WWE SmackDown Discussion II

[skbucks1985]

Alexa's push has been ok, but it kind of reminds me of Rollins' heel run with the title. He held it forever but they almost always made him look weak AF. It's hard to build someone back up to that level when they continually have to win with shenanigans and cheating and look absolutely chicken sh*t doing it.

But Rollins is a great athlete and a great wrestler, so it's easy for his opponents to sell his offense. In Alexa's case, her opponents have to sell her punches from her tiny fists as if they're coming from Floyd Mayweather.

The difference I think is that Rollins' title reign was bad pretty much entirely because of the presentation. There was no reason he had to be subservient to HHH and Stephanie, there was no reason he had to lose so many non-title matches and there was no reason he had to do the same 15 minute promo to start the show every week for what seemed like months.

Unless you're going to make her a total fluke champion (which is the direction I think they should've gone in), this was probably the only route they could've taken with her as champion.

[jakecronus8]

The obvious story they should've told was Rollins slowly realizing how great he was and not needing the Authority so you could have that big moment of defiance and face turn payoff moment. They never did it. He just kind of came back as a default babyface.

I think if they would've screwed Seth in favor of Roman as the new face of the authority you instantly create two mega stars. Instead they're both fringe main event guys that can be in the picture but never really the guy.

[improper]

The obvious story they should've told was Rollins slowly realizing how great he was and not needing the Authority so you could have that big moment of defiance and face turn payoff moment. They never did it. He just kind of came back as a default babyface.

I think if they would've screwed Seth in favor of Roman as the new face of the authority you instantly create two mega stars. Instead they're both fringe main event guys that can be in the picture but never really the guy.

Yeah, having the Authority turn on Rollins to crown Roman would have been a great move, especially if they had slowly built up Rollins being at odds with Triple H to make sure the crowd was ready for his face turn.

And the main problem with Rollins' reign was the same as the problems with every heel champ they give the belt to these days. He never got to win clean, and so he never felt like a deserving champion. Vince doesn't seem to understand that you need strong heels in order to really put over top faces, and so his heel champs are always of the chickensh*t variety and need to cheat to win every damn match.

[skbucks1985]

I think the bigger issue is that if you're going to have a chicken-s heel that cheats, then babyfaces have to bring it up. If a heel cheats and a babyface doesn't care that he cheats, why should I as a fan care?

[skbucks1985]

Looks like Shane will be out for WM

http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/article/shane-mcmahon-hospitalized


There isn't really anyone that seems like a great fit for Bryan's partner assuming they still proceed with a tag match. Kane other than the fact that he just wrestled as a heel tonight, is a decent if pretty underwhelming option.

[improper]

Looks like Shane will be out for WM

http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/article/shane-mcmahon-hospitalized


There isn't really anyone that seems like a great fit for Bryan's partner assuming they still proceed with a tag match. Kane other than the fact that he just wrestled as a heel tonight, is a decent if pretty underwhelming option.

That's the WWE website, though, so it could be kayfabe.

[iMoreland]

Per WON, Shane McMahon has diverticulitis (same thing that ended Brock's first UFC run) and he is expected to miss WM34.

[skbucks1985]

Looks like Shane will be out for WM

http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/article/shane-mcmahon-hospitalized


There isn't really anyone that seems like a great fit for Bryan's partner assuming they still proceed with a tag match. Kane other than the fact that he just wrestled as a heel tonight, is a decent if pretty underwhelming option.

That's the WWE website, though, so it could be kayfabe.

It is, but the injury is completely unrelated to what happened to the Owens and Sami attack

[improper]

It is, but the injury is completely unrelated to what happened to the Owens and Sami attack

If it is true, then honestly it could be a good thing for 'Mania. Replacing Shane with an actual wrestler would only make the match against Zayn and Owens better, and would allow Bryan and his partner to pick up the win without it looking like they were just putting over Shane. Instead, the focus can be on Bryan and his return to the ring, which is a much, much better story than Shane getting revenge, which we don't need.

I do wonder who they'll go with, though.

[Ruzious]

It is, but the injury is completely unrelated to what happened to the Owens and Sami attack

If it is true, then honestly it could be a good thing for 'Mania. Replacing Shane with an actual wrestler would only make the match against Zayn and Owens better, and would allow Bryan and his partner to pick up the win without it looking like they were just putting over Shane. Instead, the focus can be on Bryan and his return to the ring, which is a much, much better story than Shane getting revenge, which we don't need.

I do wonder who they'll go with, though.

I agree with safi - they end up using Bryan's old partner - Kane. It's a typical WWE move.

It could be fun if they stick Tye Dillinger in there, but I can't see that happening for WM.

[Stanford]

Wait, Bryan is contradicting the report.

This storyline is dumb as **** though. No reason Bryan should be giving these two another opportunity.

[bestnamezRtaken]

Why should anything make sense in WWE?

[bestnamezRtaken]

The ending of SmackDown wasn't too bad, Shin had a decent promo and the way it closed, I thought was good.

[Stanford]

Why should anything make sense in WWE?

I don't even need it to make sense. Just make it a little more interesting than what they did. Try to convince me.

[WRau1]

It's hard to build a WM main event around two faces but I'm really really liking it for Styles v Nakamura.

[Spens1]

please, ffs give Nakamura a manager. the build is, well intriguing (this week was a bit better). The two like each other but still want to kill each other.

Not feeling many of the other storyline's really though, (and if Charlotte really is out for mania then they're finished), other than the Bryan and Shane vs Sami and Kevin. In reality, Sami and Bryan should be telling both Kevin and Shane to get stuffed (hopefully that's what happens), not giving them more opportunities (Bryan) or following their lead (Sami).

[Ruzious]

please, ffs give Nakamura a manager. the build is, well intriguing (this week was a bit better). The two like each other but still want to kill each other.

Not feeling many of the other storyline's really though, (and if Charlotte really is out for mania then they're finished), other than the Bryan and Shane vs Sami and Kevin. In reality, Sami and Bryan should be telling both Kevin and Shane to get stuffed (hopefully that's what happens), not giving them more opportunities (Bryan) or following their lead (Sami).

Maybe later but not now. His promo with AJ was outstanding, imo.

The uncertainty over Shane's condition and how they handled it has really taken the edge off the storyline in a bad way. It was shaping up to be the best story of the year, imo.

[LLJ]

Charlotte had dental work done, that's why she was out this week. She is not injured.

[bestnamezRtaken]

Yeah, she'll be fine for Mania, no need to panic.

And Nakamura's promo was good, stop being an elitist.

[jakecronus8]

A lot of people who aren't yet sold on Nakamura will be after Mania.