The Universal Title Picture
Are we about to see the dawn of an era which sees the Universal Championship back on TV on a regular basis? It’s hard not to get caught up in the debate about what’s really going to happen when Brock Lesnar defends the Universal Championship against Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania but one thing I do know for sure, is the way that title is treated needs to change. In an ideal world, Lesnar will drop the title and take some time away, leaving Rollins to be the hero of the day and restore the young title to it’s formal glory. In reality, I don’t think this will happen, although part of me wonders if Lesnar may emerge victorious on the grandest stage of them all but come up short against Rollins or possibly someone new on the Raw after. Can Brock Lesnar make Seth Rollins look like a believable and worthy champion? Can Rollins keep his emotions in check and pull of the performance of his life? I guess we’ll find out on Sunday.
Tag Teams
Another topic of ongoing discussion is the ongoing state of the tag team division across both brands. WWE have a tendency to throw superstars together who aren’t functioning well in singles competition or those they’ve run out of ideas for. This leads to none organic teams, trying to learn how to work together. Every now and then it works, eg, Sheamus and Cesaro but Roode and Gable, didn’t do a lot for me. Even the women’s tag team championship picture is pretty bleak going forward. The only legitimate team has been the IIconics and I am praying they walk out of Wrestlemania with the gold. All brands have the fundamentals of great tag team divisions but they need to not throw people together and expect it to stick. They need to spend more time honing the teams that already exist, giving them consistent exposure, believable storylines and smart booking.
Multi Brand Performers
We’ve already started to see some movement of performers across brands. The Raw women’s championship picture has allowed Becky Lynch and Charlotte to move around, the women’s tag team titles have seen Bayley and Sasha Banks show up on NXT, even the Kurt Angle stroryline has seen AJ Styles pop up on Raw. Not mention the thrilling success of Aleister Black and Ricochet on Raw and Smackdown.
This is something I think we should expect to continue and grow post Wrestlemania. It not only creates brand and performer fluidity but it also cements NXT as the WWE’s third brand, whilst still maintaining it’s development vibe. Going forward I feel it will give the NXT superstars who are perhaps almost ready to take the next step, a chance to test the waters, giving them a clear indication of whether or not a move away from NXT is right for them. I wouldn’t be surprised if those ready to make the jump from NXT are told it’s on the premise they will compete across multiple brands.
Moving superstars across different brands will hopefully avoid any stagnation. If someone has exhausted all avenues on Smackdown, there’s further potential on Raw and vice versa. This is particularly important to the RAW and Smackdown mid-card wrestlers, who at times can stagnate and never break through as intended or desired. How many times have we pondered if Finn Balor would have been utilised better if he’s been moved the Smackdown?
It will also allow titles to be represented across all brands. Could it perhaps lead to a unification of titles, especially as WWE’s future television deal looms? Who knows?
Rhonda Rousey needs to take a pin
Now bear with me, because as you know, I’m not a massive fan of Rousey’s character but I’m starting to turn a corner. I truly believe she will not be the one who takes the pin or taps out at Wrestlemania, although I do believe she will lose the Raw women’s championship. The build up for the main event of Wrestlemania has been really special. It’s had so many twists and turns, my head has been spinning. But it’s been emotional, fun and engaging and all three women have contributed to that. I truly think that in order to further Ronda Rousey’s character development, at some point, she is going to have to lose. Clean! It won’t hurt her, in fact, it’ll make her less invincible and perhaps more relateable.
Recognize sooner when something isn’t working
WWE have a tendency to hold onto a gimmick longer than they really should. The way Braun Strowman’s character has been handled over the last 18 months, has at times been laughable. Bray Wyatt was another example of a gimmick that simply didn’t work for me and for a lot of others. And sometimes I think this is to do with the translation of characters from NXT to the main roster and something that can be fixed with the brand fluidity discussed earlier. I appreciate it isn’t an exact science knowing if a character or gimmick is going to work but going forward, I think WWE need to be more receptive and act quicker when something isn’t working.
The continued momentum of the women’s division
This Wrestlemania is going to be amazing and having the women main event is absolutely historic. The women will undoubtedly want to fight for their position as the top draw at all future events and I expect an emergence of other strong characters emerging form the women’s pack, who not only want to be up there with Charlotte, Becky and Ronda, but to surpass them. The division is going to get even more competitive and I would imagine it won’t be long before the ones who are dialing it in (see my recent tweet re the current women’s tag team championship holders) either have a rocket up their assess to sharpen up or the pack will be thinned for some of the hungry and talented ladies waiting in the NXT and NXT UK.
New stories. New blood
Wrestlemania has always closed the book on recent storylines and fans head into the Raw after Mania hungry for something new. I don’t know what will happen going forward. I’m expecting a retuning Sami Zayn to appear on Raw next week. I imagine Lars Sullivan will make an appearance too. Who is going to be the next break out star? Isn’t it so much fun to speculate? It’s my absolute most favorite part of being a WWE fan. I expect a big year for Drew McIntyre, EC3, Bobby Roode and Ricochet. Lacey Evans, I’m sure will do something dazzling very soon and perhaps another of the NXT ladies will make an appearance soon. Look out for some of the talent in NXT UK, as some of those folks are ready to make a permanent jump to the US scene, especially Pete Dunne, Moustache Mountain, Rhea Ripley and perhaps Toni Storm.
Happy new year to all WWE fans and enjoy Wrestlemania!
My Wrestlemania 35 Predictions
My Wrestlemania 35 Predictions
Raw Women’s Championship Match – Winner Takes All. Ronda Rousey (c) v Charlotte v Becky Lynch. Winner: Becky Lynch
WWE Championship Match. Danie Bryan (c) v Kofi Kingston. Winner: Kofi Kingston
Women’s Tag Team Championship Match. Boss n Hug Connection (c) v Tamina & Nia Jax v The IIconics v Natalya & Beth Phoenix. Winner: Nia Jax and Tamina
Andre The Giant Men’s Battle Royal. Winner: Ali
Women’s Battle Royal. Winner: Lacey Evans
AJ Styles v Randy Orton. Winner: AJ Styles
The Miz v Shane McMahon – Falls Count Anywhere. Winner: Shane McMahon
Roman Reigns v Drew McIntyre. Winner: Drew McIntyre
Baron Corbin v Kurt Angle. Winner: Baron Corbin
Universal Championship Match. Brock Lesnar (c) v Seth Rollins. Winner: Brock Lesnar
Cruiserweight Championship Match. Buddy Murphy (c) v Tony Nese. Winner: Buddy Murphy
United States Championship Match. Samoa Joe (c) v Rey Mysterio. Winner: Samoa Joe
Intercontinental Championship Match. Bobby Lashley (c) v Demon Finn Balor. Winner: Finn Balor
HHH v Batista – HHH’s career on the line and No Holds Barred. Winner: HHH
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match. The Uso’s (c) v Ricochet & Aleister Black v The Bar v Rusev & Nakamura. Winner: The Uso’s
Raw Tag Team Championship – (Rumour) The Revival v Hawkins & Ryder. Winner: Hawkins & Ryder
John Cena to make an appearance to some point. Possibly to squash Elias or make fun of Alexa Bliss.
