In
this week’s blog, we’re going to look at two happening which went on through
the WWE Universe this week. Each as different as the other. I will say that the
last one on the agenda transpired on the WWE Network, which I have now gotten
to work on my Xbox 360. However, just because I can now access NXT and
everything on the Network, it hasn’t changed my mind about bringing this blog
to an end over the coming months. Sometimes, things end and that’s how it has
to go.
The
first item on the agenda this week is a certain absence from WWE which most of
you will have noticed if you watched Extreme Rules last Sunday. Originally
meant to be Daniel Bryan vs Wade Barrett for the WWE Intercontinental
Championship, rumours had been circulating the WWE Universe in the days prior
to the event that Bryan wouldn’t make it to the Allstate Arena in Chicago
because of an mystery illness which had kept him out of action. From what I
read before Extreme Rules, it was touch and go and the wrestling world seemed
geninually worried about Bryan. Naturally, your Wrestling God passed it off as
an excuse to cover for an injury Bryan had sustained on Raw or Smackdown. I believed
it would be a heat builder for Bad News Barrett when he refused to stop wailing
away on Bryan in the match itself.
The
whole thing stunk of a set-up, to add more believability to the Daniel Bryan
character. Over the last few months, there have been some rebellious members of
the WWE Universe who haven’t taken to the Yes Movement as they did last year.
When Daniel Bryan was seen to be possibly added to the WrestleMania main event
in his feud with Roman Reigns, some fans actually booed him. It was noticeable
at WrestleMania as well. In short, the message from fans to WWE was that they
were pushing the Daniel Bryan pity party too far and having him try to crash
other people’s spotlight wasn’t what they wanted to see from the man who made
it big one year previous, thanks to working for his fame instead of trying to
steal it from someone else.
With
that in mind, WWE had to do something to make Daniel Bryan seem the underdog
again. After all, that’s part of the reason we fell in love with him in the
first place. He could have been us. Anyone reading this blog who has been held
back because of other people. That was the appeal. What WWE did with him in the
pre-WrestleMania season was just stupid. Hence the belief that Daniel Bryan’s
latest ailment was a storyline set-up so Wade Barrett could look like the
merciless son of a bitch when he concentrated on the injury or illness in their
bout. But I was wrong. When Daniel Bryan failed to appear at Extreme Rules as
advertised, I suddenly realised that the illness and or injury was serious.
As I
write this, it’s not been brought to light exactly what is wrong with Daniel
Bryan but there’s always the possibility that he could be back in action as you
read this. But by the sound of it, I doubt that will happen. Bryan is sicker
than anyone first thought which means he may have to forfeit the WWE
Intercontinental Championship. I was thinking about this the other day and
suddenly came to realise that Daniel Bryan has had some really bad luck after
WrestleMania’s in the previous couple of years. Last year at WrestleMania XXX,
Bryan bested Randy Orton and Batista to capture the WWE World Heavyweight
Champion. Days later, Bryan came down with a serious broken neck which he
managed to carry on with until after Extreme Rules. Following the event, Bryan
was withdrawn from television and forced to undergo neck surgery which not only
kept him out for the majority of 2014 but also ensured he had to forfeit the
WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
There’s
no doubt it was a disappointing end to his journey, but when the devil pisses
in your kettle then there’s not much you can do. This year, Bryan and his
millions of fans believed things would be different. Seemingly with no injury
going into the event, Daniel Bryan captured the WWE Intercontinental
Championship in a brilliant Ladder Match. And then weeks after lifting the
title, once again Bryan is stuck down by a mystery illness which if it goes on
much longer means he’ll have to forfeit his latest piece of gold also. Daniel
Bryan has had some terrible luck after WrestleMania events. It make me wonder
if there’s a curse hanging over his head. It doesn’t matter how well he does on
the grandest stage of them all, he’s cursed with bad luck following.
Whatever
his ailment, I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.
The
last thing on the agenda this week is a return to WWE. Not of a wrestler or
someone we love, but rather something which has been missing from the product
for way too long. I am of course talking about the King of the Ring tournament
which made a welcome return this week on the WWE Network. First sprung upon us
at Extreme Rules, I was a little sad to see that the qualifying rounds were
held the previous night on Raw with just the semi-finals and final on the WWE
Network. WWE could have done so much with the return of the event that I
believe whilst what we were given was a bonus, the company also dropped the
ball here.
Years
ago, King of the Ring was a staple of WWE. It was one of the big five events of
the year. Yes, it dwindled away with a new century and the company attempted to
resurrect it on Raw over the years, but I don’t believe there’s ever been a
better chance to bring it back to pay-per view than 2015. There are so many
wrestlers who need elevating that a great showing on a King of the Ring pay-per
view could have been the making of men like Neville. Would we really have
moaned had WWE done away with Payback or Battleground in order to stage the
first King of the Ring pay-per view in thirteen years? No, of course not. Also,
what better way to keep those viewers who only tuned in for WrestleMania than
to give them back that nostalgic feeling with King of the Ring?
Had
WWE scrapped one of the aforementioned pay-per view events in favour of a return
for the tournament, then they could have began hyping it at WrestleMania with
both promos as well as the first qualifying match on the card. Those lapsed
fans who only watch WrestleMania for the nostalgic feeling would have been
intrigued as to the return of an old favourite, and a qualifying match at
WrestleMania would have signalled intent that WWE were taking it seriously.
This course of action would have forced those lapsed fans who were interested
into watching Raw and Smackdown and Extreme Rules to keep up with the product
in the run in to King of the Ring. Those two months, WWE could have provided
the lapsed fans with killer material keeping them with the company once again
after the event had finished. It was a fool proof plan.
Instead,
we were given a thrown together event which may have been good in the ring but
was a huge missed opportunity. Next year, WWE must restore King of the Ring to
pay-per view with the quarter finals also being held on the card. This is what
made the tournament great and would again if WWE concentrated on the event
itself instead of its main event. Restoring this event, King of the Ring could
be the making of younger stars looking to make a name for themselves in WWE.
As for
this year, Bad News Barrett reigned as King on the show defeating Neville in
the final. For those who didn’t see it, it was a really good outing which
Neville should have won seeing as he’s new to WWE’s main roster. I feel like
Bad News Barrett has done everything he can in WWE and whilst a royal gimmick
may help him out, it would have done much more for Neville who I believe would
have been better staying in NXT. The guy is a hell of a talent, but he’s too
small and too different for Vince McMahon to take seriously. Sometimes, we have
to be thankful for what we have. And in NXT, Neville had it made.
Onwards
and upwards…
