It has been quite a while since the last time I started a series here on the website and considering recent events I think now would be the best time for that to happen. Taking into account all of the recent news and events taking place recently I think it's high time we break things down and explore the future piece by piece or at least the future how I would construct it.
Think of this as the opening or the background for the series. The process has been the same in the WWE for the better part of the last forty years or so. Now with Vince stepping aside to retire and with Triple H stepping forward into a more prominent position for the company the future seems just a little bit different. The main point of the background is to drill down on the one concept that I hope most people understand. The concept is that even though Triple H is now head of creative change will not just happen out of nowhere. Change will come in time and it will be more logical and have more reasoning behind it then it did with Vince. The more comfortable Triple H gets his position the more clear his direction will become and I do believe that some former stars will return. Patience is something that fans don't always want to show nowadays, but in this case it's needed as things will not change overnight. Remember "Rome wasn't built in a Day!"
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For the first time in thirty plus years Vince McMahon will not be in charge of World Wrestling Entertainment. Vince would take control of the family business in 1983 when he brought the company from his father. In 1984, the national expansion would commence with Hulk Hogan earmarked as Vince's guy to build the promotion around. In January 1984, Hulkamania was born and with Vince McMahon at the helm the then WWF began see an enormous growth in popularity.
Vince McMahon had the opportunity to construct a roster like you don't always get the chance to see, but the formula remained. Early on, the formula was a series of matches and each top heel would get the chance to go on a run with Bruno Sammartino. Hulk Hogan would then be fed monsters to slay like One Man Gang, King Kong Bundy, Andre The Giant, and others. Vince would allow the formula to take hold and the popularity would reach it's peak in 1987 with Wrestlemania 3 at the Silverdome in Michigan. From the Rock N Wrestling era to a "New Generation" to an era of Attitude one thing remained the same Vince was at the helm. Vince McMahon was able to guide the WWE through good times and bad with just a flick of the wrist. Vince guided the company out of the darkest periods and almost going bankrupt in the 1990's to becoming a juggernaut on the backs of Steve Austin, Undertaker, Mick Foley and The Rock. A lot can be said about the "Ruthless Aggression" era and the "PG Era" but even the best hit the wall. Vince wasn't planning ahead anymore and a lot of people said it had to do with the lack of competition well that isn't the only reason. Vince wouldn't abandon the thinking that had served so well for so many years in favor of the thinking that was poisonings his company. Vince didn't want to make a plan and stick to it and I do think the fact that WWE is a public company has a lot to do with that and the impatience of shareholders who have millions tied up in the a business they think they understand. Honestly, Vince is and will always be a workaholic, but even the most inhuman men need to tap out and say I need a break. Vince is almost seventy-seven years old and has been in charge of the largest company in pro-wrestling for over thirty years nobody would blame him to say it's time. Enjoy his life, spend time with family and be a grandfather finally get the chance to relax instead of just hustling. The recent actions of Vince McMahon with the hush money and random events that have come to light does damage his reputation. However, I can differentiate between that and his lifelong accomplishments. Vince has needed to step back for a bit and learn how to delegate his power to others and help take the pressure off him, but he never did. I think Vince should've stepped back a bit for the last few years and I'm glad he had the chance to walk away on his own. Thank you Vince for the memories and everything you've done to bring the wrestling business to the position it's in now. Right now though it's time for you to sit back and just live your life. Leave the world of dealing with shareholders and worrying about profits or the bottom line, because you've earned a break and to leave the company you built on your terms. Thank you for the legacy and everything you've done, but your time has come to walk away. Reports have been circulating that some within WWE aren't exactly happy with the Summerslam card this year. I for one can see why, because there really isn't anything that makes it seem or feel like a bigger card then Money in the Bank. Wow we get Brock Lesnar vs Roman Reigns for the title again great just great. I think the card would look a bit better with some small changes or could defy expectations by adding some small details to the event. Summerslam 2022: Pat McAfee vs Happy Corbin WWE United States Championship: (c) Bobby Lashley vs Theory Smackdown Women's Championship: (c) Liv Morgan vs Ronda Rousey Seth Rollins vs Riddle Logan Paul vs The Miz Raw Women's Championship: (c) Bianca Belair vs Becky Lynch Unified Tag Team Championships: with guest Referee "Double J" Jeff Jarrett (c) The Usos vs The Street Profits Last Man Standing for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: (c) Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar One small change I would've had was maybe a #1 contender match somewhere on the card for the chance to challenge either the Women's Champion or Roman Reigns. I do feel like WWE has a bad habit of just giving challengers title shots instead of telling the bigger story of having them earn it. Even though it's a simple way to have fresh faces find there way into the picture by earning it and not just randomly being given a shot. The reason I don't have an issue with Liv Morgan's rematch with Ronda is because this match should be used to finally legitimize her as the future flag bearer for the division. Theory's match with Lashley has Ziggler's name all over it for him to get involved. I do agree Lesnar & Becky need to be moved out of the title picture for an extended time but they need time to move other players in. Hopefully, after Summerslam we start seeing new players find themselves in the title picture. With the next event after Summerslam set to be Clash at the Castle in September it's clear that the company will have plenty of time to build a new challenger for each champion. I would pencil in a gauntlet match for the men to find Roman's next challenger both shows included because Reigns is the champion for both brands. A gauntlet match could be use to tease possible opponents and set up matches outside of the eventual World title contest. I still would pencil in Drew McIntyre for the shot against Reigns in Cardiff Wales. As for the Women's division Liv Morgan and Bianca need some fresh challengers honestly I would go month to month with Liv for now so maybe Lacey Evans and Nikki Ash respectively could be viable challengers. My ideal card for the next WWE Premium Live Event: WWE Clash at the Castle:
Dolph Ziggler vs Theory Raw Women's Championship: Nikki Ash or Dana Broke vs (c) Bianca Belair Smackdown Women's Championship: (c) Liv Morgan vs Lacey Evans WWE Intercontinental Championship: Gunther vs Madcap Moss WWE United States Championship: (c) Bobby Lashley vs Kevin Owens Unified Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Match: Viking Raiders vs Alpha Academy vs Judgement Day vs New Day Unified Tag Team Championship: One Final Time (c) The Street Profits vs The Uso's #1 Contender Match for a future WWE Universal Championship Match: AJ Styles vs Seth "Freaking" Rollins vs Robert Roode vs Sheamus w/ Butch & Ridge Holland I wouldn't have a gauntlet match to crown the challenger instead play up the idea that Roman has been avoiding McIntyre. Use the gauntlet concept for the final spot in the #1 contender match and allow Bobby Roode to find his way into the match and gaining a chance to challenge the champion. Undisputed WWE Championship Match: (c) Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman vs Drew McIntyre On Smackdown this past week we saw the debuts of the Maximum Male Models they will be the clients of Max Dupree. It seems like the debuts got the desired results and they are taking a bit from Blue Steel aka Ben Stillers famous facial expression in Zoolander. Max will manage the repackaged Mansoor and Mace the duo will now be known as Ma.çé and Mån.sôör respectively. It was a needed repackage for two struggling stars on the roster. Both Mace and Mansoor haven't really had any sort of direction for nearly a year to my knowledge both have been floundering since they had there respective teams broken up.
I think everyone remembers that Mace was one of the only members of the Retribution faction to somewhat sort of catch on after the faction flopped. Mansoor seems to be someone that the company has stock in, but has never been given the chance to show any sort of personality. I think with Max Dupree leading them this would be both men's best chance at success in WWE as Max has a knack for getting things over and fully investing. However, Mansoor and Mace are just among the names on the WWE roster that could use a refresh or reset. Mainly my attention shifts to Mace's former partner T-Bar as someone who could use a refresh and the chance to put the stain of Retribution behind him finally. I know the company likely wouldn't let him go back to his old name, but think about this one of the hardest things in wrestling is ability to stick out. In my opinion, there is no argument to be made that a name like Dominik Dijakovic he wouldn't be able to get fans attention, then factor in his size and ability to move like someone half his size there is no question he would be able to stick out like nobody's business. |
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April 2023
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