We're coming off a super-stuffed week/weekend of wrasslin', what with the four big shows at Barclays Center, the injuries, the surprises, the call-ups, and the unifying unsubtle obliteration of Baron Corbin.
Last week, after getting booked to seem like the biggest fartclown in WWE history, having not only flubbed his cash-in attempt on Jinder Mahal but apparently having made the mistake because he momentarily forgot that he had the opportunity to cash-in at all, it felt like Corbin may have hit a stumbling block for the sole reason of him rising up to take Cena to the limit at SummerSlam.
Nope. He got planted and pinned with a single AA in a fantastically unremarkable match, more or less signaling that WWE has screeeeeeched his upward momentum to a grinding halt. Then came the rumors of backstage heat. Both Corbin and Enzo are supposedly universal loathed behind-the-scenes, with Enzo even edging out Corbin in the hot water department because being an obnoxious strutting can of Four Loko apparently trumps just being a miserable arrogant grump. Jersey Shore is more hatable than Jersey Bore.
[Check out the highs and lows of SummerSlam here!]
Corbin wasn't exactly an afterthought on SmackDown though, since he did get to be a part of the main event (and perhaps he'll go after AJ's U.S. title now) but all the chatter about him becoming WWE Champ is gone. Which is a shame, because SmackDown's the place where you can now have unexpected and unlikely world champs. So Baron's not down for the count, but he's gonna have to backstroke upstream for a while.
For a second though, I actually thought they might be maneuvering Baron into a match with Shane. You know, the one Shane's supposed to have with Owens. I thought "Oh, this might work because if they're currently giving Corbin a shovel to dig his own hole, Shane might actually get to win a singles match." But no. It's still pretty much a lock for Shane and Kevin.
Besides setting up the Shane/Owens match though, SmackDown was full of more neat-o moments - including the year-delayed debut of Shelton Benjamin (who'll now tag with Gable - who looked SO MUCH like Kurt Angle last night, facially, that it's still odd that he wasn't "the son") and the official call up of one BOBBY ROODE!
This was cool. Not only was it awesome to see Roode actually come to a main WWE roster, but having an NXT call-up happen after SummerSlam only helps give 'Slam more of a WrestleMania feel. What does this mean for the NXT title though? Is Roode not getting a rematch? Are we scrapping that altogether? I feel like he's got unfinished business down in Orlando. Firstly, he needs to face Drew again. I know Adam Cole (Baybay!) and ReDragon have immediately put themselves into the title picture, but Roode needs a follow up bout AND a rematch with Roderick Strong. Strong, being the guy who Rode had a much better feud with than Drew to begin with.
Will Roode work both brands like Owens and Sasha previously did? Is that why when he debuted on RAW it was against the likes of Aiden English? He didn't come out and confront Mahal or Styles or someone closer to the top tier of the brand. He started low (though not Mike Kanellis low). Maybe that's because he's gonna put a bow on things down in NXT. WE NEED CLOSURE ON THAT ANECDOTE!
By the way, I got to go to NXT: TakeOver Brooklyn the Third (ASUKA FOR LIFE NEVER LOSE JUST VACATE THE TITLE AND LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY FOREVERRRRR) and not only was it the best show of the four but there were so many a-holes screaming "Adam Cole Baybay!" afterwards (along with "F*** the Revival!" - which was uncalled for and uncool), while walking out, that I heard the volume actually provided clean renewable energy for all of Topknot Hills and Craft Beer Circle.
Which reminds me: My favorite WoW neighborhood name was, and still is, Windshear Crag in Stonetalon. It's so hipster that Corey Graves would audibly resent it while also owning a million dollar organic artist co-op loft in the center.
Roode got a hero's welcome on SmackDown, and defeated a known heel, but does this mean he's going babyface? I'm ashamed to admit it but, as much as I actually enjoy and respect Roode and am tickled to see him find success in WWE, I'm not a huge fan of his wrestling. He's good. He's a good wrestler. But I've yet to see an outstanding showing from him. I think his best matches, from a star rating standpoint, were as part of Beer Money. But he's definitely better as a heel. His fundamentals, sort of no-frills, style works as a heel.
Anyways, keep him heel. Forever. And have Muse play his entrance theme live at WrestleMania. This is all I ask of this world.
Dolph Ziggler returned to SmackDown from his long "creative's got nothing for you" hiatus in order to call out the fact that the people who get over are the ones with flashy prop-driven gimmicks. Well...yeah.
Water's also quite wet. It's goddamn wrestling. Dolph needs repackaging and it needs to be...ridiculous. He needs to go full tilt silly. He said he'd be back next week to show us his new deal, but I think he'd be better over on RAW as manager Goldust's new golden boy. He could even get his own "Marlena" type valet. As it stands though, Dolph will probably just come back next week with a guitar or something else in order to make fun of other people's successful stints. He'll mix it up each week and just transform this return into a long sting of whining and griping.
Continue on for more from RAW and SmackDown Live (and Southpaw Regional Wrestling!)...
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