Eyes On AEW: The Potential For The Future

By @TrueGodImmortal

So, it's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you. Well, honestly, I had no choice. Wrestling has lost most of its luster for me the last few years and while I'm still pretty apathetic about it and I haven't watched a full episode of RAW or Smackdown in about 2 years, I did find myself mildly excited for the announcement of AEW and while I'm still on the fence about just how successful the company can be, I am very intrigued by their potential and what may come down the line. Today, that's why I'm here. To talk about the potential of AEW and what they could end up becoming in the wrestling world. With their free Fyter Fest event coming this weekend, their second event in the last month and some change, along with a TV deal beginning in October, could AEW be on the verge of something huge in the wrestling world? Let's look at their potential.

*The CM Punk Factor
-The current rumor that is buzzing is that CM Punk may have privately set up a deal to work with AEW in the near future. If that was the case, then Punk has done just about everything he can to throw people off, denying it in a troll manner several times. He has spoken highly of AEW in his own way, so if he ends up returning to wrestling, I truly doubt he would make his return to WWE. For someone who grew up loving and worshipping professional wrestling, it does seem strange that Punk wouldn't jump at the opportunity to collect a big payday to work for a rival company to WWE alongside some of his friends. Punk was once quoted as saying that if he did return, it would likely only be against the Young Bucks, but that doesn't mean that Punk couldn't end up working for AEW in another capacity outside the squared circle. Imagine good ol' JR next to CM Punk on commentary. That alone would make people tune into AEW's programming. If Punk does decide to wrestle, AEW has a ton of stars he hasn't faced or went up against, as well as an entirely new roster of formidable opponents. When its all said and done, CM Punk could appear at All Out, surprising the world, or he could just stay away from the wrestling business forever and pass up one of the most intriguing opportunities ever. What will he choose? I guess time will tell.

*AEW Video Game
-So, WWE 2K hasn't hit nearly as hard as it should the last few years. Have wrestling video games lost their luster? Perhaps so. I would think that something new and different like an AEW game could possibly change everyone's perspective? I mean, in terms of the developers, the only developer with a truly built in promo buzz is EA Sports. However, EA Sports messed up their WCW video game foray, and the UFC series was decent, but at times underwhelming. I'd say that if the dollars made sense that EA Sports and AEW could work together to make a game that would be good enough to entice the average fan and beyond. A cover with Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, the Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and perhaps a surprise star (the aforementioned Punk would be huge) would garner a lot of attention. Set the release date for April or May to get a nice Spring and Summer rush and entice the younger gamers who have a few months free from school. While there is no telling if AEW will have a video game, I think this could possibly be a great idea and the potential for success is moderate to high on this idea.

*Mainstream Acclaim
-So, one thing about the WWE is that they have the mainstream game on lock. WWE has almost every major outlet in their backpocket to an extent, but could AEW provide something for a crowd that has tuned out wrestling since post Attitude Era? Or post Ruthless Aggression Era? Honestly, it is up in the air, but I can remember WCW having a lot of mainstream attention through the late 90's, even as WWF would bring in celebrities every Wrestlemania and even had the controversial Mike Tyson as the special guest enforcer of their main event once. If AEW starts to pick up steam, those athletes and actors who have been with WWE replica belts might soon be holding AEW replica belts. If this ends up happening, look out for some celebrity inclusion at some of the events down the line, which hopefully gets done correctly. Either way, AEW's mainstream appeal will be tested truly once they hit TV in October.

*The WWE Hostages Set Free
-I know this is a horrible way to make this point, but we should be honest. The WWE is keeping some of their stars captive in a way for obvious reasons. Long ago, if you asked for your release, you were granted it. If you were unhappy and wanted to try your hand somewhere else or just bet on yourself, WWE would end letting you go. For Sasha Banks, that was not the case. For Luke Harper, that was not the case. For a few others, that was not the case. This begs the question of whether or not the WWE is feeling the pressure of competition from a promotion that has only had a few press conferences and one actual event so far. However, no one is fully aware of how long these contracts are, and with Sasha, she oddly signed an extension just a year ago, so she's essentially trapped. Could WWE cut their losses and let Sasha go be Mercedes in the indies or in AEW while they force Lacey Evans and Charlotte as formidable stars? Sure they could. With the rise of Shayna Baszler, the resurgence of Bayley (convenient), and of course, the power of Becky Lynch, where does someone like Sasha fit now? Could her return be saved for Summerslam? Or should WWE just let her go? I think they should have just let her go, and I think the same with Luke Harper. Gallows and Anderson spoke about being unhappy with their roles according to some reports, along with rumors of The Revival wanting to leave the company. Since those reports, The Revival have won the tag titles and Gallows and Anderson have seen more TV time next to AJ Styles, who also signed an extension instead of letting his contract expire and moving on. AJ seems to be a WWE favorite and solidified, so his decision isn't entirely shocking, but what if The Revival decide to leave? What if the Good Brothers decide to leave? We could end up seeing the AEW tag division getting a big boost in the coming months to a year. Regardless, a number of contracts are coming up and if the wrestlers decide NOT to sign, then I'm sure they can find a new home, whether in AEW or just the indies in general. Hey Cedric, you hear that?

*Wednesday Night Dynamite?
-So, what will the AEW TV Show be called? There are rumors, with Tuesday Night and Wednesday Night Dynamite being the most popular names thrown around. I find it hard to believe to an extent that AEW would choose such an awful name especially since Monday Night Nitro reminds everyone of the failure that WCW ended with. However, a consistent weekly program showcasing their regular stars and newer names could be just what the doctor ordered. A 2 hour time slot every week that showcases great wrestling and hopefully solid promos and decent storylines? It sounds like everything fans have been clamoring for, so if AEW can pull it off, we might have something special. AEW isn't going to wipe WWE off the face of the earth or even replace it as the no. 1 company in wrestling in terms of money or appeal, because WWE has so much loyalty in it from shee... err....fans, but what they can do is provide the proper alternative and add more wrestling to even the most dedicated wrestling fan's weekly plate. Could their TV show find a way to rival the ratings of the WWE's two biggest and long running shows? Time will tell. What I do know is that the success of AEW hinges a lot more on their TV show than anything else. If the TV show succeeds or exceeds expectations, we might be in for the most special era of wrestling. Ever.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 8:52 PM  8 comments

Eyes On Wrestlemania: 6 Underrated Mania Matches

By @TrueGodImmortal

Wrestlemania has always had a number of great matches and moments. However, some matches tend to be slept on in terms of the overall card and today, as Mania nears, I wanted to look back at a few underrated matches from the card. What matches make my list? Keep reading to find out.

*The Steiner Brothers vs The Headshrinkers
Wrestlemania 9

-I will be real: Wrestlemania 9 is awful. It's one of the worst shows in Mania history, but the truth remains that one of the better matches in the history of the event went down. The match of the night features these two teams going at each other for supremacy, and it was a fun contest. The match was given 15 minutes and they made sure to maximize their time for sure. The Steiners would win, but both teams put on quite the show and were the highlight of an otherwise lackluster event.

*Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit
Wrestlemania 17

-There are better matches from these two. There are more classics in their catalog together. However, there is no other Mania match that features these two one on one. The year prior they were involved in a triple threat that disappointed a little bit, but this match made up for that in a major way. The action was hard hitting and a technical masterpiece, with Angle walking away with the victory. I was shocked that Angle won this match, but it was still a very solid contest and should be mentioned more when talking Mania matches.

*The Undertaker vs Ric Flair 
Wrestlemania 18

-At one point, I thought both Taker and Flair were beyond their primes and this match wouldn't be good. I was sadly mistaken. This match showcases Taker as a brutal heel, and features enough nostalgia despite him dominating through the duration. Flair doesn't get in much offense, but he does have a great moment when Arn Anderson pops in to hit Taker with a spinebuster. That would end up being a top moment at the event and it made this match even more memorable. Taker would win this cleanly, but it was a great match to watch overall.

*JBL vs Finlay
Wrestlemania 24

-I loved Mania 24, and a big reason for that is because of the wrestling. One of my favorite matches from Mania 24 is the opener, which features Finlay and JBL going at it with everything they had. It was a short but sweet Belfast Brawl that went down and got a bit brutal considering. JBL and Finlay went at it for 9 minutes, but they fit a lot into that short time. When it was all said and done however, JBL would finish the match victorious, pulling off a solid win to open WM24.

*CM Punk vs Randy Orton
Wrestlemania 27

-I could have chose Cody vs Rey Mysterio, but I don't like that match as much as this one. WM27 was a horrible show in many ways, but there are a few matches on the undercard that made up for the big time matches that truly disappointed. One of the matches that fit that description is this encounter between Orton and Punk. Punk was always good in big match situations and this was no different. Orton came with his A game and we got a solid match in the middle of the card that ended with Orton winning via RKO of course. If only this match was given a few more minutes, it would have been even better I'm sure. 

*Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton
Wrestlemania 31

-The most memorable moment of WM31 for Seth isn't this match. It is the MITB cash in at the end of the main event, but this match is actually his best work. I still believe this is the best match from the card and the action throughout was pretty fun. Seth went toe to toe with Orton and attempted to take him down, but Orton just kept coming. The end of this match features one of the greatest RKO reversals of all time as Seth went for the Curb Stomp, but Orton reversed it in mid air and landed one of the most fluid RKOs ever. Orton wins, but Seth would have the last laugh at the end of the show. Still, this was a really good match that doesn't get enough credit.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 2:41 AM  3 comments

Eyes On Royal Rumble: Ranking The Last 5 Rumble PPVs

By @TrueGodImmortal

The last 5 Royal Rumbles have been underwhelming on every end. Truthfully, the last six or seven Rumbles have been pretty uneventful, and that's a whole, not just the Royal Rumble match itself. With that being said, I wanted to take a look at the most recent Royal Rumble events and rank them from best to worst. We are foregoing our usual Tag Team Tuesdays article in favor of talking more Royal Rumble talk as the event approaches. Which of the 5 most recent Rumble events are the best? You might be shocked at the rankings. Let's take a look.

5. Royal Rumble 2015

-Have you ever witnessed an event that had everything going for it, yet it still feel short of everything you expected? Well, that's the 2015 Royal Rumble. It has one good thing on the card and that's the WWE Title match. Otherwise? It's the most embarrassing show in recent years for the event, but only for the ending and the lackluster card aside from one of the worst Rumble matches I've ever seen. The 2015 Royal Rumble might be the worst match of all time in the Rumble history, and that's saying a lot. It was set up to be a big crowning of their new golden boy Roman Reigns, but instead it was one of the most cringe worthy moments in recent Rumble history. The Rock couldn't save it. No one could. It was terrible. Daniel Bryan got eliminated early and the crowd would end up booing the hell out of Reigns winning, as they should. This is the worst of the worst, and that's saying something. The one highlight? Brock vs Seth Rollins vs Cena. That's a classic, but the rest of the event is absolutely horrid to watch. This is the worst of the last 5 years.

4. Royal Rumble 2013

-So, I don't hate this event. However, if you need any proof that the WWE had no idea what the hell they were doing in 2013... look no further than this. This event is the prime example of a show that is predictable, but you still hope for the best.... and they disappoint you even more. Aside from a surprisingly fun Big Show vs Del Rio match, the rest of the card fell a bit flat, including the Team Hell No against Rhodes Scholars match. The Royal Rumble Match was terrible, aside from Chris Jericho making a big return, nothing substantial really occurred. Well, something did occur.... the last three men in the Rumble are Sheamus, Ryback, and John Cena.... three choices that no one wanted at all. The crowd was dead because we knew what was coming. Cena wins. Of course. Then, The Rock vs CM Punk had a horrible ending and gave The Rock the WWE Title... for nothing. Honestly, this was so horribly executed that the event is a big stain on the year 2013, which wasn't anything special in terms of the WWE, but it was a rough way to kick it off.

3. Royal Rumble 2016

-It wasn't easy ranking this one a bit higher than I even expected (though they are all ranked low on an all time list), but it fits. Honestly, this was one of the more surprising shows of the last few years, as everything that could have went wrong, absolutely did, BUT it wasn't as bad as it could have been at least. After a pretty good opening match between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens for the IC Title, the show was all downhill from there as usually is the case with most WWE shows that start off on fire. With the rest of the show mostly being centered around the Rumble match which was for the WWE Title, the other matches felt very unimportant, but... were solid. Whether it was the tag title match between the New Day and The Usos, the solid but uneventful Kalisto vs Del Rio match, or Charlotte vs Becky Lynch, this show just seemed to be filler before the main course, but let me point out that the reason I have this ranked at 3 is because it was an All around decent card aside from the final event. The Rumble Match itself wasn't anything special, but we did get the debut of AJ Styles, which made this all worth it. Still, overall, this event was just a standard Rumble PPV with nothing special to speak of, except a pretty pointless Triple H title win, but... it was still solid enough to be ranked middle of the road.

2. Royal Rumble 2014

- Now, I know this Rumble isn't remembered very well due to the ending and that's fair. It's very fair. Truthfully, this Rumble is actually a decent event, but the Rumble match itself is where it falters a bit. The opening match featured The New Age Outlaws against Cody Rhodes and Goldust (Pre-Show match) while Bray Wyatt vs Daniel Bryan is a classic singles match at the Rumble. It's the best match of the night and the biggest highlight. In the rebuilding of Brock Lesnar, he would squash Big Show in a match similar to their battle at the 2003 Rumble. Then, a shocker, the Cena vs Orton match wasn't bad at all surprised. The Rumble Match had CM Punk, Batista, The Shield, Kevin Nash, and JBL, but it would be disappointing as Batista won and there was no Daniel Bryan in the Rumble, and the crowd hated it all. Despite that, it was still a fun overall event that just ended horribly.

1. Royal Rumble 2017

-So, the most recent Rumble is the best of the last 5 years? Yes. It is. It would featured a solid match on the Pre-Show, but the main card was really enjoyable, from the opening match between Charlotte and Bayley, to the excellent title match between Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns, as well as the match of the year candidate between John Cena and AJ Styles. Aside from this, the Royal Rumble Match was somewhat interesting, but they ruined it yet again with Roman Reigns as no. 30, which ruined the momentum that having names like Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, Bray Wyatt, and more in it. Despite the Rumble match, the rest of the card features the best of the choices through the last 5 years, so it's no shock that it ranks at the top. Though the Rumble events haven't been as fun the last 5 years, there have been some bright spots at the PPVs.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 1:59 AM  No comment

Eyes On RAW: The 9 Greatest Superstars In RAW History

By @TrueGodImmortal

RAW 25 is here. This week, we will take a look at some great moments, matches, and everything in between about the flagship show of the WWE. Today, I wanted to take a look at who I consider to be the 9 best wrestlers in RAW history. These are the wrestlers who made the most impact, had the biggest longevity, and made RAW the long running program that it is. Who makes my list of 9? Read on and find out.

9. Triple H 

-You might be surprised to see Triple H ranked at the bottom of this list.... don't be. The truth of the matter is, Triple H wasn't as integral to RAW as one would have you believe, but he's still an important piece of the show. When he was with DX, first as sidekick to Shawn Michaels, then as the leader, he still felt like second fiddle for some reason. For me, I think the biggest thing about Triple H is that he never led RAW to higher heights, but he was always a constant to the show. As a heel in 1999 and 2000, Triple H reached the peak of his RAW run, but he also would be responsible for the darkest age of RAW in 2002-2004 before scaling back and heading over to Smackdown for a while (after another dark age of Triple H, Randy Orton, and John Cena), before coming back to wrestle once in a while as an authority figure. Triple H is a legend, but his importance to RAW isn't top 5 worthy, thus he lands at no. 9 here. He was still important, but just not at the top of the list.

8. Bret Hart 

-It is hard to rank Bret outside of the top 5, but it has to be done. Bret was there when RAW was created and he stayed there through some dark times, including the first two years of the Monday Night War, and that's a big reason why he ranks at this level. Whether Bret was in a feud with Yokozuna, Hakushi, Diesel, Shawn Michaels, or Stone Cold Steve Austin, he was a centerpiece on RAW, and has a number of all time classics on the show, including his battle with the 1-2-3 Kid, which is a wonderful match. Bret didn't have as many years invested like some wrestlers in RAW history, but his impact was so major in the first four years that the show existed that he has to be mentioned on this list.

7. John Cena 

-Settle down, children. Cena is a legend. However, his impact on RAW is sort of like Triple H. He was a go to guy for RAW, but he also wasn't THE GUY. When Cena was on top, RAW would end up seeing a huge rating drop over the years, and Cena was getting booed out of the building a number of nights in a row. With that being said, Cena would have big feuds on RAW with Edge, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, Triple H, and Batista through his era of RAW, before coming full circle with a feud against The Rock. That might be the most important feud for Cena on RAW, though one could argue his battles with CM Punk take the cake. He was a consistent piece on RAW, and Cena is a top name in the WWE so of course he makes this list. Speaking of CM Punk....

6. CM Punk 

-If only Punk never left WWE, he would be on this list much higher, probably top 3 or 4. However, just outside the top 5 is where he belongs. Punk is the most important wrestler on RAW of this generation and era and it's not even close. No one has impacted the business or RAW quite like Punk and it all goes  back beyond the Pipebomb. Whether it was Punk cashing in his first MITB on Edge, doing commentary while injured, starting the New Nexus, feuding with Randy Orton, or winning triple threat matches, he was always at the top of his game when on the flagship show. When you add in his work after the infamous Pipebomb promo, you really have an understanding of exactly what Punk did for the show. Punk was the MAN from 2011-2013 and there was no one even close. From Punk killing Cena, Kevin Nash, Triple H, and others on the mic to one upping The Rock in promos to the infamous moment with the Urn and the ashes of Paul Bearer against Undertaker, Punk gave the world moment after moment to etch his name in RAW history. Punk could very well be top 5 on any other list. He was just that damn good.

5. The Undertaker 

-It was tough.... Taker is honestly a tough one to call. He was never the top guy on RAW, but he was always a leading attraction. For nearly 25 years on RAW. While he might be retired now (or not), Taker has been there from the first RAW and he just walked away this past year. There is no way he is anything other than top 5. Taker gave the world so many moments and awe inspiring battles on RAW that it's clear he deserves to be ranked higher than those who were given the reigns to carry the company. Taker was consistent, always put in effort, and through his battles and promos with Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, and so many others, Taker proved why he was a living legend and one of the greatest of all time.

4. Chris Jericho 

-The best debut in RAW history will always belong to Jericho. He's given us so many moments and his debut is the greatest of them. However, there are so many more moments and matches that Jericho was a part of that makes him a RAW legend. He spent some time on Smackdown, but at his core, Jericho is a RAW legend. Whether it was his debut against The Rock, his overturned title win against Triple H, his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin, his classic feud with Shawn Michaels, his battles with John Cena, his 2008 heel run, or even his most recent run with Kevin Owens, Jericho can do no wrong on RAW. He is just outside the top 3, but if anyone had Jericho as top 3 in RAW history, I wouldn't be mad at that.

3. Shawn Michaels 

-HBK used to be no. 1 on my list. I used to think Shawn was the greatest RAW star ever, but instead, he's top 5. He's still the GOAT in terms of overall wrestling, but for RAW, he's just a small notch below my top 2 choices and that's more for their impact than wrestling. In the ring, HBK is the greatest, but he definitely had his share of moments on RAW especially in the Attitude Era. Whether it was HBK against Bret, Razor Ramon, The Undertaker, Stone Cold, Chris Jericho, Mr. Kennedy, Triple H, or anyone, HBK was one of the longest tenured stars, and his matches never disappointed. He had classic moments against Shelton Benjamin, with DX, and against Mr. McMahon. HBK could do no wrong on RAW and for that, he is easily top 3 on the show.

2. The Rock 

-Of course, the biggest crossover star in the WWE history books makes the list. The Rock is known for the Smackdown, but RAW is where he built his name. Starting with his heel turn in 1997, leading up to his run in The Nation in 1998, or his epic heel run with The Corporation the year following, Rock would be one of the most important pieces in the Attitude Era for RAW. In 1998 and 1999, Rock was in his prime and ready to ascend higher and higher. Most of his best promos (think "This Is Your Life") and moments came on RAW, and of course, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Rock was the biggest feud in WWE history, and it took place on RAW. RAW would see The Rock return for feuds with CM Punk and John Cena in 2012-2013, solidifying his ranking in the RAW history books. The huge crossover movie star had RAW in a great place when he was a big part of it, and I can't see anyone knocking him off the top two. He's cemented as the no. 2 in RAW history.

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin 

-I mean, obviously right? When RAW was struggling, they needed a hero. They needed a savior. That man would be Stone Cold. RAW was struggling when Austin came up, but I'll be honest: 1997 would be the greatest year of Austin's career from a character and promo perspective, and I was tuned in every Monday to see his antics. When Mr. McMahon managed to get Austin where he wanted him, Austin used to make him play for that. He would try to end The Rattlesnake, and Austin wouldn't budge. In addition to being the most popular wrestler, Austin gave us so many moments from the Beer Bash to a ton of Stone Cold Stunners to saving the WWF from the Alliance to the birth of "WHAT", Austin was the man on RAW. There is no other choice for no. 1 on RAW except Austin. The gap between Austin and anyone else is far too significant to matter. Stone Cold is no. 1 all time on RAW.

-True 

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Eyes on the Ring 2:34 AM  No comment