Welcome back to another round of Quick Takes—a post that indulges in the topics that aren’t worth dedicating a full article to, but are still on my mind.
Each week, I try to cram in as many smaller talking points as I can via a speedier process, and I invite you to chime in with your own thoughts about these topics and anything else by keeping the discussion going in the comments below! Drop some more talking points in there for everyone to chat it up about, too!
Without further ado, let’s get into this week’s topics.
Updates to the Hall of Fame
Normally, WWE starts naming Hall of Fame candidates one at a time per week. Now, we’re in the lightning round, where we’re getting multiple announcements in a row.
This week, Kane and The Great Khali were confirmed, while RVD is all but assured, according to most reports. Unfortunately, Batista was also removed from the list.
If the idea in mind is that Batista is being saved for a crowd, I think it’s strange someone like Kane isn’t. I could see an argument for The Great Khali not needing to have thousands of fans in attendance for his acceptance speech, though. RVD, even, as he would probably have a chill and simple speech.
All of them are well-deserved. Yes, even The Great Khali deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, I think. I certainly wouldn’t put him in above dozens upon dozens of others who have yet to be put in there, of course, but this isn’t a competition where he gets in and someone like The Rock or The Undertaker don’t. They’ll be in there just the same, and as headliners.
Any time we get to see some genuine emotion like Undertaker telling Kane the good news is great, too.
Rhodes to the Top
It was announced this week that there is another show in the AEW family that will premiere soon, dubbed Rhodes to the Top. This is a “reality” program revolving around Brandi and Cody Rhodes.
To be honest, this isn’t for me. I’ve never been into scripted reality shows. The overly dramatic nature is nauseating. Everything is produced and manufactured. People are put in positions to try to seem wacky or cause “arguments” that resolve themselves at the end of the episode, just to get reignited the next time around. It’s practically more fake and scripted than the regular wrestling content.
I’d hope this isn’t as hard to sit through as Total Bellas and the like. Unfortunately, I don’t have any faith whatsoever that it will be that much better, if at all.
Still, it’s not fair of me to fully judge it until I’ve seen at least one episode. Therefore, when it comes out, you can look forward to a review from me with my first impressions.
Positivity on the Road to WrestleMania
I’ve been quite down on the build to WrestleMania this year. While I’m willing to give some leeway due to the pandemic, I don’t think it’s a catch-all excuse for some of the poor booking we’ve seen.
With that being said, I have to admit that this week, for some reason, I’ve started warming up to things. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still VERY disappointed in some of the matches, like Randy Orton vs. The Fiend. But I’m at least getting the feeling that NXT in particular has actually put in the effort to make the best show possible.
How great was that Kyle O’Reilly promo from NXT this week? Even with the NXT tag titles being vacated, the Triple Threat match will make up for it and could end up being even better than MSK vs. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch would have been (though I still want to see that). The Cruiserweight Championship contest is now a ladder match? A battle royal to set up a gauntlet match to set up a North American title shot?
TakeOver: Stand and Deliver has me sold. NXT UK: Prelude isn’t much, but at least it’s better than a regular episode. And while most of WrestleMania has been a lackluster low-effort build and nowhere near what I’d book, some of it at least looks good on paper. I’m trying to see the glass as half full. It’s harder than it should be, as this should be the best time of the year and the easiest to be excited about. But hey, I’m putting in more than my fair share of effort as a fan.
What are your takes on these topics? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
