THE DISH - AUGUST 2016

I told Ace Masters I wanted to hold off until the aftershocks of Summerslam died down and I was right! In this edition of The Dish, The Boss is out, Bayley is in, and after sifting through the rumor mill, some pundits ask "how much is too much?"

(High spots, stiff blows and brutal intensity permeated the Summerslam card, and the Women's Title Match was no exception. Source: WWE.com)

Many fans were shocked at the ending of the Women's Title match as Charlotte pinned Sasha Banks, ending her 18 day title reign. The bout reflected the overall energy of the 2016 Summerslam card with both women taking their game to the next level--and at times giving danger the finger.

There were times I honestly thought someone was going to get seriously hurt as stiff pugilism and seriously risky spots showed the audience what these rivals were willing to put on the line to tell their story. One awkward bump in the corner, in which Sasha appeared to fall incorrectly had me wondering if she hadn't injured her neck. Split-second moments of sloppiness like this were fixed during the in-ring narrative, but there were moments I thought Sasha got legitimately hurt.

This is my current women's division match of the year, but the scary energy throughout shook many fans, even the mighty Jim Ross who tweeted ".@MsCharlotteWWE & @SashaBanksWWE taking way too many chances IMO."

(Nagging back trouble was hindering Banks before she ever walked down the ramp at Summerslam. Source: WWE.com)

At first glance some may think this shows an underlying chauvinism, but Ross has been a staunch supporter of the current crop of women, especially Sasha Banks. If you try to see it through his eyes, he's looking at two excellent wrestlers just entering their prime, but have been working at the highest levels for a relatively short amount of time. Banks has been working around six years, starting at 18 on the independent scene. Charlotte debuted as a homegrown NXT talent in 2013.

Compare that with Seth Rollins, who debuted in 2005 and didn't become the singles star we know now until 2014. Finn Balor was building his legacy for 16 years before he came to Raw. Both men have garnered similar commentary for pushing the spectacle too hard, especially after Balor's injury forced him to give up the WWE Universal title. There is no easy answer to where the limit should be, a balance needs to be found between creating enduring memories for one's own legacy and planning for long term sustainability.

While Balor's reigned ended in 24 hours due to injury suffered in his match, Banks' fall was already planned due preexisting back trouble.

(The Boss is champ no more. Despite chronic back pain causing the title change, Banks put on the most intense match of her career. Source: Inquisitr.com)

Rumors were swirling that Sasha would join Paige and Eva Marie in 30 days of wellness policy violation limbo, when WWE indicated she was pulled from all live events for 33 days the morning following her loss.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Heavy.com, Banks has been dealing with lower back pain much of this spring and summer and WWE made the call to put Charlotte over again to avoid the risk of exacerbating the problem. While WWE has indicated the former champion will not need surgery, it was serious enough to make this snap decision only two weeks and four days into her reign – and in light of her skyrocketing popularity.

It makes sense since Banks was pulled from television for a month and had a lighter workload prior to the buildup for her title win. She will undergo a medical evaluation in September and could be back as early as the Clash of Champions PPV.

Moving forward, the injury has been incorporated into the storyline with Charlotte, giving a chance to put some smiles back on sad faces in the wake of the Boss' enforced sabbatical. After her goodbye match with Asuka at NXT Takeover Brooklyn, Bayley made her debut on Raw.

(Charlotte is proving she may become WWE's best female heel ever as she and sidekick Dana Brooke revel in the first day of the Queen's second title reign.)

After WWE brought up virtually all the established women of the NXT roster prior to the brand split Bayley stayed behind to be the ring general for the NXT women and truly pass the torch to Asuka.

The pop was huge just like the extra-large inflatables that flanked her as she came down to the ring, hugged Mick Foley and proclaimed her desire to be champion. She then went on to take out Dana Brooke in her first match on the main roster.

(Bayley's debut was a lift for the fans when it was needed the most. Source: Foxsports.com)

Bayley on the scene makes for a smooth transition into another story for Women's Division fans to sink their teeth into. Coupled with buzz around a Smackdown women's title and the return of Nikki Bella, WWE has the tools to book some great stuff while The Boss is on the mend. The Smackdown belt – and its viability will be examined as well as who's going to step up in Asuka City in the next edition of The Dish.

SUMMERSLAM 2016 Predictions

Predictions

Kickoff Show

Best of Seven Match #1: Cesaro Vs Sheamus

Thoughts: Why is this on the Kickoff? This was announced on RAW as if it meant something, but here this is buried.

WINNER: Sheamus. He needs the win to kick off this series, after losing two in a row to Cesaro.

Sami Zayn and Neville vs The Dudley Boyz

Thoughts: Just a cheap way to get these guys on the show. Dudley’s are jobbers now.

WINNERS: Zayn and Neville

12-man tag team match: American Alpha, The Hype Bros, The Usos vs Breezango, The Ascension, The Vaudevillians

Thoughts: Didn’t we already see this match?

WINNER: Team Breezango.

Main Card

Carmella, Becky Lynch and Naomi vs Natalya, Alexa Bliss and ???

Thoughts: Not sure about this match. I am glad that Eve Marie is not involved. This match is already overshadowed by Eva Marie’s suspension and the speculation of who could replace her? Nikki Bella? Someone from NXT?

WINNER: Team Bliss

Enzo and Cass vs Jeri-KO

Thoughts: I truly don’t care about Enzo and Cass, but I love Jeri-KO. Jeri-KO will carry this match, but in a losing effort.

WINNER: Enzo and Cass (it truly hurts to predict this)

IC Championship: The Miz (c) vs Apollo Creed

Thoughts: Very limited build to this match. Not enough time put into this match for there to be a title change. Creed has barely been on Smackdown.

WINNER: The Miz

US Championship: Rusev (c) vs Roman Reigns

Thoughts: This match has the biggest build of the night. Reigns won on Monday, which usually dictates he loses on Sunday. The results depend on are the looking to put him over, or are the looking to punish him more for the Wellness violation.

WINNER: Rusev.

World Tag Team Championship: The New Day (c) vs Gallows and Anderson

Thoughts: Sad comedy build to this match. WWE has mishandled Gallows and Anderson to the point that they don’t feel like true contenders.

WINNERS: The New Day

Woman’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) versus Charlotte

Thoughts: My pick for the match of the night.

WINNER: Charlotte

World Heavyweight Championship: Dean Ambrose (c) vs Dolph Ziggler

Thoughts: Both guys have done a great job leading up to this match, personal Ziggler needs to the win and has more upside for the company.

WINNER: Dolph Ziggler

Universal Championship: She Rollins vs Finn Balor

Thoughts: Let’s be honest, does it matter who wins? Both guys are great and both would be great champions. 

WINNER: Seth Rollins

Brock Lesanr vs Randy Orton

Thoughts: Orton has to win, he’s the full timer and coming off an injury. It makes him look weak to lose. With Brock’s drug testing failures in the UFC (2) it sets a bad precedent, and the part-time things is crap. What? WWE only care about the Wellness of the full time talent?

WINNER: Randy Orton

John Cena v AJ Styles

Thoughts: AJ all the way. Their first match was good, but the Club ruined it. This is AJ time to prove to the WWE fans just who he is.

WINNER: AJ STYLES.

- Ace Masters

CRUISERWEIGHT FLASH - Commentary on Week Six (8/17/2016)

Wednesday’s CWC Broadcast on the WWE Network can be summed up in one word: Excellent.

So far, the entire tourney has been Excellent. 

Through the first half of the Classic there have been only a couple of matches that have disappointed me. I believe there are only 3 gentlemen that I felt weren’t quite ready for this level. By this level, I don’t mean the WWE, I mean the level of talent.

Let’s face facts, half of these matches could be match-of-the-year candidates. Last week’s Cedric Alexander versus Kotya Ibushi match is a candidate.

Wednesday’s Jack Gallaher versus Akira Tozawa match was another. I thought it was hilarious how Tozawa kept yelling HEY every time Jack pulled out a wrestling move.

Ho Ho Lun shined in his victory and Kendrik versus Tony Nese was an awesome match. Nese is a terrific talent.

My only complaint, is I have no complaints!

SMACKDOWN 200 - COMMENTARY on SMACKDOWN for 8/16/2016

200

As with last week, SMACKDOWN once again schooled RAW. RAW this week was a better show than last weeks’, but SMACKDOWN was also better than last weeks’ SMACKDOWN.

SMACKDOWN has one major advantage – it as a main Champion. A World Champion. It has a face to its show and a leader. Currently Dead Ambrose, but it could be Dolph Ziggler come Sunday evening.

SMACKDOWN seemingly has another advantage – being thought of as the second-class show. Unlike RAW the entertainment (BS) factor is kept low and the focus is on matches and meaningful promos.

There were two big take away items from SMACKDOWN. The first is that the World Title actually has meaning. They spent the night building it up, and making the upcoming SUMMERSLAM match special.

The second is John Cena versus AJ Styles. Cena and Del Rio had a great main event, and the end segment with AJ did wonders for their match at SUMMERSLAM. This is their second match, but it feels far more special than their first. This match has had a better build, no Club involved and is on the second most important show of the year.

Once again the highlight of the night was Heath Slater. Am I the only person who noticed that Heath has done wonders helping to build up Orton versus Lesnar?

The lowlife of the night: anything to do with Eva Marie.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
YES! YES! YES!

Dave's Battle Axe- - The HYPE is Real?

With much of the WWE universe grumbling about the recent brand split, it’s easy to forget that this is an opportunity to re-brand athletes into new versions of their old, worn out personas. We ARE making Darren Young great again after all and others who are benefitting from the shake up include Braun Stroman and Natalya. But, so far, all eyes are on the up and comers from NXT. The new wave of insta-superstars are ready to shine but who will stand out?

It’s easy to see that the Cruiserweights will eventually take the spotlight on Monday Night Raw, but the more intriguing picture I’m seeing is in the tag team division. Raw’s teams are scarce right now with The New Day still finding inventive ways to hold on to their titles over the likes of Gallows and Anderson, Enzo and Cass, The Golden Truth, Shining Stars and the Dudley Boyz.  Smackdown Live on the other hand has the smaller roster but the larger stable of tag teams, all of whom save the Usos are NXT born and bred.

Now the question is with the tag belts on the other show, what can elevate Smackdown's stacked tag division and who can be the cream that rises to the top?  With the Ascension, Breezango and Vaudvillians paying dues of late, it looks like easy pickings for the hottest tag duo on the scene, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable - American Alpha.  But not so fast, former NXT champions, there’s one more tag team out there that’s undefeated on the big stage (so far) - The Hype Bros!

Yes, the unlikely coupling of stalwart workhorse Zack Ryder and always hyped Mojo Rawley have proven to be a winning combo for both. I could see the potential of the team when they were putting things together on NXT and I had a feeling if Mojo could continue to develop his moves in the ring, they could be a serious challenge to the American Alpha boys as THE face tag team.

It’s perhaps too easy to dismiss the hype surrounding Mojo Rawley, another former football player that has taken his time developing his in-ring game, but in a recent match with Samoa Joe on NXT, Rawley proved that his brawling style can work just fine with elite level talent. By coupling Rawley’s burly size and hyped power with Ryder’s resilience and move set, the WWE has created a potent combo that is already over with crowds.

Can American Alpha wrestle circles around the Hype Bros tho? From what I can see, Jordan and Gable can wrestle circles around everyone on the planet, that’s not the real question.  The REAL question is are you HYPE???

- Dave Parrish

RAW 300 - Commentary on MONDAY NIGHT RAW for 8/15/2016

300

RAW rebounded this week from the debacle of last week’s show. This broadcast was actually watchable and a decent Go Home show for SummerSlam.

Unfortunately it was still Mic heavy and Match Medium (as opposed to light), but it was a more focused show.

Rusev and Reigns opened the show, carried the middle and closed out the show in epic fashion. Because of the result, Rusev has more to fight for on Sunday.

The Cesaro/Sheamus Feud is about to hit overdrive – at SummerSlam, they will begin a best-of-seven series of matches.

Charlotte and Dana beat down the Boss, putting her in jeopardy for the Women’s title match. Gallows and Anderson lit a fire under Kofi and Xavier not seen in a long time. The two members of the New Day made short work of The Dudley’s and almost sent Anderson to join Big E.

Seth called out The Demon King for a brief, stunning confrontation that sent Seth scurrying away like a fool.

The Highlight of the Night was Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar and Heath Slater.

All three were on point and delivered above and beyond here. Brock even got on the mic! How often does Brock do that?? For anyone?? Slater killed it calling out Brock, saying he had to beat Brock to get a job. Paul was in great form, laughing his ass off at Slater, then cutting a promo that hyped up SummerSlam better in three minutes, then the WWE could do in three months.

The big take away from this show is that the US Title is the most important thing going. There was more time spent on building this match the last two weeks than any other match.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Over all is was better than last week, but was only an above average show at best.

AWF PRESENTS SUMMER EXPLOSION

Here in the professional Wrestling World of Arizona we have something called the Arizona Wrestling Federation (AWF). If you live in the Metro Phoenix area (Hell anywhere in Arizona) and you are a wrestling fan and don’t know/attend AWF: WHY THE HELL NOT!!!

This past July 30th, the AWF put on their SUMMER EXPLOSION event – and literal blew every other wrestling event away. SUMMERSLAM? Hell No. SUMMER EXLOSION? HELL YES.

Before I give me comments on the event, I want to list all the Talent at this event and the matches.

AWF Talent

Keepers of the Faith (Dom Vitalli/Gabriel Gallo); The Bonus Boys (Clutch and Sugar)

Jakob Allan Young; Suede Thompson; Daniel Sanchise; Owen Travers; Douglas James; Vega; Aydan Colt and Spray Boy Roy; R-Three; Lawrence Tyler (LT); Chris Evans; Mystiq; Heather Monroe; Super Nicktendo (Super Chaos and Nicktendo); Big Duke

Exiting Evan Daniels – AWF State Champion

Southwest Dream Team (Awesome Andy Palafox and Danny G) – AWF Tag Team Champions

Alvaric Reiner – AWF Heavyweight Champion

Summer Explosion Card

Keepers of the Faith versus The Bonus Boys 

• The Bonus Boys gained their biggest wins to date over one of the Best Tag Team in the World.

Lawrence Tyler versus Chris Evans

• Awesome, hard hitting match that saw LT barely come out with the win.

Mystiq versus Heather Monroe

• Heather Monroe made her AWF and did her best, but wasn’t quite up to the challenge of Mystiq, who put her away after a terrific woman’s match

Six Pack Challenge for the #1 Contendership to the State Title.

• Jakob Allan Young, Suede Thompson, Daniel Sanchise, Owen Travers, Douglas James and Vega all put on an epic, high flying hard hitting, spill-out-of-the-ring match which saw Vega ultimately win a shot at Evan Daniels.

AWF State Championship: Exciting Evan Daniels versus Vega

• It was not an exciting night for Daniels as he lost the AWF title

TO ALEXANDER HAMMERSTONE!!! (YES, HE IS BACK)

AWF Tag Team Championship: Southwest Dream Team (c) versus Super Nicktendo

• The Awesome One and Danny G rose the occasion and ended the game challenge of Super Nicktendo, keeping their titles.

2 on 3 Casket Match: Aydan Colt and Spray Boy Roy versus R-Three

• Wow. Great match, all three guys delivered but Colt/Boy eventually learned the fatality of facing R-Three as both went into the casket.

AWF Heavyweight Championship: Alvaric Reiner (c) versus Big Duke

• Reiner retained in a hard fought match that also involved Duke’s partner Suede Thompson and the tag team of Mason and Jax.

AWF Summer Explosion was a near perfect wrestling show. Seriously. Simply put, this was the best wrestling live event I have ever attended. That includes all previous AWF Show, all indie shows, RAW, SMACKDOWN, TNA Shows, WRESTLEMANIAS.

From the opening match to the final title match and the Casket Match in-between there was not a bad match on the card, nor a bad moment.

Everyone on the card (even talent I will admit to not being a big fan of) delivered.

The Bonus Boys stepped up their game and came away with the biggest win of their careers against the epic team of the Keepers of the Faith, shocking the crowd.

Jakob Allan Young and Douglas James both shined in the Six Pack Challenge – even if neither won.

R-Three and Aydan Colt delivered as always – but Spray Boy Roy was the true star of the Casket Match. Roy proved that why he is infinitely hateable, he has also infinitely improved since he was first seen over a year ago.

This card had two beautiful women smack each other down in a match the WWE (and TNA right now) wishes they had on a weekly basis.

We had beautiful woman, an epic casket match, and three title matches, but all that was topped by a surprising reveal. The luchador Vega unmasked after winning the State Title to reveal Alexander Hammerstone!

This became the true story of Summer Explosion – Hammerstone is back and gained some revenge after losing a loser-leaves-the-AWF match. Instead of stripping the non-contracted Hammerstone, the boss made a match for OVERDRIVE (8/27), a rematch for the title, and a contract on the line for Hammerstone.

Without any doubt Summer Explosion set the desert on Fire.

Final Thoughts:

I cannot call a match of the night because every match was that good, and all the talent shone.

The show was the match of the night.

Rating: 9.8 (it loses .2 because it had to end)

CRUISERWEIGHT FLASH: THE NEW ERA

Are we truly heading into a New Era in the WWE? It may be, but the jury is still out.

Yes, the first RAW and SMACKDOWN after the Draft where the best broadcast of each show this year. Was that because of the brand split, or because creative actually tried to think things through? Look how the next two weeks went, then think about it.

Either way, if this is a New Era, it didn’t start with the Draft on SMACKDOWN LIVE, and it didn’t start with NXT.

Follow me here for a moment: The new era started with the CWC: Cruiser Weight Classic. No, I don’t mean the actual tournament.

The announcement of the CWC is what kicked off this New Era. Why? Because in all the shuffle of the Brand Split and Draft and claims of a New Era the only thing new (to the WWE) is the CWC Tournament. For the WWE this is groundbreaking – that is why it is the true starting point of any New Era.

NXT is not completely ground breaking, no matter how much WWE and ESPN what to hype it as such. WWE has had development areas for years (OVW, FCW, and others). In fact NXT has its roots in Florida Championship Wrestling. NXT has simply evolved into its own beast and into a phenomenon in its own right.

But NXT has being around far too long to be considered the start of the New Era.
Hell, it certainly isn’t the Brand Split or Draft. This was already done once, and abandoned years ago. How can something be considered NEW when it is a Blast from the Past.

No, the CWC is the ONLY thing new and groundbreaking within the WWE. Tournaments like this have been common place in Japan for Decades, and many American promotions also had similar tournaments (like ROH).

The announcement of this tournament sent a shockwave through the WWE that was sorely needed. The WWE, WWF, WWWF have never done anything like this. Not in a format set up similar to something like NJPW Super J Cup.

So far, the talent has knocked it out of the park. While Cedric Alexander, Gran Metalik and Kota Ibushi have stood out – like many thought – other little known talent has shined as well. Even with losing, many of these gentlemen haven’t just put themselves on the map, they’ve brunt a hole in it.

Just how high can these guys fly? They’ve already grabbed the Brass Ring by just being in the tournament. The glass ceiling is about to be shattered . . . Time to touch the sky.

NXT BRIEF: THE STATE OF NXT

The State of NXT

Welcome all, to my first ever piece covering NXT. Because this is my first piece and because of the return of Wrestlementary from an unplanned hiatus, I am beginning my coverage of NXT with a State of Piece.

Let’s get right down to the one simple fact of the WWE Universe. Week-in and week-out, for at least the last two years, NXT has been the superior weekly broadcast put out by the WWE. Even if it is exclusive to only the WWE Network and HULU.

Where one watches wrestling, or the size of the audience, has no bearing on the quality of the show. NXT might not have the reach of its basic cable brethren (RAW and SMACKDOWN), but it is the better show.

Even a weak NXT broadcast is often better then RAW.

The format is generally simple – solid matches, limited in-promos and back stage segments, and an announce team that not only covers the matches, but gives fans tidbits of information they need to know, to know what the story is.

Everything NXT does is to build up feuds, confrontations and showdowns. That is, telling a story and involving the talent and fans.

Case in point, Nakamura versus Finn, they took almost month to build up the match and make it something special.

They often pack more excitement into a fifty minute show, than RAW does into a three-hour timeslot. The reason: No wasted time on NXT. NXT hasn’t fallen so low as to have food fights and backstage comedy segments (Well, except for Enzo and Cass). It focuses on WRESTLING.

Fortunately, NXT has no ‘Katie Vick’ moment.

What it does has is NXT Takeover! Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger has never been in a WWE ring, but he has been in a NXT ring. ‘Nuff Said.

It can also be claimed that the NXT roster is superior to the main roster. Asuka, Bayley, The Revival, Austin Aries, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode and Shinsuke Nakamura? That is a good enough roster to start one’s own promotion.

Is NXT always great or awesome? Nope. Like any other show, there have been weak broadcasts. In fact for the last month or so, it seems like NXT has been coasting a little too much.

But never fear, we have SummerSlam around the corner.

Sorry, I meant NXT BROOKLYN II!

STATE OF THE NXT: Solid as a rock.

SMACKDOWN 200 8/9/2016 Broadcast

WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF

200

8/9/2016 Broadcast

Heath. HeaTH. HEATH!!!

I love Heath Slater. The guy is truly one of the most underrated guys on the WWE roster. His match with Rhyno was very good and he was awesome backstage – even if his impassioned and fiery words to DB and Shane means he didn’t sign a contract.

SMACKDOWN LIVE was a solid show, FAR superior to Monday night’s RAW broadcast. The focus of the show was in-ring action with limited back-stage segments. The back-stage segments there were made sense, and built up what was (or is) to come, or were the results of what happened in ring.

The highlights of the night were easily Heath Slater and the Del Rio/Orton match.

The lowlight was Eva Marie. ‘Nuff said.

Smackdown is also making better use of their NXT Draft picks with Alexa Bliss and Carmella making impacts and picking up their first wins on SMACKDOWN. Alexa beat Becky, while Carmella gained some vengeance in a win over Natty after Natty’s attack last week. Not to mention AMERICAN ALPHA.

The main event match between the Wyatts (Bray and Eric) and the team of Ambrose/Ziggler – which evolved from the opening segment - delivered a great finish to the show.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Skip RAW, watch SMACKDOWN.

RAW 300 - 8/8/2016 Broadcast

300

8/8/2016 Broadcast

WOW.

We are three weeks into the WWE New Era. This is the first edition of the newly rebranded and renamed RAW 300 here on the Wrestlementary Blog. I’m not just sure this broadcast of RAW is worth writing about.

Once again we started the show with almost an hour of Enzo. Even Jericho AND KO couldn’t save this. I know Enzo and Cass have their fans, I just don’t know why. Stupidity is not entertaining. The best thing I can say about the opening hour is that it was mind-numbing.

The show never recovered. It was back stage, promo and comedy heavy, with actual matches being an after-thought.

The only real highlights of the night were Seth Rollins’ promo and the Sheamus versus Cesaro rematch.

Everything else fell flat, and seemed like nothing more than worthless filler. I mean, seriously, Anderson and Gallows are now a comedy duo? What a waste.

We have Summerslam coming up in two weeks, and except for Rollins’ promo, a couple of video packages, a piss-poor Rusev/Reigns angle, Sasha’s win over Dana and a Tag Tile Match announcement little was done to build to the show.

The main event segment saw Foley and DB pander and bicker, and Foley abuse his power by making a US Title Match between Rusev and Cesaro after both interrupted the pandering.

I wrote in my State of the WWE this past Sunday that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This broadcast was exhibit A proof of that.

This was the same kind of lame, talk heavy, poorly booked RAW we were receiving for most of this year BEFORE the Brand Split and the New Era.

This Broadcast was what I call FFW; Fast-Forward Worthy.

State of the WWE - 8/6/2016

My initial statement on the State of the WWE would be:

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

From Shane McMahon’s return to the Draft and the New Era – what has really changed? Not Much, honestly.

The Brand Draft and New Era may have given us the best RAW and SMACKDOWN of the year the week after the Draft, but the next week – well, right back to the same old.

Shane McMahon’s return was an epic moment. I loved it. I was glad to see him. It wasn’t just WWE epic either, the mainstream world went ape as well. The prodigal son had return, hope had come with him.
Many believed Shane’s return was the beginning of the WWE turning the corner and getting back on the path to glory. Indeed many hailed his return as the return to glory.

Shane was back to secure the McMahon legacy for his children – the next generation. A legacy he believed Stephanie and HHH were destroying. He wanted control of RAW.

Shane literally took a leap of faith to gain that control, and failed. Even though he lost to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania, he was still given what he wanted, RAW – for a time at least.

This is a major problem with the WWE – stipulations never adhered too. Even if it was a popular decision, it was a decision that showcased one of the many problems – piss-poor writing, and something worst: Acting like the fans would never noticed, and that they don’t remember what happens week-to-week.

Truth be told, Shane in control was no different than Stephanie in control. Only this time Shane was the face, flaunting and abusing his powers to benefits the face wrestlers. He was the Authority going for Cheers, not jeers. Just how any times did he screw over KO and his ‘contractually obligated’ IC Title rematch?

It amazed me how many people thought a McMahon family feud would be new, groundbreaking and invigorating. Yeah, this was never done before.

Shane’s return and the loose feud between him and Stephanie lead us directly into the announcement of the Brand Split and the Draft – and the claimed “New Era.” Am I the only one who remembers they did this 15 years ago after the buyout of WCW? And that at that time it was done to create competition between RAW and SMACKDOWN – and handle a larger than normal roster? Am I also the only one who remembers that it really never worked?

For weeks they teased the draft – with claims that nothing would ever be the same, tag teams would be split up, we would never see certain matches. In particular they pushed on both RAW and SMACKDOWN, and at BATTLEGROUND that we would never see Sami Zayn versus Kevin Owens again.

Did any of that happened? Hardly. Zayn and Owens are on the same brand, and are sure to cross paths again. The week before the draft they announced that tag teams would be drafted together. Yes, the Wyatts were split up, but Bray and Rowan are on Smackdown. Expect Harper to return on SMACKDOWN and the original Wyatt Family to be reformed.

What they claimed would happened, really didn’t. Fin Balor and American Alpha drafted? GREAT.
Nai Jax, Mojo Rawley, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Eva Marie? Draft fail.

How can the NXT portion of the draft be called a success when Asuka, Aries, Bayley, Joe, Nakamura and Roode are still in NXT? It can’t be.

Yes, Apollo Crews and Fin Balor are getting titles shots at Summerslam, but is that enough?

We are also getting Styles v Cena . . . a match we were told we would never see again. Plus, Brock v Orton, a match from over a decade ago.

The RAW and SMACKDOWN after the draft were excellent, both the best shows of the year for their Brand. The week after, back to the same old routine.

Nothing has changed. Hell, Bray made his own match on SMACKDOWN – inmates still run the asylum.
All that has been done is a rotating of the players, and making them exclusive to one show. The people making the decisions, those writing the show, are still the same.

Think of it this way: You have a problem with your car. The axel is broken, and the steering is misaligned.

You take it into the shop right? Of Course. Their fix: Rotate the tires!

That fixes everything, right? Yep. Drive off the lot, tires rotated, feeling good, until the car veers off the road into a ditch. Steering still isn’t work and the axel is still broken.

The Draft didn’t fix the issues, it just rotated the pieces. Those pieces aren’t even the problem. In truth the WWE doesn’t even need an overhaul, everything it needs is there.

The first post-Draft RAW and SMACKDOWN proved this. When creative wants, and talent is on the same page, they can put out great shows.

The truly sad thing is, the WWE can put out good shows with what they have in place right now – even with what seems at times to be a poor creative team.

They just don’t.

STATE OF THE WWE: MEDICORE AT BEST.

State of Wrestlementary 8/1/2016

Wrestlementary is back as of this posting. I won’t recap here why the blog was quiet, you can read the good reasons (for me) on my July State of the Master Blog (http://thestateofthemaster.blogspot.com/2016/07/state-of-master-732016.html).

While I still have a lot of other things to do, I can now dive into Wrestlementary again.

Wrestlementary will be undergoing some changes as it pertains to my (Ace Masters) writing schedule. This is a schedule that should allow me to write on a regular basis. This schedule is different than the one mentioned in my linked State of the Master.


Weekly:

Tuesday: The RAW 300 – where I will give my thoughts on RAW in 300 words

Wednesday: The Smackdown 200 – Smackdown thoughts in 200 words.

Thursday: The NXT Brief and CWC Flash

Friday: The TNA 200 – TNA Impact thoughts in 200 words.


Monthly:

Even though I plan the above weekly schedule, my main focus will be on monthly pieces. The weekly pieces will be shorter and more concise where the monthly pieces will be more comprehensive, as follows.

WWE: As it stand now, I will post my monthly WWE piece on the Friday after each monthly PPV. That way I can cover the PPV and the fall out. If the rumor is true and the WWE goes to bi-weekly events, I may change this accordingly. But for now, once a month on the Friday after each PPV.

NXT: I will post my monthly NXT piece on the last Saturday of each month.

TNA: I will post my TNA commentary on the last Sunday of each month.


I plan on keeping to this schedule as much as I can, if need be, I may switch to the monthly only schedule.

Lucha Underground is not on this schedule because the season is over. Once season three begins, it will be added. ROH is not here because I do not get it in my area, but I may – when I can – join ROH’s website. If I do, it will be added.

This Schedule begins next Tuesday, August 9th.

For this week expect a State of the WWE (Friday), State of NXT (Saturday) and State of TNA (Sunday), plus my thoughts on this past weekend’s Arizona Wrestling Federation’s epic Summer Explosion event.

Also, be prepared for the return of the Diva Dish! And hopeful for the return of Dave’s Battle Axe!

One last thing, a quick word on what Wrestlementary is.

This is not a review blog. You will not see a blow-by-blow 3000-words recap of RAW, Smackdown or any event. There are plenty of those out there. This is also not a news only blog, there are plenty of those that present the same news over and over. Although there will be reviews and news posts

This is a site were we focus on presenting commentary, opinions, thoughts and editorials.

And if you don’t like that . . . well . . . I have one word for you:
SO?

Ace Masters