This
week, we’re going to take a brief look at the results of WWE Payback and what
they mean for the company. So let’s crack on with this week’s musings.
The
first of our subjects is what transpired at Payback this past Sunday. For those
who didn’t see the event, which I know won’t be many of you now the WWE Network
seems to be running just fine on almost every device, then it was once again a
worthy event. In fact, it was the third enjoyable WWE pay-per view in as many
months with last stinker being Fast Lane in February. However, several things
stood out for me at Payback which could do with addressing further down the
line. The first was the WWE Tag Team Championships which were contested in a
thrilling two out of three falls out between The New Day and Tyson Kidd and
Cesaro. Now, those who have been regular readers of this blog will know my thoughts
on The New Day and even more so on them taking the titles from Kidd and Cesaro
at Extreme Rules.
I wasn’t
a huge fan of The New Day for the longest of times when they formed. Why you
may ask. Well the truth is that it looked as if WWE had cobbled together three
men who meant nothing to the company anymore just to keep them in the
spotlight. Xavier Woods was as good as heading for the exit door, he was
present that little in the company and the last thing I remember him doing of
any substance was losing comprehensively to Rusev in a two on one handicap
match at last year’s Extreme Rules. Big E’s career had stalled drastically
after being forced to submit twice to Rusev twice on pay-per view and Kofi
Kingston was so stagnant on the roster that he’d been crying out for a makeover
for at least three years. It really did seem as if WWE were scraping the barrel
for ideas.
However,
since capturing the tag titles at Extreme Rules last month, I have revised my
opinion of the trio as have WWE. You see, they’ve been thoroughly excellent in
matches with Kidd and Cesaro and even been given the honour defeating Roman
Reigns and Randy Orton in tag team matches on Raw. This is huge for The New Day
who I am now convinced can do excellent things if WWE keep them relevant and
pit them against teams who can get a great match out of them. Kingston and Big
E will defend the titles inside the Elimination Chamber and should they hang
onto the gold then, without wishing to use the pun, it really could be a new
day for WWE’s doubles division.
The
second thing to come out of Payback was just how sparse WWE’s divas division is
getting. With A.J retired and Paige gone for the foreseeable future to take up
a role as trainer on Tough Enough, Nikki Bella is really struggling for
challengers to her throne. Which is why WWE should either give Naomi a decent
shot at the gold as she seems to be Champion elect or bring up some new talent
from NXT. Right now, the prime choice would be Charlotte, who is beginning to
tread water in NXT.
For
those who have watched NXT over the past year, Charlotte has done some amazing
things inside the ring with women like Sasha Banks and Natalya so it’s only
right WWE bump her up the ranks to their main roster. Charlotte may actually be
able to have to gripping bouts with Nikki Bella, Naomi and Natalya should WWE
give her the time she needs in the ring. If Triple H were to oversee the divas
division then it could be a tremendous part of WWE’s product, because the man
knows the talents of his women and knows the time it will take for them to get
over in the ring. Like Kevin Owens vs John Cena at Elimination Chamber, if
Triple H were to convince Vince McMahon to allow Charlotte to make her main
roster debut against Nikki Bella on pay-per view then it could be massive for
her career.
However,
that leaves the quandary which is Naomi. The real life Trinity is a beautiful
girl and a hell of a wrestler, there’s no doubt about that. But there’s the
question of whether she can withstand WWE’s usual treatment of its female
stars. Naomi isn’t a star yet but could be if WWE give her a long and involved
run with the title. This however would be a result of the audience’s reaction
to her on a weekly basis. If Nikki Bella was to lose the title, there’s no guarantee
Naomi would be accepted as Champion without good reason. Which is why I’m
suggesting WWE delay the switch for two months until SummerSlam, have Naomi
defeat some reputable divas by pinfall and then by the time she gets to the
title match, she’ll be good to go.
The
biggest thing to come out of Payback however, is the announcement that NXT
Champion, or at least he is as I write this before tonight’s NXT pay-per view,
will challenge John Cena at Elimination Chamber in a non-title match. Now, I
know what you’re all thinking. It’s what I was thinking when it was announced
on Raw. But this could be massive for NXT and Kevin Owens. It could also be a
turning point for John Cena. You see, John Cena has made his last few weeks
about fighting younger, up and coming stars. He disrespected Sami Zayne in a
really good bout by not selling his moves properly and did the same to Neville
but rightly lost via disqualification. Now, on pay-per view, WWE cannot allow
John Cena to do this and neither can they have him devalue their brightest NXT star.
Kevin
Owens is awesome. We all know that. His NXT run has been so good that he’s the
natural born successor to John Cena’s throne. However, he has to get over this
hurdle first. John Cena would be respected the world over by wrestling fans if
he lost clean in the middle of the ring to Kevin Owens at Elimination Chamber.
Cena has won the last three pay-per view bouts, it’s time he lost one and made
up for the damage he did to Rusev. If Kevin Owens was to defeat John Cena as he
should, then it opens up an avenue down the line when John Cena predictably
regains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. You see, Kevin Owens will be
NXT Champion for a very long time, it’s written in the stars. Which means WWE
could build Kevin Owens as the man John Cena cannot defeat.
If
both were to clash off of this encounter in a title vs title match for the United
States or WWE World Heavyweight Championship then Kevin Owens could defeat John
Cena again, take his first main roster title and make the transition to the
main roster as easy as blinking. WWE cannot waste this opportunity and Triple H
needs to fight for his star. John Cena can only prosper from doing such a job,
anything less would diminish Owens and his reign and standing in NXT. This is
the time for John Cena to do the right thing and we know he’s capable of it.
Onwards
and upwards…
