WEEKLY OVERVIEW – WWE (thru 7/3): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more

The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.

---

•Top Stories of the Week

• As first reported by Sports Illustrated last Thursday and later confirmed by WWE, Paul Heyman & Eric Bischoff have been named Executive Directors of both Raw and Smackdown respectively. Paul Heyman did make an appearance on Raw this week, but not in his new role, but as the advocate of Brock Lesnar. Eric Bischoff did not appear on Smackdown in any capacity.
• WWE announced last week that Jinder Mahal had surgery last week to repair a torn patellar tendon rupture.

---

•WWE Weekly Event Results

WWE Live Event – Raw Roster (Kallang, Singapore)6/27/19

(1) The Revival (c) beat Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
(2) Asuka & Kairi Sane defeated The IIconics
(3) Braun Strowman beat Cesaro
(4) Ricochet (c) defeated Samoa Joe and Robert Roode to retain the United States Championship
(5) A.J. Styles, Karl Anderson, & Luke Gallows beat Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley
(6) Becky Lynch (c) defeated Alexa Bliss to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
(7) Seth Rollins (c) beat Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the Universal Championship

SOURCE

WWE Live Event – Raw Roster (Tokyo, Japan) 6/28/19

(1) Ricochet (c) beat Cesaro to retain the United States Championship
(2) Braun Strowman defeated Robert Roode
(3) Asuka & Kairi Sane beat The IIconics to earn a future Women’s Tag Team Championship match
(4) Triple H, A.J. Styles, Karl Anderson, & Luke Gallows beat Samoa Joe, Bobby Lashley, Baron Corbin, & Drew McIntyre when Triple H pinned Corbin
(5) The Revival (c) beat Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
(6) Becky Lynch (c) submitted Alexa Bliss to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
(7) Seth Rollins (c) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the Universal Championship

SOURCE

WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster (Jackson, Miss.) 6/29/19

(1) Heavy Machinery beat The B-Team
(2) Aleister Black defeated Elias
(3) Andrade (w/ Zelina Vega) beat Apollo Crews
(4) The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) defeated Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
(5) Rowan beat Ali
(6) R-Truth & Carmella defeated Shelton Benjamin & Liv Morgan
(7) Bayley (c) beat Charlotte to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship
(8) Kofi Kingston (c) defeated Dolph Ziggler to retain the WWE Championship

SOURCE

WWE Live Event – Raw Roster (Tokyo, Japan) 6/29/19

(1) Becky Lynch (c) beat Asuka & Alexa Bliss to retain the Raw Women’s Championship
(2) Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows defeated Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins
(3) The Revival (c) beat Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
(4) Triple H & Shinsuke Nakamura beat Robert Roode & Samoa Joe
(5) Asuka & Kairi Sane defeated The IIconics
(6) Ricochet (c) beat Cesaro to retain the United States Championship
(7) A.J. Styles, Braun Strowman, & Seth Rollins defeated Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, & Baron Corbin

SOURCE

WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster (Monroe, La) 6/30/19

(1) Heavy Machinery beat The B-Team
(2) Aleister Black defeated Elias
(3) Andrade (w/ Zelina Vega) beat Apollo Crews
(4) The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) defeated Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens
(5) Rowan beat Ali
(6) R-Truth & Carmella defeated Shelton Benjamin & Liv Morgan
(7) Bayley (c) beat Charlotte to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship
(8) Kofi Kingston (c) defeated Dolph Ziggler to retain the WWE Championship

SOURCE

If you attend a live event, please send results to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!

---

•WWE TV Match Results

Monday Night Raw TV Results 5/20/19

(1) Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley ended in a No Contest after Strowman tackled Lashley through the LED wall on the stage. Both men were taken to a local medical facility.
(2) The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) defeated The Viking Raiders via Disqualification after Samoa Joe showed up at ringside and locked in the Coquina Clutch on Woods
(3) Samoa Joe & The Viking Raiders beat The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, & Xavier Woods)
(4) Lacey Evans (w/ Baron Corbin) defeated Natalya
(5) The Miz beat Elias in a two-out-of-three falls match
(6) Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch defeated Mike & Maria Kanellis
(7) Carmella defeated Alexa Bliss (w/ Nikki Cross)
(8) Nikki Cross (w/ Alexa Bliss) beat Carmella
(9) Ricochet (c) defeated A.J. Styles (w/ Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) to retain the United States Championship

24/7 Championship Update

• • Drake Maverick pinned R-Truth to become the new 24/7 Championship before leaving for his honeymoon

Smackdown Live TV Results 5/21/19

(1) Daniel Bryan (w/ Rowan) beat Big E (w/ Xavier Woods)
(2) Bayley beat Nikki Cross
(3) Andrade (w/ Zelina Vega) defeated Apollo Crews
(4) Ember Moon beat Mandy Rose (w/ Sonya Deville)
(5) Heavy Machinery beat Kevin Owens & Dolph Ziggler to be added to the Smackdown Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules

205 Live Results (Aired on WWE Network) 5/21/19

(1) The Lucha House Party defeated The Singh Brothers in a Tornado Tag match
(2) Tony Nese, Oney Lorcan, & Jack Gallagher beat Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivari, & Mike Kanellis

WWE Main Event (Aired on Hulu and WWE Network) 5/23/19

(1) Sarah Logan beat Dana Brooke
(2) Robert Roode defeated Cedric Alexander

Source: WKPWP Post-Raw On-Site Correspondent

---

•Upcoming Lineups for Stadium/PPV Events

WWE Extreme Rules on July 14 in Philadelphia, Pa.

• Seth Rollins (c) & Becky Lynch (c) vs. Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans in a “Winner Take All” Extreme Rules match for the Universal & Raw Women’s Championships
• Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship
  • Corey Graves mentioned on Raw this week that there are rumors this match may include ladders. No stipulation is listed on WWE.com at this time.
• Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss for the Smackdown Women’s Championship
• Drew Gulak (c) vs. Tony Nese for the Cruiserweight Championship
• Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) vs. The New Day vs. Heavy Machinery for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
• Roman Reigns & Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre in a No Holds Barred match
• Aleister Black vs. ???
  • This match is not official, but Black indicated on Smackdown that whoever knocked on the door last week should meet him at Extreme Rules for a match.

---

•Upcoming Events

Sat. 7/6/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Sat. 7/6/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Adirondack Bank Center, Utica, N.Y.
Sun. 7/7/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Sun. 7/7/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, N.Y.
Mon. 7/8/19 WWE Raw, Prudential Center, Newark , N.J.
Mon. 7/8/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Cool Insuring Arena, Glens Falls, N.Y.
Tue. 7/9/19 WWE Smackdown, SNHU Arena, Manchester, N.H.
Fri. 7/12/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine
Sat. 7/13/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, VSU Multipurpose Center, Petersburg, Va.
Sat. 7/13/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Massmutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
Sun. 7/14/19 WWE Extreme Rules, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mon. 7/15/19 WWE Raw, NYCB Live, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.
Mon. 7/15/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, The Majed J. Nesheiwat Convention Center, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Tue. 7/16/19 WWE Smackdown, DCU Center, Worcester, Mass.
Fri. 7/19/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Santander Arena, Reading, Pa.
Sat. 7/20/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, Ga.
Sat. 7/20/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood, N.J.
Sun. 7/21/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola, Fla.
Sun. 7/21/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.
Mon. 7/22/19 WWE Raw, Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla.
Mon. 7/22/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Hertz Arena, Fort Meyers, Fla.
Tue. 7/23/19 WWE Smackdown, American Airlines Arena, Miami, Fla.
Fri. 7/26/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Four States Entertainment Center, Texarkana, Ark.
Sat. 7/27/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.
Sat. 7/27/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sun. 7/28/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Show Me Center, Cape Gigagdeua, Mo.
Sun. 7/28/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, JQH Arena, Springfield, Mo.
Mon. 7/29/19 WWE Raw, North Little Rock, Ark.
Mon. 7/29/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Memphis Navy Exchange, Memphis, Tenn.
Tue. 7/30/19 WWE Smackdown, FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
Fri. 8/2/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Sat. 8/3/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, E. A. Diddle Arena, Bowling Green, Ky.
Sat. 8/3/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Huntington Center, Toledo, Ohio
Sun. 8/4/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, David S. Palmer Arena, Danville, Ill.
Sun. 8/4/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Erie Insurance Arena, Erie, Pa.
Mon. 8/5/19 WWE Raw, PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mon. 8/5/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Tue. 8/6/19 WWE Live Event – Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Mich.
Sun. 8/11/19 WWE SummerSlam, ScotiaBank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Mon. 8/12/19 WWE Raw, ScotiaBank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tue. 8/13/19 WWE Smackdown, ScotiaBank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Fri. 8/16/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Bismarck Event Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Sat. 8/17/19 WWE Live Event – Super Show (Smackdown Roster plus Becky Lynch advertised), Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Sat. 8/17/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Alerus Center, Grand Forks, N.D.
Sun. 8/18/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Chi Health Center, Omaha, Neb.
Sun. 8/18/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.
Mon. 8/19/19 WWE Raw, Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
Tue. 8/20/19 WWE Smackdown, Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.

---

•Latest TV Highlights

Monday Night Raw

• Seth and Becky teamed up again this time against Mike and Maria Kanellis. Mike and Seth started, but when Mike was thrown into the corner, Maria was tagged in, but she had no intention of wrestling. Maria grabbed a mic insulted her husband, then turned to Becky who was infront of her and yelled “I’m Pregnant” before Becky was able to get ahold of her to try and wrestle. Mike was in the ring and got emotional at the news asking her how could she be pregnant, Maria then said “How? I don’t know how, because I don’t think you’re man enough to get me pregnant.” Becky then forced Mike to tap out. Maria continued to emasculate her husband in the ring telling him what a disappointment he is. She capped off her rant by saying the only man here tonight was Becky Lynch and next time she’ll ask Becky to impregnate her. She walked off leaving Mike in the ring alone.
• Ricochet and A.J. Styles had a rematch tonight, this time for the United States Championship. A.J. Styles seemingly won the title pretty early in the match after hitting a Phenomenal Forearm and scoring a three count, but a second referee emerged to point out that Ricochet’s foot was under the rope which should’ve stopped the pinfall. The match was then restarted after a commercial break. Ricochet would then pin Styles to retain the United States Championship. A.J. then shook Ricochet’s hand, but Anderson and Gallows didn’t like that. They yelled for A.J. about being the real A.J. Styles, Styles turned and told them to stay out of it, he then turned back to Ricochet and hit him. He then stomped away at Ricochet before Anderson & Gallows would hit Ricochet with the Magic Killer. After a few more moves, the three stood together and it appears The Club has reunited.
• Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley had a Falls Count Anywhere match to start Raw. This match comes after their tug of war last week. The match was very physical and they brawled into the crowd at one point. At one point Bobby Lashley suplexed Braun on the stage, but while he celebrated Strowman stood up and tackled him through the LED wall on the stage which led to the entire stage lighting rig turning off and some pyro going off as if things were exploding. Both men were then stretchered off, Corey Graves noted multiple times that Strowman wasn’t able to move his legs when he left the arena. Throughout the night various wrestlers and the announcers made reference to this incident and the wellbeing of both wrestlers to help sell the severity of the stunt.

Smackdown Live

• Samoa Joe and Kofi faced off ahead of their match at Extreme Rules. The segment was supposed to be an in-ring interview hosted by Kayla Braxton, but Joe quickly advised her to leave for her own safety, to which she obliged. Samoa Joe told Kofi that “game recognizes game” and he knows a hustler when he sees one. Joe says that Kofi is no better than him, except Joe uses fear while Kofi uses charisma to get what they want. Kofi pointed out that he’s won his title defenses by himself, not with the help of New Day, then mocked Joe for losing the United States Championship to Ricochet and always attacking people from behind. Joe retorted that Kofi is always slick off the top with prepared answers, then accused him of pedaling his new shirt after winning the title at WrestleMania by bringing his kids into the ring wearing his new shirt. Joe then offered Kofi a deal. Kofi can shake Joe’s hand in recognition of one fact – that when Kofi’s been put to sleep the last two weeks, he came to realize that what is now standing in front of him is the next WWE Champion. Joe then said there’s two sides to every agreement, so for shaking his hand Joe guarantees the safety of Kofi’s friends and family until after Extreme Rules. Kofi contemplated shaking Joe’s extended hand, but after thinking about it, Kofi smiled and gave Joe the middle finger instead. Kofi then hit him with a Trouble in Paradise when Joe charged at him to end the segment.
• Kevin Owens was out at the start of Smackdown to host the Kevin Owens Show. His guests were Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre. Owens did not seem thrilled to be interviewing them after condescendingly introducing Shane as the best in the world. After asking a generic question to Shane, Owens looked completely disinterested in Shane’s answer about not being scared of the Undertaker. Kevin eventually had enough and threw to a clip of Shane looking afraid when the Undertaker appeared on Raw. Owens tried to read the next pre-written question, but said he can’t do it and reminded Shane that he lost to Undertaker at WrestleMania in 2016. At this point the interview was over and McIntyre stepped to Kevin looking very angry. Dolph Ziggler interrupted. Kevin Owens mocked him for the whole “it should’ve been me” line. Ziggler and Owens both argued they should be next for a title shot to Shane before Shane interrupted and decided they’d be teaming together against Heavy Machinery and the winner of that match would be added to the Smackdown Tag Team Championship match.
• In the main event, Heavy Machinery would pick up the win against Owens and Ziggler which means they are now added to the Bryan & Rowan vs. New Day Smackdown Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules. The New Day and Bryan & Rowan were out on commentary at the start of the match, but early on The New Day had enough of Bryan & Rowan and seemingly out of nowhere attacked them. The show then went to commercial and we had a “reset” to the match following the outside fighting. In the match Ziggler accidentally super kicked Owens, which lead to Heavy Machinery hitting their Trash Compactor finish on Owens for the win. After the match, Owens and Ziggler argued momentarily before Owens hit Ziggler with a Stunner and yelled into the camera that this is his show as Smackdown went off the air.

---

•WWE in the Media

– Kevin Owens was on Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia this week. They start by talking about his WWE Network Special Kevin Owens: 365 and specifically the moment when Vince shows how unhappy he was with Owens’ match at WrestleMania. He’s very honest in saying it made him question himself as a wrestler and it began a very rough stretch of time for him because he is so passionate about wrestling. He also says that it wasn’t just that moment with Vince, the issues between the two actually continued on for the following months, but Owens didn’t want to discuss. He does point out that this moment with Vince at WrestleMania was the spark for his downturn.

Kevin then talks about his childhood and how watching WrestleMania 11 really solidified what he wanted to do career-wise because up to that point in life, he said he had no idea what he wanted to do. He also said his parents didn’t discourage him, they enabled him. They started buying him PPV’s and helping him learn about wrestling. Then he talks about meeting his wife and how that changed his life because his sole focus wasn’t solely on wrestling, it was now about his family.

Kevin says because of the pressure he put on himself to succeed, he doesn’t remember enjoying his time as Universal Champion at all. He then recalls talking to Shawn Michaels after Bobby Lashley took him out in storyline so he could go away for his surgery and telling Michaels he was looking forward to the time off, not to rest physically, but mentally. He says the time off helped him to try and focus on the good moments he has in wrestling. He also said he talked to Vince about this same topic once, saying he’s never happy because he’s constantly wanting more. He said Vince told him it’s perfectly okay to want more, but you need to be happy at the same time. He talks about this for some time including telling a story of Paul Heyman talking to him about this same thing as he travelled to the next show by himself. He says he has these moments of clarity and satisfaction, but that mentality never seems to last very long.

They then shift gears and Owens begins to talk about his size and looking like the “ideal” wrestler. He says he isn’t big for lack of effort, saying it’s probably genetics, but that sounds like an excuse to him so he doesn’t like saying that. He says that people calling him fat doesn’t bother him at all, what bothers him is how his family reacts to it. He says his son sees comments online and gets upset, but he tries to show him that it doesn’t bother him at all.

While talking about fan interactions, they talk about the prospects of Owens becoming a face. Lilian says she thinks Owens loves being a heel so much he may not want to be a baby face and Owens responds saying that’s not true, he’d love to be a baby face especially after being a heel for so long in WWE. He mentions his brief stent as a face when he first came back earlier this year and says due to circumstances outside of his control, they turned him heel again. He says he thinks he would be a really good baby face and maybe that’s his ego talking, but he really wants the opportunity to find out if he’s right or not. They then mention Chris Jericho as an example of someone who managed to be both face and heel well, which leads to Owens talking about not being able to enjoy the time with him because he was so hungry for more instead of enjoying what he had going in the moment. In reflection, he’s so happy and enjoys thinking back on it, but in the moment he took it for granted.

Interview starts at 16:00 and you can stream the podcast HERE.

---

•Listen to the latest Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-Show – Smackdown Post-Show

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by Jason Solomon of the Solomonster Sounds Off podcast to review Smackdown with live callers, talk to on-site correspondents from San Antonio, Tex., and answer mailbag questions. They discuss the Samoa Joe-Kofi Kingston angle, the Kevin Owens-Dolph Ziggler saga, the lack of any sign of Eric Bischoff’s influence yet, the awkward contrived commercial break transitions, and much more.

-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “Wade Keller” on your podcast app of choice

---

•WWE Social Media Highlights

So, since I was so harsh on Seth last week, I think it’s only fair that I share the fact that he apologized on Twitter for some of his comments to Will Ospreay. No mention of his comments on the Sports Illustrated podcast and Moxley.

After a few days to sit on it, I’d like to apologize to @WillOspreay for the tweet I sent his way about comparing bank accounts. It was dumb of me & not in line with my values. The moment I pressed the send button I knew it was trash, but I’m too stubborn for my own good.

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) July 2, 2019

I stand firm in my sentiments that @WWE is the best pro wrestling on the planet and that I’m the best of the best doing it right now. After a helluva week of travel, our crew didn’t waver for a second. Top level humans busting their asses for the love of the game.

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) July 2, 2019

I couldn’t be more proud to be a champion with this company and represent @WWE and the entire industry in the way it deserves. No more garbage tweets. I can and will be better.

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) July 2, 2019

Ooooo I forgot to mention…how entertaining are Street Profits in just one week? pic.twitter.com/nLGSiTxsem

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) July 3, 2019

Drake Maverick is posting videos of him, his new 24/7 Championship, and his wife on their “honeymoon” which is apparently happening in Orlando… Where they live…

TWO TIME!
TWO TIME!#WWE @WWE #RAW #Maverick247 pic.twitter.com/q6iIpYIU0Q

— Maverick 24:7 (@WWEMaverick) July 2, 2019

https://twitter.com/WWEMaverick/status/1146084264469049344

With my love on our HONEYMOON – Part 1#WWE @WWE #Maverick247 pic.twitter.com/udSWxAAFkH

— Maverick 24:7 (@WWEMaverick) July 2, 2019

With my love on our HONEYMOON – Part 2#WWE @WWE #Maverick247 pic.twitter.com/io0PkbMa2X

— Maverick 24:7 (@WWEMaverick) July 3, 2019

Becky Lynch is taking credit for Maria Kanellis actually being pregnant… What a weird storyline.

You’re welcome.

— The Man (@BeckyLynchWWE) July 3, 2019

---

•Closing Commentary

– So, I know everyone thinks Triple H is the savior in waiting for WWE, but I think we need to pump the brakes a bit on that. I’m not saying I disagree that he’s by far the best guy to take over for Vince whenever the time comes, but let me play devil’s advocate.

This idea entered my mind while reviewing the house show results from Japan this weekend. Triple H blessed the Japanese fans by wrestling on both shows this weekend, but it’s who he teamed with that caught my eye and, quite frankly, made me laugh. First, he teamed with A.J. Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows like he’s the newest member of WWE’s off-brand-named Bullet Club. Not only did he team with them; he picked up the win by pinning the current number one contender for the Universal Championship, Baron Corbin. Corbin isn’t really shown as a worthy title contender on television, so I doubt that part really matters here, but Corbin still challenging for the title is so ridiculous to me I had to include it. Anyways, Triple H won a match featuring seven current roster members and teamed with three guys that the Japanese fans are VERY familiar with during their time in New Japan Pro Wrestling as early members of Bullet Club. Then on night two, he teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura and won. Good guy Triple H did allow Shinsuke to pick up the win, but again he was in a match with three current wrestlers including the number one contender for the WWE Championship, Samoa Joe! So, what’s my point? My point here is I’m not 100% confident he wouldn’t book himself to be in a prominent role on television as either a wrestler or as an on-air authority figure again, assuming he’s still able to wrestle when he takes over that is.

People will argue that he doesn’t do that in NXT now, so why would he do it on the main roster? NXT is a different world. He’s the proud papa of NXT; he wouldn’t put himself on television there because he’s there to help the next generation of WWE wrestlers learn the WWE style. One could argue that wrestling in NXT would be beneath him since it’s considered developmental. On the main roster, it’s the “big stage.” Triple H also has a history of politicking for self-benefit; when he’s in charge, there’s nobody to politic with, so what’s to stop him? He’s not even in charge right now, yet when he wrestles, he’s going for as long as the top championship matches on the show! His two prominent matches this year were just as long as the biggest matches on those shows. His WrestleMania match with Batista was just as long as the Becky/Ronda/Charlotte main event, and his Super ShowDown match with Randy Orton went longer than any match on the show. That Super ShowDown match went longer than Kofi Kingston/Dolph Ziggler, Finn Balor/Andrade, and Seth Rollins/Baron Corbin. Hell, that match went so long, you can combine any two of these three matches and it doesn’t even add up to be as long as Triple H vs. Randy Orton from that show. My point here is Triple H is the biggest fan of himself, and that can’t be the case when and if he takes over for Vince.

So, I just want to reiterate that I personally think Triple H will be tremendous when and if he takes over for Vince. I wrote all this to play devil’s advocate and to try to argue that people shouldn’t assume he’s the savior of WWE, especially looking at his history of politicking and putting himself in the spotlight. The thought crossed my mind after reading the Tokyo house show results and seeing that he won both matches while teaming with the most popular people on tour who formerly wrestled in Japan. Things like that, combined with him conveniently having the longest matches on the card whenever he does wrestle, are just bad signs. In the end, I’m not sure it’ll really matter because Vince may not give up control until Triple H is 70 anyway.

---

NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.

OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S WWE OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – WWE (thru 6/27): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more