-Just a fascinating opening segment to start this week’s show and all of it was rooted in the controversy that ended Friday’s episode of Smackdown. The Rock jumping over Cody Rhodes, with Cody essentially handing him his WrestleMania title match, only for the internet to meltdown in an effort to save Cody’s spot against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, and crap a little on The Rock vs. Roman Reigns.
I loved this segment.
Instead of running from the heat that The Rock vs. Roman Reigns generated, WWE leaned right into it. Seth Rollins opened the show with a shot a Reigns and then fanned the flames of “Rocky sucks” chants rather than shut them down with a different promo cadence when he had the chance. Drew McIntyre openly talked about how Cody Rhodes needed to wrestle Reigns at WrestleMania to finish his story. The St. Louis crowd booed loudly when Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins was mentioned. Plus, on commentary, the announcers drove home the fact that nothing has been made official yet concerning Roman Reigns, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania. Yes, even though Cody definitively said he wouldn’t be facing Reigns at WrestleMania, but forget that everyone!
Audience be damned? Not quite
Look, in years past, WWE would have ignored the positive reaction to Cody by an audience pushing back on someone like The Rock. They did with special booking to keep Daniel Bryan down. Same thing with the push of Roman Reigns. The notion was, audience be damned, Reigns is a babyface.
They’ve changed their tune here. The result may end up the same. It still may be Rock/Reigns at WrestleMania with Cody Rhodes on the outside looking in. That would be a mistake, but acknowledging the momentum Cody has sustained because of that move will help make him a bigger star long term.
-The fatal four-way qualifier to become potential number contender for the WWE Tag Team Championships was excellent. It had tons of action and each team got to stand out and do what they do — including The Creed Brothers, who’s performance was enough to once again ask the question of where the hell have they been the last month. I know DIY recently lost, but they won this and the win meant something. DIY is still looking for that groundswell of organic fan support. Until they get it, they’ll be on the losing end of things, including Friday night in their number one contender match against Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne.
Where’s the heat??
-Becky Lynch vs. Shayna Baszler was enough, but is anybody out there behind Becky’s run to WrestleMania? Becky is in the “will she make it to WrestleMania” slot that habitually is on television this time of year, but it really has no good momentum behind it. She’s going to earn the shot against Rhea Ripley for WrestleMania and I’n high on that match, but WWE has to find a way to inject energy into Becky’s journey right now.
-Ok, what is Maxine Dupri doing in the damn ring. She’s atrocious and needs more seasoning to even be a passable talent on national television. Most of the NXT television roster are more polished than her and she needs time away to hone her craft.
-Ahhh R-Truth and Judgement Day. They were entertaining this week. Priest and Truth will come to blows sometime soon. Can they hold it until WrestleMania?
-Hey! The Miz won a match! Sure, it was against JD McDonagh, but a win is a win. Good for you, Miz.
That man is special
-Damn. Gunther is tremendous. One of his best qualities as a performer is the way he builds up, but then breaks down and opponent. This week opposite Jey, Gunther seemed to authentically talk about Jey’s accomplishments, but then slightly pivoted in tone and tenor to run Jey down with those exact same accomplishments as the background. That’s not easy. Gunther vs. Jey Uso fits on the Elimination Chamber card and leaves open the possibility of Gunther working against Bron Breakker at WrestleMania. Breakker was great this week. He’s found more confidence as a performer and his character has broken out of it’s shell.
-An freezing cold crowd for Kabuki Warriors vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance. Warriors one and no surprise there given how close they are to a championship WrestleMania match like Iyo Sky vs. Bayley.
-Wow. Strong backstage sit down interview with Sami Zayn. This was wonderful. If you missed it, watch it. It still leaves big questions marks around what Zayn will do at WrestleMania, but was well produced and well acted by Zayn.
Drew McIntyre and a WrestleMania conversation
-A solid main event. The bull rope stipulation was utilized enough to make it special and WWE jumped through the right hopes to make sure people cared. Drew McIntyre attacking Cody after he defeated Nakamura adds more intrigue to what will happen at WrestleMania and Drew needs a spot. Clearly. Outside of Cody Rhodes, McIntyre is the strongest act on the show each week and primed to get even hotter if booked correctly.