Fastlane Tonight - in Cleveland!

[TheLand1287]

I'm not a huge fan of him to begin with. He's fine in the ring, but his character just annoys me. And I don't mean that in an effective heel way where he makes me hate him. I just find him annoying. He uses this fake voice for his character that is obnoxious because of how fake it sounds, which certainly doesn't help.

I mean, maybe they can make it work, but WWE creative's past work with former NXT mid-tier guys doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Rollins has certainly made it in the WWE, and Owens is well on his way, but both of those guys are just better in the ring and on the mic than Breeze is. I guess you could maybe compare him to Ambrose as far as ability goes, but Ambrose was given a much better gimmick when he made the leap to the main roster, and was paired up with Rollins, one of the best in-ring guys NXT has seen. I also think Ambrose can cut a better promo.

Right, so given that assessment I'll say his floor is Rose/Fandango (terrible gimmick, jobber) and the ceiling is Neville (upper midcard ability, midcard gimmick). At least initially. Maybe one day he drops the shitty gimmick and gets a solid push.

Owens, Rollins, Ambrose, Reigns were all gifted with something to work with.

The Ascension, Adam Rose, Fandango... not so much.

 

[Tornicade]

So supposedly Tyler Breeze is about to be moved up to the main WWE roster and is present in Dallas tonight for Raw. They're also saying they may pair him up with Summer Rae. Given that speculation is that Rusev is going to be punished by Vince for his engagement leaking and ruining that storyline, I'm guessing Breeze drops Rusev tonight.

Rusev and Lana did Mcmahon a favor.

I think Breeze has zero potential. he isnt a guy who loses and you think he could of won that.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Rusev and Lana did Mcmahon a favor.

I think Breeze has zero potential. he isnt a guy who loses and you think he could of won that.

Well, yeah, the Rusev/Summer angle was absolutely godawful, but this is Vince McMahon we're talking about. He's an asshole and he's vindictive. He wanted his shitty love triangle story to play out to completion, and apparently doesn't realize anyone old enough to see that story on TMZ is also old enough to know that wrestling is fake and he could have just kept the story going and literally no one would have given a shit because no one cared about the story to begin with. Aside from Rusev throwing the fish, it's been a total bust.

As far as Breeze goes, I think his current character has zero potential to be anything other than a mechanic, but he's not bad in the ring and, with the right gimmick, he might be able to go over. It's hard to say because I've only ever seen him working under his current gimmick, which I don't care for. It seems like a strange decision to call him up, though, because he's been jobbing in NXT for what seems like forever now. But I guess jobbing on the main roster isn't much different. Wrestling needs guys who are willing to go out there and lose entertaining matches to put over other guys.

 

[Jack Brickman]

So they decide to do a mini-Shield reunion like that? They couldn't have had all the other five guys in the ring ready to start a handicap match and then had Rollins' music hit while the crowd went wild?

 

[DJTJ]

So they decide to do a mini-Shield reunion like that? They couldn't have had all the other five guys in the ring ready to start a handicap match and then had Rollins' music hit while the crowd went wild?

Yes, because doing it as a surprise would be Rollins doing it favor, rather than Rollins wrestling twice out of spite.

 

[TheLand1287]

I think it's been brought up here before, but I really REALLY wish the WWE would get away from having rematches from Raw at PPVs, and vice versa.

Having Kane and Rollins in a lumberjack match last week just to go at it again in a PPV 'main event' two weeks later was dumb. Then last night, there's a random cluster of a 6 man tag thrown together between Ziggler/Cesaro/Neville vs Rusev/Sheamus/Barrett that ends cleanly, but yet WWE feels compelled to have that match happen again this weekend on the HIAC pre-show.

The booking is just so bad. None of these guys are really even feuding with each other anymore to begin with. I thought Stardust had moved on to Cesaro last week, and that Ziggler-Rusev were done. On top of that there's the cancelling of the Wyatt's vs Ambrose and Orton match with little explanation as to what happened to both Orton and Harper, and bringing Rowan back randomly with no fanfare was a missed opportunity too. WWE is just making this up as they go along I guess..

 

[DJTJ]

I think it's been brought up here before, but I really REALLY wish the WWE would get away from having rematches from Raw at PPVs, and vice versa.

Having Kane and Rollins in a lumberjack match last week just to go at it again in a PPV 'main event' two weeks later was dumb. Then last night, there's a random cluster of a 6 man tag thrown together between Ziggler/Cesaro/Neville vs Rusev/Sheamus/Barrett that ends cleanly, but yet WWE feels compelled to have that match happen again this weekend on the HIAC pre-show.

The booking is just so bad. None of these guys are really even feuding with each other anymore to begin with. I thought Stardust had moved on to Cesaro last week, and that Ziggler-Rusev were done. On top of that there's the cancelling of the Wyatt's vs Ambrose and Orton match with little explanation as to what happened to both Orton and Harper, and bringing Rowan back randomly with no fanfare was a missed opportunity too. WWE is just making this up as they go along I guess..[/QUOTE]

Booking is awful, but the bold is wrong. Was not a clean win. Heels win with Sheamus Brogue kick while refs back was turned. That's the definition of a dirty finish.
Italics. Personal issues for Harper, and orton's shoulder dislocated in Mexico. Agree on Rowan, but it was done to keep the numbers game

 

[Jack Brickman]

Eh...I don't really consider that a dirty finish because Sheamus was involved in the match. I never understand why the announcers get so up in arms about stuff like that because, even if the ref saw it, it wouldn't have resulted in a DQ. Guys who aren't currently tagged in are constantly hitting guys who are and it never results in a DQ. If Sheamus was at ringside and had done that then yes, it would have been a dirty finish.

As far as Harper goes, I read he missed Raw for personal reasons, so I'm guessing it was a last-minute thing that caused them to have to insert Rowan back into the group to preserve the main event. Then again, the main event was just terribly booked, so it probably wouldn't have mattered either way. I don't even get what the point of inserting Rollins into that match was if he was just going to walk out on his teammates after having done next to nothing in the match. It just seemed like a waste of everyone's time. I guess maybe they're going to bridge it into another Ambrose/Rollins feud, or perhaps a Reigns/Rollins feud, but they could have done that anyway since neither guy has any reason to like Rollins.

Orton was absent because of a real dislocated shoulder. Given that he's unlikely to be able to compete at Hell in a Cell on Sunday, Ambrose might be the guy to answer Cena's open challenge and take the belt off of him. It appears his match against the Wyatts was scrapped, as it's no longer listed on the card, and I think that six man tag we saw on Raw last night was thrown on the HiaC card to take its place in the pre-show. It could also be an NXT call-up or a free agent like Alberto Del Rio, who the WWE supposedly wants back very badly for whatever reason. This being the WWE, though, it'll probably be totally underwhelming.

 

[TheLand1287]

Appreciate the information, guys. Was unaware of the Harper (personal issues) and Orton (injury). Can never really tell with WWE programming what is kayfabe or real life with how inconsistent they can be. Guess I need to read the dirtsheet websites more often.

The Shield reunion tease better not lead to a Rollins/Ambrose feud. Those two had one that lasted like 3-4 months last year during the summer/fall, and then another 2-3 month feud this spring/summer. Not to mention the occasional random Smackdown/Raw matches they have. I like the Ambrose taking the belt off of Cena idea MUCH better.

 

[Jack Brickman]

If they do intend to bring Daniel Bryan back, Sunday might be the time to do it. I have my doubts, though. WWE doesn't seem to trust him to stay healthy at this point, and understandably.

Still, as far as pops go, I'd rank it:
Bryan
Ambrose
Zayn/Balor/Other NXT Guy

Ambrose would be a nice way of bringing the Open Challenge full circle, though, as he was the first guy to accept it if I recall correctly. Bryan would certainly get the largest pop. Sami Zayn would be an interesting choice as well, and the crowd would definitely go wild. Plus, that could lead to a title versus title match with Owens down the line. I don't think it would be Balor, as he's still holding NXT gold, but you never know and he's probably getting called up soon anyway.

The main argument against Ambrose is that, until Orton got hurt, he was scheduled to be in a different match at Hell in a Cell. So if the WWE had already planned who Cena was going to drop the belt to, Ambrose would either have been scheduled to be pulling double duty or wouldn't have been their choice.

It's also possible that the WWE plans to give Ambrose a push in Cena's absence, which means he'd be feuding with Rollins again in the main event picture. I get what you're saying about that having just happened, but the WWE is nothing if not lazy.

 

[DJTJ]

Eh...I don't really consider that a dirty finish because Sheamus was involved in the match. I never understand why the announcers get so up in arms about stuff like that because, even if the ref saw it, it wouldn't have resulted in a DQ. Guys who aren't currently tagged in are constantly hitting guys who are and it never results in a DQ. If Sheamus was at ringside and had done that then yes, it would have been a dirty finish.

As far as Harper goes, I read he missed Raw for personal reasons, so I'm guessing it was a last-minute thing that caused them to have to insert Rowan back into the group to preserve the main event. Then again, the main event was just terribly booked, so it probably wouldn't have mattered either way. I don't even get what the point of inserting Rollins into that match was if he was just going to walk out on his teammates after having done next to nothing in the match. It just seemed like a waste of everyone's time. I guess maybe they're going to bridge it into another Ambrose/Rollins feud, or perhaps a Reigns/Rollins feud, but they could have done that anyway since neither guy has any reason to like Rollins.

Orton was absent because of a real dislocated shoulder. Given that he's unlikely to be able to compete at Hell in a Cell on Sunday, Ambrose might be the guy to answer Cena's open challenge and take the belt off of him. It appears his match against the Wyatts was scrapped, as it's no longer listed on the card, and I think that six man tag we saw on Raw last night was thrown on the HiaC card to take its place in the pre-show. It could also be an NXT call-up or a free agent like Alberto Del Rio, who the WWE supposedly wants back very badly for whatever reason. This being the WWE, though, it'll probably be totally underwhelming.

You hit the opponent in a tag match when the refs back is turned, never when he's looking. That's a dirty finish, or at the very least, a dusty one.

They want ADR just like they love Crews, and Zayn; Huge demographics that aren't represented by any other wrestlers. I figured Crews would be fast tracked, tbh.

I really think Xavier Woods beats Cena and that the Dudleys beat New Day(who is easily the best thing WWE has right now), and then lose the following night to give the belts back.

Rollins slowbuild face turn (or Authority face turn...) is bound to come to a head. Rollins is the master of heel ring psychology, but is a total face on the mic. Can't have it both ways.

Honestly never think Danielson wrestles in the WWE ever again. THink it's way more serious than he lets on.

 

[Jack Brickman]

You hit the opponent in a tag match when the refs back is turned, never when he's looking. That's a dirty finish, or at the very least, a dusty one.

They want ADR just like they love Crews, and Zayn; Huge demographics that aren't represented by any other wrestlers. I figured Crews would be fast tracked, tbh.

I really think Xavier Woods beats Cena and that the Dudleys beat New Day(who is easily the best thing WWE has right now), and then lose the following night to give the belts back.

Rollins slowbuild face turn (or Authority face turn...) is bound to come to a head. Rollins is the master of heel ring psychology, but is a total face on the mic. Can't have it both ways.

Honestly never think Danielson wrestles in the WWE ever again. THink it's way more serious than he lets on.

Yeah, but even when you hit an opponent and the ref sees it, all he does is yell at you. It's never a DQ.

Xavier Woods would be an interesting choice to beat Cena, and I suppose it could happen. The New Day is certainly awesome, but I'm not sure they need the heat from beating Cena. They're already totally over. Then again, they have been teasing that little rivalry with Cena (although Cena absolutely refuses to acknowledge it in his promos because god forbid he put someone else over), so it's possible. Regardless, I'd rather see the rub go to someone like Ambrose who really needs a push after his lackluster role in the Wyatt/Reigns feud or an NXT guy who gets a huge win. Really, the US Title should be with Owens right now, but that's neither here nor there.

I have no idea when they're going to do the Rollins face turn. It seems inevitable, as he's too good to be a chickenshit heel forever. If they're going to wait, though, I think the best time would be at Wrestlemania during a Shield triple threat main event for the title. Have Triple H turn on Rollins and screw him and Ambrose out of the title, gifting it to Reigns. Reigns turns heel, becomes the Authority's muscle man (a role he is absolutely perfect for), and generates massive heat. It would be a perfect example of art imitating life...in this case, the perceived notion that Reigns is being pushed before he's ready played out on screen to incredible crowd rage.

 

[TheLand1287]

Did I miss something... or was Kane not even on Raw last night? Hard to believe there was zero interaction on the go-home show between the two guys facing off for the biggest prize in the company.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Did I miss something... or was Kane not even on Raw last night? Hard to believe there was zero interaction on the go-home show between the two guys facing off for the biggest prize in the company.

They said he was suspended by the Authority I think.

 

[Tornicade]

I dont mind the build up matches . each match is supposed to tell its own story. the lumberjack match was intended to show that Kane should dominate Seth. I thought they did a good job with the lumberjack match getting everyone in the ring and involved somehow.