Raw 4/7/14 Where Do We Go From Here?

Not only is Wrestlemania a huge day on the WWE calender but the Raw after Wrestlemania is turning into a very large day as well.  Tonight is an odd combination of what seems like Opening Day in a sport like baseball as well as New Years Day.  There is a lot to review from last night's event as well as quite a bit to set up being that Extreme Rules is right around the corner.  The two biggest things are obviously Daniel Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and Brock Lesnar beating the streak.

Obviously Daniel Bryan deserves to kick off the show celebrating his WWE World Heavyweight Championship win.  Obviously it will be interrupted.  Randy Orton is still due a rematch and I'm sure that will be set up tonight on Raw.

One tradition that the WWE may go with is a few rematches the night after Wrestlemania.  If this direction is continued then it would be beneficial for The Usos to face off against the Real Americans.  This would be another big win for The Usos as well as continue the split between the Real Americans.  Obviously with Cesaro winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal he will be pushed as a singles superstar not as a part of a tag team.

There will obviously be some sort of aftermath between John Cena and Bray Wyatt.  I have a major issue with Cena winning at Wrestlemania.  Not because I have anything against Cena but I question where they go from here.  I thought it would be best to continue this feud since there are few options for Cena and after a huge loss where does Bray go from here?  I think both guys will pretty much be lost for the next month or so unless they continue the feud with the Wyatt Family somehow getting the upper hand.

I think one of the biggest missed opportunities leading up to Wrestlemania was the lack of a Intercontinental Championship match.  With some extra space on the card I think Big E should get a match at Extreme Rules.  Tonight is where the seeds need to be planted.  With some interesting competition a small tournament over the next week would be interesting.  If they had Dolph Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus and who ever eliminated Big E at Wrestlemania in a 4 man tournament over Raw and Smackdown I think that could be a good place to start.  Overall I think Alberto Del Rio is the best direction to go in but they should have him earn it in the ring.

Obviously The Authority angle is still looming large in the WWE.  Tonight will be no different.  The only thing out of the norm will be Triple H and Stephanie in the middle of the ring making excuses to how Triple H lost last night to Daniel Bryan.  Due to the loss Triple H will need to be taking an extended break from the ring.

The Divas action has picked up quite a bit over the last few months.  Due to this I think the division deserved better than they received last night.  I would book a match tonight showcasing their top talent like AJ, Tamina, Natalya and Emma.  I understand that the Divas from Total Divas are getting an extended push but it seems as though the WWE will not put the belt on one of those Divas just because they are on a reality show.

Last night The Undertaker's streak of 21 straight victories at Wrestlemania ended.  Tonight Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman will gloat about this.  The only issue is this leaves Brock without a worthy opponent.  They will most likely challenge Daniel Bryan but we all know Randy Orton will receive a rematch.  We know we won't see The Undertaker rematch.  We saw Brock vs John Cena two years ago.  Batista will be looking for a new opponent but with both Brock and Batista heels they won't face off.  Because of this I think the Beast should be attacked by a few of the biggest faces in the WWE...The Shield!  This would plant the seeds for a fresh feud between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.

There is other speculation and predictions that can be made about a few other guys.  Since The Undertaker lost there is speculation that he may retire from in ring competition.  There are also rumors that Sting will make his first ever appearance with the WWE.  Needless to say there is no proof to either of these things as WWE has not announced either.  I won't continue any sort of speculation but I would welcome an appearance by one or both guys.

The Raw before Wrestlemania!

With Wrestlemania only 6 days away there isn't much to do on tonight's Raw except to promote Wrestlemania.

Of course we need the generic promofest for the main event, obviously this will consist of  some combination of HHH, Daniel Bryan, Batista, and Randy Orton.  We need to feel the excitement (or lack there of) for this year's main event, maybe we'll even get a generic contract signing of some sort.  There isn't much left in this feud to book.  Its time for these guys to get in the ring.  That's exactly what Randy Orton and Batista will do tonight and in my opinion, this match doesn't even matter.  The main event surrounds Daniel Bryan, HHH and whoever Daniel Bryan will face at Extreme Rules.

Since there is a fatal four way for the WWE Tag Team Championships at Wrestlemania it would be best to put The Usos in a match against RybAxel and The Real Americans against Los Matadors.  That way The Usos (Champs) and The Real Americans (their biggest threats) can win matches and gain momentum going into Wrestlemania.

The IC Championship picture has been quite entertaining in my opinion.  Between Big E, Dolph, Sheamus and Christian I would like to see two or all of them in the ring tonight.  I don't really care how they book it, all these guys have been super entertaining.

Another big match is the Andre The Giant Memorial Over The Top Rope Battle Royal (which is the longest name for a match in WWE history).  To promote this I would schedule a 10 man over the top rope battle royal putting 10 of the competitors against each other only 6 days before Wrestlemania.  This would also be a great time to inform us of one of the surprise entrances.  So far 26 men have been announced.

Finally The Shield has been dominating since turning on Kane.  This needs to continue by having them beat up on some more mid card guys.  Maybe a 6 man tag match against all of 3MB.

Raw 3/24

The show needs to open with Triple H bragging about ending the Yes Movement.  This will get the crowd involved early.  After bragging that if its not quite over yet it will be at Wrestlemania.  At that point Randy Orton’s music hits.  Orton claims that even if Triple H ends Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania he will still walk out as the champion.  Triple H says, what do you mean IF?  Orton states that Triple H is an old man; he might not even be able to keep up with a B+ player anymore.  Triple H says that he proved last week that he is more than capable of handling Daniel Bryan and if old men can’t keep up anymore then he’ll have no problem with his match later on in the night.  Triple H’s music hits and he leaves the ring.  The announce team previews the night and throws it to commercial.

Next we have the Real Americans in tag team action against fellow #1 contenders RybAxel.  This would help transition the Real Americans as more of tweeners.  The Real Americans can win the match, giving Zeb all the more reason to claim they are the true #1 contenders.  RybAxel can continue to do bidding for Kane to keep their spot in the tag team division.

I’d have a backstage segment where Randy Orton seeks Batista.  They talk about their history and their differences.  Orton suggests they work together.  Team up against whoever wins Triple H vs Daniel Bryan then they can finally have the match they deserve.  Batista agrees.  Orton suggests that the teamwork starts tonight in his main event match.

I would have a triple threat involving a few key players in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.  It doesn’t really matter which guys.  The purpose is to preview the match.  I would also book a tag team match between Dolph and Sheamus vs Christian and ADR.  These two matches will grow excitement for the battle royal.

The Undertaker-Brock Lesnar feud is going in the right direction.  The only thing that I would make sure to book is something a bit physical.  Brock needs to be able to get the upper hand over the Undertaker at some point before Wrestlemania.

John Cena’s feud with the Wyatt’s needs to continue.  A one on one matchup with Erick Rowan would do the trick.  This match needs to show that Cena will have difficulty as long as it continues to be a 3 on 1.  They shouldn’t destroy Cena.  It would be interesting to have Hulk Hogan make a save for Cena.

Daniel Bryan cannot make an appearance on Raw.  He needs to stay away to sell the injuries. 

Triple H calls on his old friends the New Age Outlaws in the main event against Randy Orton and Batista.  This shows that Triple H is cutting the ties with Orton and Batista and eyeing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.    During the match the music of The Shield hits.  They enter the ring and destroy the New Age Outlaws.  Thinking that there is an identity among former allies of The Authority, Randy Orton and Batista stick around.  The Shield lays out Orton as Batista escapes.  Solidifying the Shield as face characters with no alliance to anyone but themselves.

Why its important to watch Main Event Live

Even though its relatively new it is important to watch WWE Main Event live on the WWE Network.  I have two basic reasons for this thought process.

1. The WWE Network is still new.  Within the next month they will be showing the biggest show of the year Wrestlemania on the WWE Network.  The biggest reason to get the WWE Network is to watch Wrestlemania online.  Since it is new the viewer wants to ensure that there won't be any problems with the streaming.  The more people that watch shows like Main Event and NXT live the more the live streaming will be tested.  If there are technical difficulties during Main Event no one is too upset.  If there are live streaming issues during Wrestlemania there will be millions of unhappy customers.  Test out the live stream now with WWE Network.

2. If ratings increase for Main Event because it is live there is a better chance they will add more live programming.  I personally believe (I have no inside knowledge) they are testing Main Event live on Tuesday nights just to see if fans will tune in the night after Raw.  If people tune in there could be consideration to air Smackdown live on Tuesday or at least a trial period.  There is also the potential that Smackdown airs live on the WWE Network and is replayed on cable.  Again no inside knowledge but I think if Main Event gets great ratings there is a better chance for more live shows and live shows are much better than those on tape delay.

Those are the two reasons why every WWE fan should be tuned into Main Event as it airs live on the WWE Network.

Monday Night Raw 3/10/14

I hate to say it but I think we're in for an uneventful Raw.  I also hate to mention that uneventful shows happen for a reason.  What's needed is to continue to build in the direction each feud is heading for at Wrestlemania.  Tonight needs to be one of those shows that heads in the direction for Wrestlemania.

The opening bout should be The Usos against the New Age Outlaws.  I think its best to continue the injury angle.  This could continue to get the NAO over as heels but keep The Usos in the ring.  There are a variety of heel tag teams they could face like AxelBack or 3MB.  The important thing is to use this match to build The Usos as strong champs and the NAO as heels.

Another direction that needs to be continued is with The Real Americans.  I think the jealousy angle is going to eventually lead to a match between Cesaro and Jack Swagger.  For some reason they seem to be sticking around Big E.  Not too long ago Big E was friendly with Mark Henry.  This would be the perfect team to bring back but Henry was wasted to put over Lesnar last week on Raw.  That being said maybe the attention should focus on a different competitor(s).  I see it as a waste to use Big E in that feud unless they plan on having a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship.

We're awaiting an announcement from Wrestlemania XXX host Hulk Hogan.  And they will tell you that its going to be huge!  It won't be.  He'll book a match for Wrestlemania.  Not sure which match but it will be a midcard type of match.  I'm not going to attempt to guess it but it won't be adding Daniel Bryan to the main event.  It may have something to do with John Cena vs Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania.  Or at least that's what I would book.

Speaking of John Cena.  I heard a rumor he's going to be facing Luke Harper (maybe it was Rowan) tonight on Raw.  I can't confirm anything because I haven't looked at WWE.com or anything.  I think they need to continue this feud to lead to a Wrestlemania match (I wrote some specifics yesterday http://wwefantasybooker.blogspot.com/2014/03/john-cena-vs-bray-wyatt.html).

The Wrestlemania main event is still bothering the fan base.  The WWE will continue to tease the idea that Daniel Bryan will be added to the main event so what better way to do that then have him in a match with Batista and Randy Orton.  Of course this will be the typical pre-Wrestlemania tag team match that puts the Champion and challenger on the same team.  I would book this pre-Wrestlemania staple tonight by having Batista and Randy Orton vs Daniel Bryan and Big Show.  You can have some typical sloppy finish including Corporate Kane and Triple H attacking Daniel Bryan while Batista and Orton double team Big Show to get the victory.

Finally The Undertaker returns tonight!  Obviously he will not be in a match.  Most likely we won't even see Brock Lesnar in the building.  But who we do need to see on screen with The Undertaker is Paul Heyman.  All that needs to be booked is an appearance by those two and let them handle the rest.  Close the show with The Undertaker getting the upper hand.

My Raw Thoughts 3/3

Of course the show started with CM Punk's music.  Obviously the CM Punk situation needed to be addressed.  The rumors were all over the dirtsheets and the speculation was running wild.  I was quite shocked to see Paul Heyman.  I thought we'd see Punk, then I thought we'd see Triple H or Vince.  Never did I think we'd see Heyman.  This was the best thing they could have done without Punk.  Obviously CM Punk will not comeback to the WWE for a very long time if at all.  If I were a betting man, I'd say we've seen the last of CM Punk.  I think he's done.  At this point the WWE needs to continue to get Heyman and Brock over as heels.  Overall I thought the segment was okay, they got the most out of it.

I don't understand what is going on with The Usos and the New Age Outlaws.  I thought they'd blow off the feud tonight on Main Event.  SPOILER ALERT: they didn't.  That being said it might last til Wrestlemania XXX.  If that is the case I thought the payoff would be bigger for fans of The Usos if they won the Tag Titles for the first time at Wrestlemania.  I would have either booked that or the feud to blow off on Main Event to make room for another young tag team.

I like what is going on with The Real Americans.  Clearly these two are headed for a breakup that could end in a match at Wrestlemania.  I think its about time for that.  Cesaro is clearly headed for a main event type of push and the team with Swagger is running its course.  I enjoy Zeb but he just doesn't fit with Cesaro.  I'd continue to book this jealousy thing and eventually blow up this team.

The Shield needs to break up.  We need to finally get the payoff of the slow break of The Shield.  I would book the triple threat at Wrestlemania XXX.  That might steal the show too.  I enjoyed how Seth Rollins was the one who walked out.  That will be the final straw with The Shield.  He was the glue.  He will let the other two destroy The Shield.  I think they've run their course as a unit.  Its time for them to go onto singles careers.

Sheamus and Christian are another two that are on a collision course for Wrestlemania.  Both guys need and deserve a match, they just need someone to fight.  They should do fine fighting each other but we've already seen it on free TV a few to many times to get excited to see it at Wrestlemania.

The Wyatts are clearly going to face John Cena at Wrestlemania XXX.  I don't want to see a 3 on 1.  I'll end up writing a blog specifically about this match.

Finally the main event.  Triple H/Daniel Bryan/Randy Orton/Batista.  We have more evidence that a Randy Orton vs Batista match will not work out.  I wrote how I would fix it, it looks like the best option would be to add Daniel Bryan to the match.  I wrote about this in depth therefore I won't get into this too much.  I think its time to give Daniel Bryan a more definitive direction.