It’s sort of a strange time to have a PPV especially one as huge as “Hell
In a Cell”. We’re one week into the “new era” of televised professional
wrestling. Next week there will be a WWE “draft” to create a “hard split”
between the brands. Sorry for all the quotation marks but this is the WWE. Not
only does that lead to some confusion regarding championship matches but, as I
write this, there are only four announced matches for the PPV making it feel
more like an episode of RAW or SMACKDOWN than a big Sunday event.
No tag championships, mid-card titles nor (and unlikely) a Lesnar
defense of that ridiculous end to Kofi’s run (watch him leap into Brock’s arms
for the F5) have been announced. I cannot think of anything ever like this and
this is the WWE where sense is left at the doorstep. I’m thinking the brand
split lasts two months at best.
Well, here’s what we know so far with predictions and “Holy Shit” (💩 ™) expectations. I
will update as more is announced.
SETH V. THE FIEND WYATT
I guess I’m in the minority on this. I don’t know how you give the belt
to a gimmick like this and sustain it for any period of time. Wyatt has had
many opportunities to take it to the next level and generally falls short. This
probably won’t be a wrestling match as much as performance art with lots of
effects and shit. My gut is there will not be a clean finish here. Seth winning
clean sort of puts an end to this nonsense and might send Bray off on reforming
the Wyatts or some sort of stable surrounding the Fiend. I’m going with schmoz
in a 💩💩 ½ match.
BECKY V. SASHA
This could be match of the night and with all the changes I don’t see
Becky dropping the belt. They will want her with the strap on RAW (or SMACKDOWN…she
did open the show) for the foreseeable future and expect her to feud with
Shaina Baszler pretty soon. 💩💩💩💩 ½
BRYANT/ROMAN V. BLUGBROS REDEUX
Somethin’ ain’t right here and the obvious is Daniel Bryant is setting
up the Big Dog for a beatdown but what if….stay with me here…what if Roman
makes the turn and factions with Harper and Rowan turning “the new” DB into
“the old” DB who goes on a vendetta in the land of the giants DB needs to get
through the ex Wyatts to get his shot at the Big Dog….just a thought. Harper
and Rowen win this in a 💩💩 match.
BAYLEY V. THE QUEEN
I think it is time to give the belt back to Charlotte and leave Bayley
and Sasha to get back into the tag team battle. They are a team that can go
against both faces and heels and elevate other teams. Last time these two
fought in a PPV it was a disappointment so I’m looking for the two of them to make
up for it this time. 💩💩💩 ½
I will update the card as we learn more.
Before I sign off what did we learn from Week 1 of the new era of televised
wrestling?
My big takeaway is that you dear fan have a choice between watching
sports entertainment (RAW and SMACKDOWN) and professional wrestling (AEW, NXT
and NJPW). Right now, the numbers are with sports entertainment although I
prefer the later three shows.
AEW presented a solid first show and, in many ways, is a better version
of WWE. NXT is, far and away, for me, the jewel of all these shows and I dread
Vince looking at the numbers for the first head to head confrontation with AEW
and panicking. No good ever comes from that. Stay strong Trips. The call down
of Finn Balor and the return of Tommaso Ciampa elevated the first two-hour NXT
show. Love to see Asuka and Kairi Sane return to the fold. It’s going to take a
few weeks for this all to shake out. Let’s see what the draft looks like and
where AEW is in a few months but away we go.
