There’s just too much
wrestling. We have definitely entered the “Peak Wrestling” era and it’s only
going to get peakier. I wish I could say that we have an embarrassment of
riches….we ,do have an embarrassment though. There’s very little that’s going
right and a lot that’s going wrong.
AEW is OK and some
sort of WCW/WWE Attitude Era hybrid but, honestly for me it’s not great just
better than the WWE main roster shows which is not saying much.
I find myself
watching more of the smaller promotions like NWA POWERRR, ROH and MLW (which,
full disclosure, I have a connection) and there’s always NJPW. NXT is still
fantastic and I’m hoping their moment to shine will not alter the promotion too
much.
WWE has completely screwed
up the SMACKDOWN transition to FOX. First there was Kofi jobbing to Lesnar, then
the shitty draft, then Lesnar moves over to RAW and SMACKDOWN gets this joke
called The Fiend, followed by “Saudi Blood Money” and finally the NXT invasion
which sort of sells that the black and gold is the superior brand (they are). We
are two months into the SMACKDOWN on FOX era and Smackdown has yet to establish
an identity and all is in service to PPV’s.
Speaking of PPV’s I
wish someone would tell me why I should care at all about TLC this Sunday
especially when the WWE doesn’t even promote a card until the last moment. This
feels more like just another “wild card rules” episode than a major event. It
doesn’t even feel like it will be advancing many stories. For me it’s just an
excuse to make a vat of PPV chili so there’s that.
Well here’s the card
as we know it for the moment along with predictions (I assume every match has a
winner knowing…yeah) and my patented “Holy Shit” 💩 projections.
Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy
This could be the
match of the night and these two guys could well be the future. Not a fan of how
they have built up Black’s character. Sort of silly asking someone to fight him
while “hiding in a closet” on a show where everyone fights everyone but
hopefully that’s behind him and us and now we can enjoy his talent along with
his opponent Mr. Murphy. There is no loser in this battle but I assume Black
goes over in a 💩💩💩💩1/2 match. Two guys who will be main-eventing
in the future and for years to come. See I’m not all negative.
Viking Raiders Open Challenge
I don’t know why they
didn’t save Street Prophets as those guys put on a pretty solid match with the
VR’s on RAW this week and, to be honest, I don’t have a fucking clue what other
tag teams are on the RAW roster so I’m going with the return of the USO’s or a
surprise NXT team like Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic….ooooo I like that. Probably
be AOP with Seth in the Paul Ellering role. Since this Open Challenge is a new
thing for the Raiders I assume they prevail and, If it’s any of the above teams,
could be a 💩💩💩 match.
Kabuki Warriors vs. Charlotte Flair
& Becky Lynch ( tag team championship TLC match)
I’m so confused. Is
the Women’s Tag Team Championship limited to RAW or is it still
interpromotional? Regardless this the match that can go in many directions and
features three of my favorite wrestlers in Asuka, Kairi Sane and Charlotte.
Becky’s OK. This should be a 💩💩💩💩 match and I don’t see what value putting
the belts on Charlotte and Becky gets you so I’m going with the Kabukis
prevailing with a Charlotte/Becky feud coming out of this.
The New Day (c) vs. The Revival
(SmackDown tag team championship)
I don’t care, I really
really really don’t care. Love The New Day but I feel like I’ve seen this so
many times and The Revival are solid wrestlers but boring and TND don’t need
belts….they are transcendent at this point. I’ll go Revival in a 💩💩
match just so I can get on with the next one.
Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley (Tables match)
I guess the only
positive that I see in this story is if it’s building up Rusev for a main event
run or, at least a mid-card title. This dude has some potential and the WWE has
never figured out how to take him to the next level. Catherine is a terrible
actress and I will eat my mask if she does not go through the table. Going with
Rusev in a 💩1/2
match.
Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin (TLC
match)
Another feud that has
gone on way too long and I have zero interest. There’s heat and then there’s
hate and when it comes to King Corbin I’m in the hate zone and I hope this is
the end of it but my fear is we’re going on for a while maybe with his crown on
the line soon. Whatever, it’s Roman in another 💩1/2 match and the one most likely to not
end in a clean finish. There will be dog food.
Bray Wyatt vs. The Miz
OK so is this The
Fiend v. The Miz or Bray Wyatt v. The Miz. Is it for the Smackdown Championship
or is it for the Miz’s family? I have no idea and this is all leading to
something else most likely the return of the new old new Daniel Bryan as some
sort of Fiend functionary who will feud with Miz all the way to Wrestlemania. I
guess we’ll wait to see if we’re seeing red in a 💩 match with Fiend/Wyatt victorious along
with a Bryan run in.
That’s what we know
so far. There are still three belts unaccounted for and there’s always a
cruiserweight match and it’s only Wednesday so I’ll update Saturday morning
although the WWE will be adding to the card on Sunday afternoon I’m sure.
