I wonder, would we let movies and television shows behave this way. How many people would still be Star Wars fan's if Luke Skywalker all of a sudden started working for the Emporer just because Palpatine told him he wouldn't be allowed to be in the next star wars movie? Would the Gotham season finale be something to look forward to if every episode saw Jim Gordon getting his butt kicked by Mister Freeze with out showing any offense at all? Would we continue to watch The Original's if we absolutely hated Klaus? The quick answer is no, and the studious wouldn't allow that to happen. It's not uncommon for a occasional bit player to become the star of the show. When a character test bad he gets less and less lines or recast and a sub character starts to receive more. So why then with wrestling do we need to just ignore it and enjoy the show.
Personally I do still enjoy it, I think it's more like the TV show Lost. Half the time I am overly confused by what I am seeing, but the characters are so enthralling that I need to watch every week to see what Jack and Sawyer are going to do next.
Wrestlemania 32 has the chance to be great. There are five matches on this card that have the chance to be match of the year contenders. With only 8 matches on the main card (the pre-show I'm just not even going to acknowledge) The stories leading up to it could've been great to with a few minor tweaks here and there. So lets take a look at the 8 matches, possible outcomes and how I would have altered the story to make it a must watch show.
Andre the Giant Memorable Battle Royal
Predicted Winner: I don't really care
How I would fix the story:
Not have it period. This match makes no sense and shouldn't be anywhere near a Wrestlemania. Usually when a multi man gimmick match is on a PPV there is a payoff. Two years ago we thought Cesaro's win would propel him up the card it didn't. Last year Big Show won, I don't even want to comment on that. This match is literally here to get as many roster members as possible on the biggest show of the year.
The New Day vs League of Nations
Predicted Winner : League of Nations
The story:
Once this match was made non- title it became obvious that the League is going to pick up the win. The lead up to this has been horrid, at Fastlane, The New Day turned face during a promo with Edge and Christian when the League of Nations came out to interrupt them. They then spent the next couple weeks having New Day play heel to forward other story lines and have absolutely zero contact with the League. Then for some unknown reason Sheamus and Wade Barrett received a title match at Roadblock.
How I would fix the story:
Take out the League of Nations and plug in Enzo and Cass, Keep the New Day heel and let them both work their magic on the mic.
Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship.
Predicted Winner : Kevin Owens
The Story:
First of all I can't get behind any match where a contender for a major title hasn't won a match on Raw in over two years. Any way lets look at the set up Sami Zayn appeared to continue a feud with Kevin Owens that was started on another brand. Dolph Ziggler doesn't want to leave the title picture even though he lost at Fastlane. Zach Ryder, Calisto, and Stardust thought KO was a big meanie head by making fun of them on Raw.
How I would fix the story:
This should be a four corners ladder match with Sami Zayn, The Miz, and Dolph Ziggler against Owens. Instead of just telling us that he and KO have heat why not show us. All the bad blood started on NXT and that's great for the fans that watch both shows but otherwise it doesn't make sense. Following the Raw after Zayn's return at the Royal Rumble KO should have had a one on one match against Zayn (where the announcers could have sold the feud) that ended in a double countout. For the next few weeks they should have been attacking each other every chance they got. At Fastlane we could have had a revenge match where Zayn picked up the win to get his retribution. That win would lead to a number one contenders match between Zayn, the Miz (who has been on fire lately) and Ziggler at Roadblock that Owens interfered with setting up the four corners match.
Charlotte vs Sasha Banks vs Becky Lynch
Winner: Sasha Banks
The Story:
With the talent in this match, this could easily be a match of the year contender. After Sasha turned tweener at the Royal Rumble they have had a story about respect between all three women. Sasha vs Becky has been a fun ride with the two battling trust issues with each other while competing to be number one contender.
How I would fix the story:
I wouldn't, this has been the best told story on the entire card. In the beginning I felt they weren't pushing Banks vs Charlotte enough but in the end this was a very well told story.
AJ Styles vs Chris Jericho
Winner: AJ Styles
The Story:
This is not only a match of the year contender but could easily be the match of the night. After a post Rumble match on Raw, that was won by Styles, they had a second match on Smackdown which Jericho won. They had a rubber match at Fastlane, won by Styles, then they became a tag team? Then they got a title shot? (which I will be doing an article soon about title shot's and why they shouldn't be handed out) Then Jericho had his second heel turn in a matter of weeks against Styles because he was jealous since he was basically the Marty Jannetty of team Y2AJ.
How I would fix the story:
Never have the two of them become a team in the first place. They should have had their first match on Raw a second match at Fastlane which would be where Jericho turned heel by attacking AJ after a match in which he cheated to win. The jealousy angle would have still worked with out insulting us by trying to add emotion of betrayal in a rushed narrative. Then the rubber match could have been this weekend at Wrestlemania.Triple H vs Roman Reigns
Winner: Roman Reigns (ugh!!!)
The Story:
Here's another match of the year contender. Triple H is the big bad boss and Roman Reigns is the new hand picked face of the WWE. Much like Wrestlemania 22, where Triple H faced John Cena, in a match that pitted the evil game against the hand picked future of the WWE, Triple H is tasked with getting the crowd to cheer for a man that the fans are rebelling against because they want to cheer for who they want not get told who to cheer for. In 2003-2004 John Cena got a little bit of a mid card fan following and was then pushed to the moon and back right down our throats to become the new face of the company. Ten years later, having not learned their lesson, they are doing the same thing with Roman Reigns.
How I would fix the story:
Make Reigns a real man and not superman, have him earn the title shot. At the Royal Rumble maybe skip the beating the League gave him. Instead have Vince come out and say at number two is the entire League of Nations. Roman could fight through the adversity by quickly eliminating Barrett and ADR. then he could survive the match after being beaten down the whole match, and selling that beat down by only eliminating a few people and slouching in the corner, only to be the first person eliminated by Triple H. The following night on Raw, the Authority could have announced a number one contender's match at Fastlane featuring the winners from that night. Kevin Owens, AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose. Brock Lesnar could have been added since he was eliminated by someone other than a legal participant in the Royal Rumble and Chris Jericho who talked his way into the match/ Roman Reigns would have to earn his way into the match by winning 10 straight matches before Fastlane. He could then go on to barely pull out the victory at Fastlane. Then a few weeks of being a silent warrior on TV and the fans may have been behind him a little more going into this match.
Dean Ambrose vs Brock Lesnar
Winner: Brock Lesnar
The Story:
This one is a match of the year contender as well. Dean has challenged the Beast to a match because he is crazy and won't stay down after a beating.
How I would fix the Story:
The only thing I would have done differently would be to have Ambrose look strong against Brock at Fastlane and not a cartoon character who was two weak to lift him and had no offense against him.
Shane McMahon vs The Undertaker
Winner: Shane McMahon by proxy when a returning John Cena beats the Undertaker
The Story:
Another match of the year contender. Shane returned, said he is the true boss, challenged Vince for control of the company and the Undertaker is Vince's proxy because if he doesn't win Vince will fire him. Which honestly may be the worst explanation ever since he wouldn't have the power to fire the Undertaker if Shane wins. But at least it's an explanation instead of what we were given up until that point which had everyone wondering why the Undertaker would fight for a man he doesn't like.
How I would fix the story:
When Shane returned he should have taken control of Raw at that moment and made a decree that anyone who want's to be at Wrestlemania needed to show up and compete each week at Raw. The Undertaker, who is the longest tenured wrestler at the company, finally goes to Vince to see what can be done about what he feels is unfair treatment. Vince then challenges Shane to the Hell In a Cell match at Wrestlemania against the Undertaker.
Hopefully the card will make the lack of quality story telling a little bit respectable.
That's all I have for now, Click the links to the right of this article and follow me on Twitter. Be sure to check out my other articles for movie and TV reviews, sports commentary also wrestling reviews and commentary for many different wrestling promotions, such as WWE, TNA, NXT, ROH, NJPW, Lucha Underground, and GFW. Also be sure to check out my articles on The Sportster.
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