March 9, 2020 - Evan Luebbe

SmackDown 3/6/2020

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

Goldberg’s Title Reign

Most WWE fans don’t like it, but the Universal Title was put on Goldberg for two reasons. The first is so Roman Reigns is more likely to be cheered at WrestleMania 36. This is Mr. McMahon’s primary goal, and he figured that since The Fiend is so new, fresh, and intriguing, fans might opt to cheer him rather than Roman at Mania. Because of this apprehension, Mr. McMahon decided to go with a safe option in Goldberg.

The second reason Mr. McMahon decided to go with Goldberg as Universal Champion is because he knew that putting the strap on a man like Goldberg, while it may not be necessarily loved by everyone, it would certainly draw fan interest. He knew that people were going to care and be more interested in the events at WrestleMania regardless of whether they approve of who was champion. Goldberg as Universal Champion will surely draw money in large amounts due of the level of attachment wrestling fans collectively have toward the almost mythical figure.

Nonetheless, it is almost guaranteed to be a short run with the title for Goldberg similar to his stint with the Universal Championship in 2017 when he dropped it at WrestleMania 33 to Brock Lesnar. The only difference this year will be the man to whom he drops the title. This year Goldberg will help to cement Roman Reigns as “The Guy” – at least this is Vince McMahon’s vision and has been for the past half-decade. The Big Dog will walk out of Mania with a championship for the first time since WrestleMania 32 at JerryWorld in 2017 in Dallas, TX when he beat Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE used this week to intensely focus on building anticipation for the Mania match between Otis and Dolph Ziggler, and the inevitable Otis victory.

It’s nice to see WWE acknowledging the history between John Cena and Bray Wyatt so even newer members of the WWE universe can relate to the story.

Right now, it appears that Mr. McMahon doesn’t know who to book Bayley to work with at WrestleMania 36, but I’m confident he’ll find a suitable opponent to work with her in the next four weeks.

AEW Dynamite 3/4/2020

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

The Inner Circle Stands Tall

Chris Jericho will always be Le Champion, belt or not. He has over 30 years of earned credibility. It takes a supreme amount of confidence to be the face of a brand-new wrestling company, but if anyone could do it, Jericho’s the man. However, I need to support my fellow Cincinnati man Jon Moxley, who is thriving with this newfound sense of creative freedom. He will be the man for at least the next several years. He looks like he’s enjoying his ride on the train of life more than ever, and that’s what the experience on this earth is intended to be – enjoyable.

Jake The Snake Roberts makes a Surprise Appearance

Jake said that he got tired of hearing Cody whine about his situation with MJF. Roberts also told Cody that he had a new client to take on The American Nightmare in his next feud after Cody successfully made Maxwell Jacob Friedman into a budding superstar in AEW. My prediction is that The Snake’s new client will be Lance Archer, who has been advertised to be debuting for the last few weeks. He was even advertised to be debuting this week, so it’s almost guaranteed, the way I see it, that Lance Archer will be the next wrestler Cody will make an effort to turn into a bigtime star.

Now that I think about it more, there’s also a possibility that Jake The Snake’s client would be Brodie Lee who will debut in a few weeks.

It is clearly the intention of the entire company to create as many new stars as possible, and everyone seems to be fully on-board with that. This is exactly how successful new companies operate – every employee from the top down works towards the same vision, and they all believe in it 100%. This is the exact reason why AEW will be successful.

MJF is so Entitled and Unlikable

As unlikable as this kid is, everyone needs to admit that there’s a certain quality to his presence that captivates audiences. He will be a star for many years to come. Although I don’t see how he could ever be a babyface, since he is so brash that he doesn’t hesitate to give the middle finger to 7-year-old kids. Talk about never breaking character.

Hangman Page cannot Turn Heel

The AEW audience loves and resonates with Adam Page and his Boy ways too much. His somewhat nonchalant attitude meshes perfectly with the values of the company of challenging the status quo. Since Page is involved in a storyline with The Elite, a good option would be to potentially turn The Young Bucks and/or Kenny Omega heel and keep Hangman in the money-making role of a beloved babyface. This would make a whole lot of storyline sense because The Bucks have shown a much more aggressive side to their personalities as of late, most notably at Revolution.

Nick Jackson was absent as he is home awaiting the birth of his child.

It looks like Pac and The Lucha Brothers will dominate the middcard scene for the foreseeable future with the formation of Death Triangle. They will feud with Best Friends and Orange Cassidy. The latter of these two trios is gaining momentum every week because they don’t take anything too seriously. A loss to Pac at Revolution did absolutely nothing to the momentum of Freshly Squeezed Orange Cassidy – quite the opposite!

AEW fans should be on the lookout for Pac to get elevated to the level of an AEW World Championship match against Jon Moxley in the coming months.

Congratulations to John “Bradshaw” Layfield, or JBL, on being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

JBL was one of the greatest heels of all time because there was absolutely nothing redeemable about his character. I would call him a prototype of King Corbin, because the same is true with him. The most significant thing JBL did during his tenure with WWE was to successfully put over John Cena as the face of WWE for the next decade plus. This was in large part due to the contribution of JBL. He has absolutely earned this honor.

WWE Raw 3/2/2020

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

Becky Lynch and AJ Styles have essentially the same character when you really think about it, but one is loved and the other is hated because of the quality of energy that each person brings to their character. Becky comes across as very sure of herself and has a great time while doing it, but AJ comes off as very arrogant and full of himself. He seems entitled right now, like he believes he deserves everything that’s coming to him – and should have gotten it a long time ago. To say the least, the quality of Becky’s energy is quite clearly a lot more appealing because she is having a good time with life.

Randy Orton tells Beth Phoenix a Story

That was by far the best promo of Randy Orton’s career. He painted a very detailed picture with his words in the form of a story about him going to a WWE house show with his father Cowboy Bob Orton and he told Beth that he was very touched by the hospitality. Edge told him that if he played his cards right, then maybe someday they could work together, and that comment motivated Randy. That prophecy eventually came to fruition, but when Randy made some poor life decisions it was Edge who pulled him out all the funk he was in.

So, The Viper told Beth that he simply returned the favor and took out Edge because The Rated-R Superstar thought he was going to return to in-ring action on a regular basis after his emotional return at the Royal Rumble. Randy had to do what he did in order to provide Beth and her two children with the father they deserve.

This was very relatable emotionally, and Beth Phoenix played the role of a concerned wife beautifully – with tears streaming down her face as Orton was talking. All the while, Randy had a somewhat deranged look on his face not really feeling any of it. He presented it so it looked like all he was doing was regurgitating information, and he connected to the collective heart of the WWE universe. Because of this, his big blow-off match with Edge at WrestleMania will feel even more personal (as if it didn’t already). The RKO to a woman also fits his character perfectly, as it’s not the first time he’s done that to a woman (Nia Jax at the 2019 Royal Rumble).

Brock Lesnar, WWE’s Highest Paid Star, is fully behind the Idea of Putting over Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36

The WWE universe proved how emotionally invested they are in the rise of Drew McIntyre over the last 20 years when his 3 Claymore kicks to Brock Lesnar nearly blew the roof off the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Most importantly, Brock Lesnar showed how invested he is in pushing the 2020 men’s Royal Rumble winner to the top of the card in WWE by advising him to lift the WWE Title belt over his head, to which he got a massive pop.

The Street Profits will inject new energy into the Raw Tag Team Division while also freeing Seth Rollins of the responsibilities of being a tag team Champion so he can begin building to a singles match with Kevin Owens at Mania.

They will bring an energetic and lighthearted sense of fun back into the Raw Tag Team Division as a result of WWE striking while the iron was hot. It is a very palpable feeling, and the best way to articulate it is that the WWE universe resonates powerfully with their joyous energy.

I couldn’t understand why Vince McMahon decided to go with Rollins and Murphy as Raw Tag Team Champions as opposed to an actual tag team in AOP, but I’m sure he had some reason for it. It might have been partially due to the fact that Mr. McMahon doesn’t view tag team wrestling to be a very big draw. He believes that most WWE fans attend shows to see their favorite singles stars in action, and, at least in my opinion, he is exactly right in that thinking.

AEW Revolution 2/29/2020

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

Jon Moxley wins the AEW World Championship from Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho wisely and unselfishly wasted no time in putting over a new star and face of the company in Jon Moxley. It’s occasionally frustrating when WWE appears at times to be reluctant to give certain superstars the nod to carry the company into the future. It’s nice to see AEW provide a change of pace by decisively giving that platform to Moxley.

Jericho still definitely has a lot left in the tank despite already being a legend. He still needs to be featured on Dynamite every week in a prominent role so he and The Inner Circle can continue to help younger talent in launching their careers. Moxley will also put over another wrestler in a major way whenever the company decides to book someone to beat him. It’s still perfectly reasonable however for Jericho to take an occasional hiatus due to his somewhat advanced age, just to give his body a break.

Kenny Omega and Adam Page defeat The Young Bucks to retain their AEW Tag Team Titles

The Revolution PPV was definitive proof that the company is prioritizing its tag team division every bit as much as its singles division. This match was an absolute roller coaster of emotions from start to finish, and the possibility of Hangman Page’s heel turn any week now will keep fans turning in to Dynamite every week.

MJF defeats Cody

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has solidified his status as the most hated heel in all of wrestling. He most likely did not need the victory here, but this win will springboard his career into superstardom. No one likes him, but as we have learned from Roman Reigns it doesn’t necessarily matter if fans love you or hate you, it just matters that they feel strongly one way or the other.

Potential Retirement Matches for Goldberg and The Undertaker

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

Goldberg and The Undertaker may want to consider retiring after they put The Big Dog and AJ Styles over at WrestleMania 36. It makes total sense that neither he nor The Undertaker wanted to retire after the debacle that was Super ShowDown last year, but neither man can live up to his own standards in the ring anymore for more than about five minutes.

From Bill’s perspective, he has done what he came back 3 1/2 years ago to accomplish. His son got the opportunity to see him wrestle several times, and he became Universal Champion not once but twice. It would be the perfect way for him to retire by putting over Roman Reigns. Roman almost, and probably should have, retired The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33. I am not ashamed at all to say I cried after that match because I thought The Undertaker was done. It would have been a perfect sendoff because it was so emotional.

Shawn Michaels was retired by him in 2010, so it would be a fantastic story for The Phenom to be retired 10 years later by The Phenomenal One AJ Styles – who Taker believes is the current-day version of HBK. Styles has even gone so far as to call himself Mr. WrestleMania.

Randy Orton’s Pacing to his Feud with Edge

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

The Viper is a master of playing the role of a deranged sociopath and giving the WWE universe enough content to emotionally connect with for a week but not too much as to where they can’t digest it. Orton’s rivalry with Edge may have begun over a month ago, but The Apex Predator has done a brilliant job of spacing out the events leading up to their eventual match which will come to fruition at WrestleMania. The WWE universe is still very engaged with the rivalry and is clamoring every week to find out what happens next. Somehow, it still feels like the feud just started. That means fans are interested in what is happening, which is the entire point of sports entertainment

Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley at the Show of Shows

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

This match is being orchestrated to create excitement surrounding WWE’s third brand so they can hopefully get the edge in the Wednesday Night Wars with AEW (which NXT is consistently losing). This is probably why nearly all the build for this match is taking place on NXT TV as opposed to Monday Night Raw where The Queen resides. Flair even had a match with Bianca Belair on February 26 as a special attraction to get a pop in ratings.

As far as the match itself goes, Charlotte Flair will probably put Rhea over, because, at this point in her career, a victory for Charlotte would not do much to further her status. It goes without saying that it’s already cemented. The best way she can have an impact is by putting over young talent that will be around for at least the next decade. The 23-year-old Ripley is an excellent candidate.

The 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble winner has picked up all the marquee victories she needs to cement her legacy as one of the greatest of all time; now the way she can be of most service to WWE is by elevating younger talent to that level.

The Dynamic Between Vince McMahon and John Cena

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

John Cena will now have about five weeks to elevate the status and mystique of The Fiend rather than only two weeks or so. Way to be decisive on the changes to the SmackDown side of the WrestleMania card Mr. McMahon! Sometimes it’s best to let situations marinate and give the audience a chance to look forward to something over a period of time rather than just giving it to them right away. The no-nonsense approach which was used to set up the match was a nice change of pace, given that it’s not usually the method WWE chooses to use. The energy Cena brings to every arena he enters should also be noted by incoming talent.

John brings exactly what Mr. McMahon envisioned when he purchased the company from his father, and that is raw emotion. The strength of human emotion when used for the right reasons has immense power, and Vince McMahon has capitalized on that to build an empire for himself. I believe his ultimate goal is to not only build his own empire but enhance the lives of many others by bringing this level of energy into their lives on a regular basis, so much so that it becomes their dominant state. And maybe, just maybe, they can channel this energy and use it to create a better experience for the world at large.

WWE’s Superb Marketing Decision

March 9, 2020 by Evan Luebbe

It was a very smart marketing decision by WWE to not burn up people’s attention spans by announcing the major WrestleMania 36 plans for SmackDown over a month in advance and capitalizing while anticipation is hottest because of John Cena’s return. This will create as much anticipation for Mania as possible and give fans plenty of time to ruminate about booking possibilities and the potential direction the company could go after Mania. This decision was subtle and will go unnoticed by the large majority of the WWE universe. I guarantee it will be a big reason why this installment of WrestleMania will be very successful.

I feel the company misses out on the potential for massive profits when they don’t advertise matches for an adequate amount of time before the biggest show of the year. When they advertise WrestleMania matches about two weeks in advance, fans don’t have enough time to digest what has even happened, let alone become attached to the storyline.

A bad example of this was two years ago at WrestleMania 34 when John Cena had an impromptu match with The Undertaker (which he obviously lost). However, a good example of this has occurred this year because the WWE universe knows about 8 or 9 matches that will occur. WWE is clearly past the era where the WrestleMania main event can’t be determined a year in advance because there are too many moving parts.