SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
Finally an Acceptance of Rusev as a Face…
Recap: The show was scheduled to lead off with Bobby Roode & Randy Orton against Jinder Mahal & Sunil Singh in a tag match. However, when Jinder came to the ring he announced that Sunil Singh was injured and revealed his replacement as Rusev.
During the match itself, Roode and Orton frequently disagreed about who should be tagged in and out. At one point, Sunil Singh removed his arm from its sling while attempting to interfere, indicating that his injury was a false excuse for Jinder to get Rusev into the match.
Late in the match, Roode banged into Orton after a punch from Jinder. An angry Orton then approached Roode, who responded with a shove, leading to an RKO to Roode from Orton. Rusev exploited the situation to win with the Matchka kick to Orton.
After the match, Jinder thanked Rusev backstage and offered him front row tickets to WrestleMania as a gift. Rusev responded by stating that since he pinned the U.S. Champion, he would instead seek to be added to the U.S. Title match at WrestleMania himself. This was made official later in the show.
Evaluation: Until the post-match backstage segment, I was ready to write this section about how WWE yet again was refusing to accept the fans’ reaction to Rusev by pairing him with Jinder. The backstage segment luckily seemed to clearly indicate that my fears were unfounded and WWE has finally accepted that the fans turned Rusev face some time ago.
Forecast: Since the announcement of Shane McMahon’s unfortunate illness, there has been a lot of fan speculation that Rusev could turn face and fill in as Daniel Bryan’s tag team partner. This angle kills that speculation, but does accept Rusev’s face status and catapults him into the US Title picture. Considering the U.S. Title picture has been so dull, I predict Rusev takes the title at WrestleMania to move the division on a new direction.
Bryan’s Match is Set for WrestleMania…
Recap: Daniel Bryan approached the ramp for a promo. He first set a tag match for WrestleMania with him and Shane McMahon opposing Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. He acknowledged Shane McMahon’s hospitalization (selling it as due to the Owens/Zayn attack), but indicated Shane would be ready for WrestleMania. If Owens and Zayn win, they will be reinstated to Smackdown.
Bryan stated that he has given Owens and Zayn so many opportunities because of their talent, and also because of their long friendship over 15 years.
He proceeded to say that he was tired of his role as GM due to the expectations of board meetings, paperwork, and dress codes.
He closed the promo by stating he was going to kick Owens’ and Zayn’s asses.
Evaluation: The big shock here is the announcement that Shane McMahon will be ready for WrestleMania. With diverticulitis and an umbilical hernia, that seems incredibly unlikely.
Bryan setting the match with the stipulation for Owens and Zayn to be reinstated is illogical. While it is understandable that he wants to get his hands on them, there is no reason to think the stipulation was necessary to get them in the ring. Presumably they would do it for the payday or simply to beat up Bryan and Shane.
Forecast: I can’t believe that Shane will actually be ready for WrestleMania. More likely, that is the story for tonight because WWE hadn’t yet settled on a new tag partner by Smackdown show time. Later in the show, Tom Phillips even seemed to hedge on Bryan’s statements about Shane being ready. I would expect a new tag partner to be announced next week.
Shinsuke Plays Games…
Recap: Early in the show, Shinsuke Nakamura approached A.J. Styles backstage. He indicated that A.J. seemed to be lacking confidence going into WrestleMania, which A.J. denied. Nakamura indicated that he wanted A.J. to be in his corner for his match against Shelton Benjamin tonight. A.J. agreed, stating that he was doing it to ensure that nothing got in the way of their match at WrestleMania.
After Nakamura defeated Benjamin, Nakamura told A.J. that he never needed his help, but simply wanted him at ringside to see how he would be beaten at WrestleMania. This got A.J. fired up. Nakamura was pleased, as he said his advantage over A.J. his ability to keep cool while A.J. got emotional.
As Nakamura left, Benjamin and Gable attacked A.J. Nakamura returned to clear the ring of the heels. He then teased hitting A.J. with the Kinshasa, pulling the blow at the last moment.
Evaluation: Up until tonight, this match had been lacking a build to give it a hook in the minds of the fans. Fans of New Japan still considered it to be a “dream match,” but to the casual fan the storytelling had been lacking. Tonight’s framing of the match as the cool-headed Nakamura playing mind games with the fiery A.J. gives the match an angle and story that it had been missing.
Forecast: With so many big matches at WrestleMania this year, it was easy for this match to get lost in the shuffle. Tonight’s angle should put it at least a little further to the front of more casual fans’ minds.
Random Thoughts…
We made it through Raw this week with no words on the screen, but unfortunately they returned tonight with the Shelton Benjamin promo and the New Day entrance…
NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: TOP 3 DEVELOPMENTS – RAW 3/26: Lesnar beats on Reigns again, another Undertaker no-show, Triple H & Stephanie prepare
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