Directionless Andrade Cien Almas
Last night, fairly early during the show, Andrade Cien Almas had a singles match with Jeff Hardy and was ultimately defeated….again. Perhaps they indeed have big plans for him in the future, but if they don’t, they certainly should. I’m by no means the biggest Almas fan, but for as long as I watched his work, I can safely say he’s one of the best in the business in-ring wise and deserves more than what he’s given. He hasn’t picked up that significant victory yet, the one that cements him as a future main eventer. Honestly, if I were Vince, and I’m just throwing this out there, I’d call John Cena and pitch a WrestleMania match against Almas. Give Almas a huge win on the big stage against Cena and a notable push in the months subsequent to WrestleMania.
The WrestleMania Main Event Is Coming Early
Due to Becky Lynch now being ineligible to compete this Sunday at Survivor Series, the planned WrestleMania main event is coming early. WWE allowed Becky to handpick her replacement for Sunday in a segment last night and she chose none other than friend turned bitter enemy (now friend again after their emotional hug?), Charlotte Flair. It looks as though now that they have swapped plans for Survivor Series and WrestleMania. Becky will now seemingly get her hands on Ronda Rousey at next years big event at MetLife Stadium, while Charlotte obviously getting the opportunity this Sunday at the Survivor Series.
SmackDown’s Tag Team Division Is Clearly Superior To RAW’s
Let’s see here, SmackDown has The Usos, New Day, Gallows and Anderson, The Bar, while RAW has The Revival, AOP….and those other boring as hell, randomly put together tandems. It’s quite embarrassing. I generally enjoy tag team wrestling, but it’s just incredibly difficult nowadays to get behind any match they’re involved in, especially on RAW, as teams are portrayed as utter jokes – Monday was a perfect example of that when Braun essentially obliterated the entire division. At one point they had Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler, you know, a little star power – but those individuals are evidently busy with bigger and better things now. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn returning and being apart of the division would be a bit fresh, I guess. But either way, we need another shake up for the tag teams or something to help this poorly booked division. If we’re looking at this whole situation realistically, there should be no way in hell RAW’s tag division defeats SmackDown’s this Sunday.
A Minor Change To Team SmackDown
Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles brawled to start off SmackDown this week, and as punishment Bryan was taken off the Men’s Survivor Series team that he initially co-captained. But it turned out to be no punishment at all, because Bryan won the WWE Championship instead. So, that obviously left a spot open on the team and sole captain The Miz then added the addition of Jeff Hardy. So, the field is now set for the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Match. It’ll be Team RAW (Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman vs. Team SmackDown (The Miz, Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, Shane McMahon.
Daniel Bryan Is Now A Heel
Not only did Daniel Bryan win the coveted WWE Championship by defeating AJ Styles, he also turned heel in the process. As the referee was inadvertently taken out in the final minute of the match, Bryan took advantage of the situation with a low blow to Styles, followed by a vicious running knee and a post-match beat down. I’m curious to see what they have in store for us fans now that Bryan is a heel. However, it doesn’t really make sense in a way, as it would be more logical for Bryan to be a babyface against Brock Lesnar. Perhaps Bryan isn’t a full-fledged heel, maybe he’s just going the Becky Lynch route, like a “no more mr nice guy” type deal. I personally think that direction would be better and more logical, but we’ll see, maybe they will wow me enough to think differently. Nonetheless, fans are getting their long-awaited dream match this Sunday, so that’s a positive.
AJ Styles’ Boys Are Primary Targets
An additional takeaway from SmackDown this week – AJ Styles once again getting nailed in the nuts. Shinsuke Nakamura initiated this method of defeating the Phenomenal One earlier this year, and it seems he’s not the only that doesn’t want AJ to have another child, as Bryan exercised the same dirty tactic last night. Yikes.
