Eyes On WWE: The 5 Best Women In WWE This Year

By @TrueGodImmortal

Women's wrestling is at the peak of course currently, with a number of amazing women showcasing their talent all over the world, and with a new year approaching, I thought it was time to take a look at the 5 best women wrestlers in the WWE this year. Who makes it to no. 1? Let's take a look.

5. Naomi

-This is just a technical choice because to be honest, Naomi had a disappointing title reign as the Smackdown Women's Champion, but honestly she deserved a shot to show what she can do. Her matches with Alexa Bliss, Natalya, and more were interesting, but she was secondary during her run. Her gimmick was over however for the most part, and she managed to be relevant for a majority of the year, earning her this spot over Carmella, Natalya, and Bayley, who also had solid years, but just not solid enough to claim this spot.

4. Sasha Banks 

-The most underutilized woman on the entire roster makes my list this year for a few reasons. For one, when given the opportunity to showcase what she can do, she has stepped up heavily every time. The best matches on the RAW brand have featured her and she's even managed to give Alexa Bliss some of her better matches this year after some horrible showings against Bayley and Mickie James. Honestly, I would say Sasha vs Bliss was the best moment for the RAW women this year and that has a lot to do with Sasha. Many are waiting for her to turn heel, and whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, Sasha delivers when she is called upon and we can only hope that she gets another shot in 2018. 

3. Alexa Bliss 

-For all of her great promo and character work, the current RAW Women's Champion hasn't been the best in ring performer, but her ability as a character definitely is truly undefeated for the RAW roster. She isn't the most athletic, most engaging or even most entertaining, but whether she's on commentary, talking shit to the crowd, or having horrible segments with Bayley, Alexa has been the most consistent woman on the RAW roster this year at least in terms of success.

2. Charlotte 

-Of course, Charlotte has been pretty successful over the last year or two, but her 2017 was pretty solid. Starting the year as Raw Women's Champion and feuding with Bayley, she would soon move out of the title picture and head over to Smackdown, trying out a new run as a face. While it hasn't necessarily been the smoothest transition, she has finally seemed to get comfortable in that role and she is currently the new Smackdown Women's Champion. Charlotte had a much better 2016, but she has had a very good 2017 and should be given credit for bouncing back after being traded from RAW to Smackdown. She should be the face of the brand going into Wrestlemania.

1. Asuka 

-The best woman in the company period. Asuka has killed everyone in NXT and she seems ready to move on to the RAW roster. She has been excellent through 2017, and after great matches with Nikki Cross, Ruby Riot, Ember Moon, and others in NXT, she has now moved to RAW and seems ready to dominate. She is still undefeated and doesn't seem like she will let up any time soon and one can only hope this leads to a RAW Women's Title reign that lasts for a while before she is finally defeated. Asuka is the top dog in the women's division and she is set for a big 2018 if WWE books her correctly on the main roster. Only time will tell if they do.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 12:49 AM  No comment

Eyes On WWE: WWE Payback 2017 Preview

By @TrueGodImmortal 

As the brand split continues on, and the Superstar Shakeup is over, we reach the first PPV following Wrestlemania. The first PPV after Mania, Payback is an all RAW (well technically) PPV, and it will be interesting. There's not much on the card that's really enticing, but we're here to take a look at each match and what could be brought to the table, and what might happen at this event. The show will feature Finn Balor on the kickoff show on MizTV, which already is an issue, plus there's no Dean Ambrose match, as he's also a new RAW star after being sent over in the Shakeup. So far, we're off to an interesting yet odd start for the night. Let's get into the rest of the event.

*Kickoff Match 
Enzo and Cass vs Gallows and Anderson 

-Gallows and Anderson were just tag team champions and everyone suspected that Enzo and Cass would be the champions before the Hardys returned, but here we are. This match has been done to death and this will be no different than the other 45 times that it has happened. I expect Enzo and Cass to get the win and likely feud with the winners of the tag title match next.

*US Championship Match 
Kevin Owens vs Chris Jericho 

-This match is confusing. Whoever wins goes to Smackdown. Jericho is nearing the end of his year plus run and Owens is currently getting into a feud with AJ Styles. With that being said, this is likely a match of the night candidate, and the best way to finish off a feud that carried RAW for the majority of the new year. Jericho and Owens could go 20 minutes and steal the show with Owens getting the win to send Jericho away for however long this time.

*Tag Team Title Match 
The Hardy Boyz vs Cesaro & Sheamus 

-This match could be really good. With Broken Matt Hardy clearly on the way, this could actually be a match that the Hardys lose. The new Hardy Boyz gear is just getting out there, but it could be time to let the nostalgia trip end so we can move on to the next step in the Hardy journey. WWE sees potential in Jeff as a singles participant for the future, and with feuds against Seth, Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt, and more, and the inevitable Matt and Bray clash destined to happen, one has to wonder if Cesaro and Sheamus will pick up the win after they've lost each of the singles matches respectively against the brothers. There is a tease of a heel turn for Cesaro and Sheamus and I could see them turning heel to win the match and the titles and moving on to face Enzo and Cass next. I can also see the Hardys retaining and then Cesaro and Sheamus turning heel to continue the feud. Knowing WWE, the latter is more likely.

*WWE RAW Women's Championship Match
Bayley vs Alexa Bliss

-The WWE is dragging their feet to have a Bayley vs Sasha feud. Truthfully, WWE doesn't know what they're doing. They built up Nia Jax and it's done nothing, and Sasha hasn't been relevant as much since losing to Charlotte the final time. Alexa Bliss is here and I think she might actually be the one to defeat Bayley. Alexa is already engaging the audience and filling that super heel role very well for RAW without Charlotte there. Alexa will either win, or just lose this match by a roll up, leaving the door open for another match, in which I think Alexa will win. WWE could go the right route and let Alexa defeat the bland Bayley, but knowing WWE, Bayley retains and the feud continues because Extreme Rules is coming soon within the next 5 weeks or so.

*Cruiserweight Championship Match
Austin Aries vs Neville

-As great as Neville has been as the champion, it's time to move on and give the belt to Austin Aries. Aries is the most over guy in the division, and he's poised to be champion soon. There's an angle now being built around TJ Perkins and Neville as a team, and Aries teaming up with Jack Gallagher, and that could play a role here. Could TJP help Neville retain? Or will that interference backfire and cost Neville the title? That's a question that we will find out the answer to Sunday, but I think it's time to give Aries the title. He's helped make the division seem bigger since he joined, and this feud could continue on for another month or so. The only way to really do that however is to let Aries win the title. This is another match of the night candidate.

*House Of Horrors Match 
Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt 

-I have no idea what to expect from this. Truthfully, my expectations are extremely low. As they should be. With Bray now on RAW and Jinder Mahal (terrible) going against Orton, this feud is just there to be there. It makes no sense and they killed it after their horrible Mania bout. I expect that without the title on the line, the WWE somehow gives the win to Bray as he enters into his late spring-summer feud with Finn Balor, as a win here gives him his usual bit of momentum before it is killed. Bray stood tall at the end of RAW and if they have big plans for him, then there's only one way to go about this, and that's have Bray go over and send Orton back to Smackdown to feud with...... Jinder.... Mahal... for the WWE Title. I can't believe I just wrote that. Wow.

*Samoa Joe vs Seth Rollins

-This match has no momentum behind it. It feels like a mid card battle and has the importance of one. The issue with Brock Lesnar being champion is that the other matches don't seem to feel big because there's no title implications involved. Joe vs Rollins is a main event level match, and I expect Rollins to somehow get the victory in this one. Joe will come up short, and likely attack Rollins after the match, or it is possible that we see Triple H return or Stephanie return to help cost Seth the match (it would make no sense though since the feud seemingly ended at Mania). Seth vs Joe could really be a match of the night candidate as well, but I don't expect it to get much more than 15-17 minutes, and it will likely end in some sort of screwed finish to make this feud continue on to Extreme Rules.

*Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman

-In many ways, I think this is a No. 1 contender's match. At least it should be. All signs point to Braun needing a victory here. Reigns sucks and is getting forced so much that the WWE really is ruining their product to keep him face. The awful video package to force him as face again shows how idiotic Vince and the top brass are, and I expect the crowd to be behind Braun, as PPV crowds usually are against Reigns completely. Regardless, the narrative of Reigns getting brutally injured then coming back to defend Braun cleanly in a one on one match will only fuel more hatred (rightfully so) against Reigns and throw away all the hard work that has gone into making Braun into a star and getting him over big time. Knowing this, and knowing how dumb the WWE is, Reigns will win with like 3 spears in a row and we fall back into that painful, soul crushing status quo that WWE has dwelled in for the last 7 years off and on.

Will Payback be a great event? Probably not. Will it be a good event? There's a chance. I say it ends up as a middle of the road PPV, with some bad results that kills momentum as the show rolls on. So basically, I predict this will be like any other WWE PPV. The same old shit. Unfortunately.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 12:39 AM  1 comment

Eyes On WWE: 7 Feuds We Want Now Following The Superstar Shakeup

By @TrueGodImmortal 

Well, the Superstar Shakeup came and went. With it, we got stars on new brands, secondary titles switching brands, and possible intriguing matchups. With the rosters all set now, what could be some of those feuds that we'd like to see? Let's take a look at the 5 feuds we'd like to see with the changes.

*Finn Balor vs Bray Wyatt 
(RAW)

-I know, you're probably expecting me to say that the entrances would be interesting to watch, and you're right. However, the thing that is missing from Balor right now is a great main roster opponent. Samoa Joe could have been that, but we've seen that. We've seen him vs Seth already and he and Roman has happened. Bray is the biggest acquisition for RAW in the shift, and I think this could be an interesting feud. Speaking of Balor, perhaps he could benefit from a possible heel turn and a reunion.... which leads me to my next choice.

*The (Balor) Club vs The Shield 
(RAW)

-With the WWE putting Ambrose, Reigns, and Rollins on the same show and trying to force Reigns as a face yet again, you know this is coming. The Shield Reunion could come from a number of things, but as long as they're trying to keep Reigns as a face for whatever dumb reason, Rollins and Ambrose, two more popular wrestlers, will be there to keep him getting "by association" cheers, if it's possible. Turning Balor heel and putting him with Gallows and Anderson would give us the presence of a heel faction since the reported Owens and Joe faction is not happening now obviously. The Balor Club with Balor as an arrogant heel could lead us into the Survivor Series buildup. That would be a great match for Survivor Series and a main event that could be epic, as long as Reigns doesn't get the win. Simple.

*AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens 
(Smackdown)

-Well we are getting this anyways. At Backlash, AJ Styles will challenge Owens for the US Title and this could result in a match of the year candidate. Give them 20 minutes to close the show out and we will see great things happen. I'd like to see this feud be for the WWE Title, but I'm sure it will happen at some point. Unless WWE is full of idiots. Wait... you know what... Let's hope WWE does the right thing for a change.

*Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kevin Owens 
(Smackdown)

-This is a feud that is going to happen before WrestleMania. It's destined. Nakamura could be the guy to dethrone Owens for that US Title when Summerslam rolls around. Nakamura has such a presence that he doesn't need to even cut promos like that. Owens can talk and carry it on that end, and their matches would be amazing. Let's hope WWE does this for the summer.

*Kevin Owens vs Randy Orton 
(Smackdown)

-Owens is going to be the biggest heel on Smackdown. It's only right we get a feud between Owens and Orton. It's almost fate to have this feud happen in the fall, hopefully after Orton drops the WWE Title to Styles. If this goes the way it should, Owens could get a boost, getting a big win over Orton, who is a future WWE Hall of Famer.

*Sasha Banks vs Alexa Bliss 
(RAW)

-You won't see any Smackdown women's feuds on here because the two new women to the roster  have faced these women already or the matches aren't interesting.  However, Sasha vs Alexa would be interesting overall. The feud could be exciting and the matches would be pretty enjoyable to watch. Will that happen? One has to think that's a feud that's definitely on tap for WWE, hopefully over the RAW Women's Title (sorry Bayley, it's just not working).

*Sami Zayn vs Dolph Ziggler 
(Smackdown)

-I know. Ziggler means nothing. You're right. He doesn't have much direction, but as one of the only heels on the blue brand, he could really make an impact. I wanted to put New Day vs American Alpha on this list, but the fact that American Alpha is literally getting no love anymore,  I'd say Sami getting into a solid mid card feud with Ziggler after his obvious feud with Corbin would be fun and result in really good matches.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 12:04 AM  No comment

Eyes On WWE: The 5 Moves That Need To Happen In The Superstar Shakeup

By @TrueGodImmortal

With the makeshift superstar shakeup of the WWE right around the corner, we wanted to stop and take a look at some of the trades and moves that truly need to be made this Monday and Tuesday. Before I get into it, I will say one thing: AJ STYLES BETTER NOT BE MOVED TO RAW. Now with that out of the way, let's get into the 5 moves that need to happen in this superstar shakeup. Let's get into it.

*The New Day To Smackdown

-While I do think the New Day haven't had a good direction for the last few months, I think a new move to Smackdown will really revitalize this trio. There isn't much to do on Smackdown in terms of a tag team, but American Alpha vs The New Day and perhaps The Usos as tag champions vs The New Day (and a debuting DIY) could really be fun for all involved. The New Day to Smackdown seems virtually like a done deal.

*Charlotte And Alexa Bliss Switch Brands 

-As odd as it sounds, Alexa Bliss has hit her ceiling on Smackdown and could benefit from a feud with Bayley on RAW that leads to her taking the RAW Women's Title. I think the dichotomy of a Sasha Banks vs Alexa Bliss feud would also be fun, but I honestly think we could also see Sasha and Becky Lynch switch brands considering. If you send Charlotte and Sasha to Smackdown for Becky and Alexa, I think it changes the dynamic of each show, but honestly, I could also see a lesser women's wrestler like Summer Rae going over to Smackdown instead of Sasha, and maybe Carmella going over to RAW with James Ellsworth. However, the main trades I see are Charlotte and Alexa switching brands.

*Dean Ambrose To RAW 

-I think Ambrose goes over to RAW on Tuesday for Smackdown and drops the IC Title on the show to either Corbin or Miz. With that being said, after he drops the title, he will go to RAW and knowing how ridiculous the WWE is, they will try to make The Shield get back together at some point in effort to keep Roman Reigns as a failure of a face. The plan that I see happening is The Shield reunion to combat this rumored Triple H stable which leads to the Finn Balor heel turn and The Club reuniting as well. Ambrose has nothing to do on Smackdown and RAW would be a good move for him, and to help out his "brothers".

*Bray Wyatt To RAW

-I know this sounds unlikely... and it should be, but hear me out. Bray is going to end up on RAW... and turn face. He was headed that route before his mini injury and when he went to Smackdown, you knew he had to stay heel, but on RAW... Bray turning face could be a big deal. We could see Bray vs Samoa Joe, Bray vs Owens, even a tease of Bray vs Triple H. If Bray stays heel, could you imagine a Bray vs Seth, Bray vs Finn, or even a Bray vs Braun feud? This needs to happen as the only feuds that would work for Bray now on Smackdown are against AJ and Nakamura. And that's just not going to work in the long run.

*Sami Zayn To Smackdown 

-I don't even want to go into detail. It's simple. Corbin vs Zayn for the IC Title and Miz vs Zayn would be great and honestly, I'd love a Zayn vs Styles feud. I'd love to see Ziggler vs Zayn as well if Ziggler stays on Smackdown. The fact remains however, with Foley gone off RAW and the storyline with Zayn basically dead in the water, a move to Smackdown for Zayn is exactly what he needs to revitalize him and his momentum. He's one of the best in ring performers and a Smackdown move is the biggest move that needs to happen. The same could be said for Cesaro, BUT it is very possible that Cesaro and Sheamus move to Smackdown as a team before eventually breaking up to be solo stars again.

These 5 moves aren't the only ones that need to happen but they are the ones that should happen the most. Let's tune in this week and find out who ends up where in the WWE. It will be more than interesting.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 10:47 PM  No comment