SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE LISTENS TO THE FANS…
Recap: The show opened with Charlotte Flair in the ring for a promo. She spoke of putting the “baddest beating on the baddest woman on the planet.” She said she enjoyed every second of it, and did it for the “girls in the back” and the “Champ.” The fans cheered. She repeated her line from last week, saying that she had spent half her career fighting against Becky Lynch, but last week had fought for her.
Paige then came out, saying she enjoyed what Charlotte did to Ronda. Paige did, however, reluctantly inform her that she would be fined $100,000 for putting her hands on five referees.
The IIconics then came to the ring. They did a terrible impersonation of Charlotte as Frankenstein’s monster. [They said “Frankenstein,” but I assume they meant his monster rather than the scientist himself.] They called her a “barbie doll gone psychotic,” and asked Paige if they could have the $100,000. Charlotte then asked which of them would be the next Ronda, demanding a fight against one of them.
This led to a match between Charlotte and Billie Kay, which Charlotte won with the Natural Selection. She then took the mic and challenged Peyton Royce to a match, which ended in a DQ after interference from Billie. After the match, Charlotte destroyed both heels, smashing them repeatedly into the announce table.
Recap: It appears the rarest of rarities has occurred: WWE has actually listened to the “hardcore” fans’ reactions at Charlotte’s “turn” and decided to play it as a face character.
The promo segment was great. The prior Charlotte face character was bland and robotic. Tonight she genuinely seemed to enjoy what she was doing. Her promo was the best I’ve seen from her in a long time. The wrestling matches themselves weren’t good, but you can’t expect much from the IIconics.
Part of the reason these new Becky and Charlotte characters are so over is because they go out, beat people up, and act “cool,” which is in sharp contrast to so many of the other WWE female face characters who give nausea-inducing promos about “empowerment” and “opportunity.” While Evolution turned out to be possibly the best pay per view of the entire year, the promos during the leadup fell into the “empowerment” trap (likely seeking positive corporate media coverage), which was no small reason why tickets sold poorly. This is a wrestling show; fans want to see cool people do cool things and put on great matches (which Evolution delivered). Becky and Charlotte show that when given the opportunity, WWE women can be more than up to the challenge.
Forecast: I was bored to tears by the bland former Becky and Charlotte “tea time” team, but this pairing of their new characters is going to be awesome. The real question is whether this is an indication that WWE will be willing to go heel with Ronda Rousey. I doubt they will, as I’m sure management envisions a face Ronda making the talk show rounds at WrestleMania time. WWE tends to take its true fans for granted while trying to play to “mainstream” audiences, and Ronda Rousey is going to impress lame corporate talk show producers more than anyone else on the roster.
A TAG CAREER FOR SHANE…
Recap: At the top of the second hour, Miz came out for a MizTV segment. His guest was Shane McMahon. He referred to him as the Best in the World. He said “we” hit the Coast to Coast and put Braun Strowman through a table. Shane disputed Miz’s use of the word “we.”
Miz then said he was nervous, and finally got out a question. He asked Shane to become his tag team partner.
Shane deferred, referring to his Commissioner duties. Miz wouldn’t give up and brought out a tag team for them to face, some local talent known as the Bryant Brothers.
Shane reluctantly stood at the corner as Miz began the match. He beat up on one of the Bryants for a while, then turned to Shane to offer him the tag for the pin. Shane told Miz to take the pin, but the conversation was enough of a distraction that Bryant was able to catch Miz in a crucifix pin. As the cameras cut away, Miz pled with Shane.
Recap: This segment was fine. If Shane is going to be wrestling on the show, an odd couple comedy angle with Miz isn’t the worst use of him.
Forecast: Since Miz is a heel and the plan seems to be an odd couple dynamic, I would expect Shane to stay a face.
AN EXPLANATION FROM BRYAN…
Recap: Late in the show, Daniel Bryan came to the ring for a promo. He cut the entire promo speaking of himself in the third person. He said Daniel Bryan had committed a betrayal, not last week, but three years ago when he retired.
He detailed spending three hours a day in a hyperbaric chamber, using the time to meditate on his new mantra: fight for your dreams. He belittled the fans for “moving on” with their “Yes” chants getting quieter and quieter over time as they cheered for AJ Styles.
Bryan closed by saying that the old Daniel Bryan was gone, and that all that was left was the new Daniel Bryan, WWE champion. He then demanded the ring announcer refer to him as “new Daniel Bryan” before leaving.
Evaluation: This was a great promo, as it explained the mental state that led to Bryan’s turn. It also seemed to work, as the fans cheered for AJ, mostly booed Bryan, and did a “No” chant.
Bryan had become pretty stale in his face role and seems reinvigorated.
Forecast: For the reasons above, I think Bryan succeeds in getting over as a heel.
RANDOM THOUGHT…
The unmasking of Rey Mysterio (with the camera catching most of his face) made me realize it has been so long since his WCW maskless run that I had forgotten what he looked like. I wonder if the camera catching so much of his face (at two points in the segment) was a mistake….
NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S COLUMN: TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – SMACKDOWN 11/13: New Champ, Becky Out, AJ Out
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