWE Championship is the most important title in WWE. Justin Robert's ring introductions combined with Punk holding his Championship Belt high in defiance before the opening bell made this match feel important and massive at the same time.

 

• At first, i was a tad disheartened by the pace early. Things were going way too slow and it felt as though there was a lack of direction. Little did i know we were about to witness a 27-minute classic. A note to all wrestling fans (such as myself!): Be patient with your wrestling!

 

• Throughout the body of this match, i was entertained by two things: the action inside the ring, and Paul Heyman's facials on the outside. Heyman was PERFECT in his role as Punk's cheerleader and stood as a shinning example of what a manager should be doing on the outside. Sure, his many years in WCW as Paul. E Dangerously helped him hone his craft. But it is because of this experience he is able to enhance the action in the ring without drawing all the attention to himself. all it takes is an intense stare or a hand on the face to elict a reaction. I also loved his pre-match promo which smartly established Punk as the overwhelming heel in the upcoming contest. As it stands, Heyman's involvement with Punk has been expertly handled and i look forward to seeing their relationship evolve.

 

• As for the rest of the match, it was a roller coaster of epic near falls and creative reversals. Both Punk's GTS and Cena's AA were kicked out of repeatedly and I especially loved how Punk and Cena continually worked around Cena's Five Knuckle Shuffle. This move lead to so many awesome moments (ie into the STF, Anaconda Vice, Axe Kick etc). All these elements made for a finish that had me and the crowd chanting "This Is Awesome". Wrestling is its best when it is like this: two guys in the middle of the ring and you have no idea who is going to pull out the 'W'.

 

• The double pin, in any other circumstance, would of been a major cop out to the paying audience. However, in the context of the storyline, it was the only finish possible. It would of been way too early to have Punk loose to Cena and vice versa. Considering the double pin was a viable call to make in the context of a wrestling match, the finish was logical. Furthermore, in the context of Punk being a heel who is looking to survive as long as he can as WWE Champion, having him weasel out of a loss against Cena was reminiscent of Ric Flair back in the 80's. Fans booed as Punk took out Cena with a belt shot and salivated over the eventual fall of 'their' WWE Champion in the future. In short, a perfect finish to a classic WWE Championship main event.

Thanks for reading folks!

If you like what you read be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on twitter @wrestlingrbreak ! In addition to this blog, I also post regular tweet-reviews of every major pro-wrestling show for the week. PLUS i tweet every important update from all the major names in the industry.

@wrestlingrbreak . Cut. Paste. Follow. It's that easy!

 

 

 

 

 

Random Thoughts: Monday Night RAW 03/09/12

As we prepare for another week of WWE television, lets look back on RAW from last Monday Night:

Monday Night RAW: the new definition of a 'Mixed Bag'

This week's show was the definition of a mixed bag: some great, some horrible.

It seems as we delve further into the "3hr era", it is becoming abundantly clear that WWE production is becoming a regular polarising phenomena. On one hand, WWE hit the ball out the park with innovative/impactful segments that add to current and future broadcasts (Jerry Lawler and Punk brawling in the back or Heyman revealing himself as Punk's driver as a few examples). Then immediately on the other hand, WWE backs up their good work with content that screams "this is pro-wrestling in 2012: make sure you don't take anything too seriously" (Layla and Miz further burying the Divas division via distracting commentary or long, drawn out segments involving Vickie having an argument with a chair as a few examples).

There is no current evidence that says this formula will change anytime soon. WWE has always presented themselves in the 21st Century as a brand that facilitates multiple avenues of entertainment. Furthermore, what Vince McMahon finds entertainment will always be put head and shoulders above anyone else, INCLUDING his own audiences. Will this change once Triple H takes the reigns? Maybe. If we look at the current state of NXT (a promotion he has moulded since its move to Full Sail University), things can't help but look promising. However, this is Monday Night RAW: a show that is broadcasted to over 4 million viewers all over North America. With an increase in viewership comes an increase need to please more people. All i can say about the future of WWE programing in this regard is the old cliche: "Watch This Space".

But enough on providing "dirt sheet"-like analysis on the WWE product. Without being too harsh, there were a number of things, good and bad, that stuck out from Monday's show in Chicago this week that give us reason to love and to worry about the product going forward.

So, without further ado, lets see what was the major thing that made this week's RAW tick.....

C.M Punk - The Chiacgo " man of the hour"

As always, lets get the positives out of the way first.

The direction of CM Punk following his destruction of Jerry Lawler last week on RAW was again, very solid and entertaining. I also loved how RAW started as it followed up on what happened last week, while putting over both guys in their roles (Lawler as a "never say die" Babyface and Punk as a heel "defending himself").

Going into his home town of Chicago, i was worried that Punk would begin the program by doing the old "bait and switch" promo where he begins speaking of his love for Chicago...only to suddenly turn around and bury it by saying something like "you people don't know the meaning of the word respect. Your health systems are A while you economy is B etc". Thankfully, WWE writers knew that it is not in Punk's character, be it good or bad, to berate his home town. Knowing this, WWE creative produced a natural duologue that saw CM Punk embrace the cheers of his home town, while providing a heel-like reason, albeit laced in logic, for not competing on RAW (ie That it was Labour Day and he was going to take a page out of what most Chicagoans do on that day: "take the day off").

While it was an ingenious way of attempting to garner a negative reaction from his home town, Chicago continued to embrace Punk as he walked out of his match with Sheamus, regardless of the mixed reaction. Why? Well, if i were to nitpick Punk's promo on not competing, i would say that his words were TOO cemented in logic. I was personally cheering Punk for deciding not to compete as the idea of a "Champion vs Champion" match, especially between two guys who rarely compete against each other, should be saved for a Wrestlemania. Furthermore, Sheamus is nowhere near as popular with the fans as he should be. In my eyes, putting him with Punk in a verbal jousting session, in CHICAGO no less, was always going to be semi-career suicide for the World Champion (for one night only of course!).

Regardless of this, WWE showed that they were thinking ahead via the final segment of the night. For weeks now, CM Punk has been floating between beloved Babyface and prick Heel. While he came across as a babyface tonight, i have no doubt that this positive reaction wont last. Why? Because, it seems as though CM Punk, the WWE Champion, has aligned himself with....Paul. E Heyman! Yes, the Chicago faithful popped big time when the driver side window rolled down to show Paul E. giving John Cena a disgusting look. Chicago is primarily a hardcore fan base who have been dreaming for the day when Heyman and Punk join forces to show everyone why Punk told the world he is a "Paul Heyman Guy". However, to the rest of the world who watch WWE casually, Paul Heyman is the slime ball loud mouth who took pot shots on Triple H's children. Paul Heyman is the guy who arrogantly announced that Brock Lesnar is the new "King of Kings". In short, if you take into consideration the happenings of the past few months AND the past 10 or so years, Punk has aligned himself with one of the most unlikeable characters in WWE history.

From here on out, you will be hard pressed to find a casual fan who will not boo Punk, regardless of his reasons for siding with Lesnar's agent. On the flipside, this union has the added bonus of attracting the "hard cores" back to wrestling for the time being so to see what WWE has install for the coming months. Will Lesnar/Punk/Heyman make the ultimate Heel faction? Will Daniel Bryan join to make the union stronger? All these questions create an unpredictable aura for next weeks show and other events going forward that please all facets of the WWE fandom. A very smart ending to a show that smartly portrayed the Chicago-loved CM Punk.

Thanks for reading folks!

If you like what you read be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on twitter @wrestlingrbreak ! In addition to this blog, I also post regular tweet-reviews of every major pro-wrestling show for the week. PLUS i tweet every important update from all the major names in the industry.

@wrestlingrbreak . Cut. Paste. Follow. It's that easy!

NXT in a Nutshell 29/08/12

It's all about the championship.

When creating a new championship, it is important to tick all the right boxes so to convey the importance of someone being the first person in history that will hold onto the title. You need to give fans time to digest the thought of who will be champion and, in turn, force them to think about what it means to be the first champion of any promotion. You do this by producing video packages that have relative superstars talk about the prestige and honour that accompanies the wining of a major championship. Finally, the eventual match up that decides the champion needs to be treated as the most important match in the promotion's history.

Even before the NXT "Gold Rush" tournament decided its last two competitors, i envisioned that this should be the way the final championship match is promoted. Surprisingly, WWE agreed with me on every single point. As a result, the lead up to this week's NXT Championship match between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal has been nothing short of PERFECT. Let me explain.

Usually, when tournaments reach their final match, this battle is rushed to the following week's episode with little to no fanfare. The Intercontinental Championship tournament involving CM Punk and William Regal in 2008 immediately comes to mind. However, this was NOT the case on 2012 NXT. Realising the importance of the match, WWE decided to hold off this bout and produce an episode that focused on a final "face to face" interview between Rollins and Mahal explaining their desire to be the first NXT Champion. Furthermore, this episode was littered with several tremendous video packages involving major league WWE superstars (John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler etc) talking about how winning the NXT championship is the next step to getting into the WWE and how IMPORTANT it is to be the first NXT Champion in history.This was exactly what NXT needed: a show based around the blending of current/relevant WWE Superstars with the happenings of NXT episodes. When fans interact with segments/videos involving guys like John Cena and championships such as the WWE Title, the word "relevance" immediately rings true.

This week, the main event segment involving Seth Rollins defeating Jinder Mahal was one of the most perfectly constructed segments i have seen all year on WWE television. With the buzz word being "importance", WWE pulled out all the stops to make this match the most important match of the week AND the most important match in the history of NXT as a brand. How did they do this? First, the entire NXT locker room was positioned on the entrance ramp so that all of them could witness the crowning of a brand new champion. Secondly, NXT General Manager Dusty Rhodes walked the isle, shook hands with both Rollins and Mahal (well, ATTEMPTED to shake Mahal's hand!) and oversaw the match from the outside. Thirdly, Jim Ross joined the commentary desk to add a main event aura that only Good ol' JR can add. Finally, Howard Finkle, the hall of fame ring announcer of thousands of historical matches, came out of retirement to deliver his passionate introductions for both Mahal and Rollins. I cannot tell you the joy i felt when The Fink announced Rollins as the "NEEEEEEEEEWWWWW NXT CHAMPION!".

 

The inclusion of historical figures, the blending of traditional modes of championship match booking and the enhancement of the old "big fight feel" made the lead up and the eventual presentation of this week's NXT episode feel like major historical event in the annals of WWE Folk law. This is something that i definitely thought was a lost art outside the lead up to Wrestlemania. When you take all these important aspects involved in booking a main event and give each one of them time to breathe, you are destined for something special. This is not brain surgery. This doesn't need to be complex. Thankfully, the people down at Full Sail University realised this and produced a build up to a match that was easy to follow and easy to engage with. The story was simple: two men will enter, one will leave with the glory and pageantry that is attached to winning the first NXT title. All involved (including Triple H, the overseer of NXT) should be commended for their attention to details and for choosing the former ROH World Champion Seth Rollins to lead NXT into the future as the first NXT Champion. By default, i cannot wait to see what the next episode of NXT will bring. Tremendous job WWE!

Match Result Express:

1: Mike Dalton & Jason Jordan def by Hunico and Camacho (**1/4):

• Was great to see a return match between these two teams. Furthermore, i am liking how NXT are connecting previous matches together into a coherent, simple storyline. This week, Hunico and Camacho were determined to overcome a team that etched out a "fluke win" over them. Great!

• While the fans aren't completely into him as of yet (maybe due to the fact he hasn't been featured on NXT as much), i am already a big fan of Mike Dalton. Every time he got into the ring, he oozed professionalism and fluidity in his work. Quick and slick, this youngster from Lance Storm's wrestling academy is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

• The match itself was a perfectly fine opener that was straightforward and well executed by all involved. Hunico, especially lead an impressive heat sequence on Jason Jordan, using a flurry of innovative Suplexes and dives to keep him grounded (ie the School Boy into the corner that floated into a Gut Wrench Powerbomb brought the fans to their feet.) 

• Dalton's hot tag got a luke-warm reaction from Full Sail, but to his credit, Dalton kept on track and didn't let the fans swerve his momentum. I especially liked how Dalton went back to the finish of their previous match (ie the Hurracurrana into a pinning attempt) to give the fans the false impression of a second "upset".

• While the established team of Hunico and Camacho got their "win back", the announcers gave us the impression that these two teams will fight again. I certainly hope so, as it is Dalton and Jordan who should eventually get the better of the Smackdown regulars in the end of this mini-rivalry. Great start to the show.

2: Big E Langston def Chase Donivan (SQUASH)

• This was a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" squash match with absolutely nothing to it: Running splash leading into a overhead Gut-Buster into a chest-first Diamond Cutter.

• There was so little in this match that it was one of the worst examples of a squash. Sure, Big E Langston looks like a cross between Bobby Lashley and Mark Henry. However, you should never book a match where the guy doesn't get to showcase his entire arsenal. This was a case of Langston coming off as just another meat ax who can't wrestle all that well and is limited to two power moves. We need to see more out of Langston than two moves every week for this guy to get anywhere near as over as WWE want him to be.

• Regardless, it was smart to begin to build up a monster for the NXT Champion to fight/defend against. If there is one thing that is lacking in NXT, it is brute, powerhouse Heels. If Langston has the skill to carry a longer match, he could definitely be one to watch. The look is there. The intensity is there. However, with 30 second squash matches, its hard to see if the skill is there.

3: NXT Championship Match: 

Seth Rollins def Jinder Mahal to become the first ever NXT Champion. (***1/4)

• Going into this match, both characters had a defined archs: Mahal was the undefeated, arrogant Heel that had used his Camel Clutch to secure definitive victories over NXTs best. Rollins had scratched and clawed his was to the finals as the "never say die" Babyface, but in doing so, had upset many WWE mainstays such as Drew McIntyre and Michael Migillicutty. The stage was set for something special.

• With the fans hot as hell for this one, Rollins and Mahal put on a great 20-minute main event that went back a forth. Rollins' savvy shone through early as he avoided the Camel Clutch numerous times. However, the transition point that lead into Mahal getting heat on Rollins looked painful and came off perfectly (ie a leg trip on the apron that sent Rollins face-first into the corner of the mat, followed by Mahal Gorilla Pressing Rollins off the apron to the stage).

• With more time given to this main event match, Mahal's offence, at times, came off as basic and text-book like. Furthermore, his selling, especially for the Babyface fire sequences came off as slow and lacking impact. We could talk forever as to weather Mahal deserved to be in this final match. regardless, he was a well booked Heel and was able to keep up with Rollins throughout.

• Rollins continued to showcase his amazing ring work via moves such as an attempted heel take down that was reversed into a spinning Pale' kick. The crowd couldn't help but come alive as Rollins contrasted Mahal's "ground and pound offence" with a flurry of dropkicks and dives. This guy knows how to provide fans with an entertaining Babyface fire sequence!

• The finish saw great near falls that tied into Mahal's working on Rollins back (ie via a picture perfect Top Rope Super-plex) while Rollins countered this with his Stomp finisher from the top rope. As the crowd became absolutely unglued, the story of Mahal never being able to lock in the Camel Clutch came to fruition, as Rollins reversed the clutch into Rollins' trademark Powerbomb into the corner that followed into his Stomp for the decisive pin. A fantastic finish to a match deserving of being the first NXT Championship match.

Thanks for reading folks!

If you like what you read be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on twitter @wrestlingrbreak ! In addition to this blog, I also post regular tweet-reviews of every major pro-wrestling show for the week. PLUS i tweet every important update from all the major names in the industry.

@wrestlingrbreak . Cut. Paste. Follow. It's that easy!