Opinion

Mcleod: Big Things for Killian Dain

Dain and Riddle have had a solid feud to reintroduce Dain as a singles threat. Where does Killian go from here?

Published

4 years ago

August 23, 2019

Scott Mcleod

Dain and Riddle have had a solid feud to reintroduce Dain as a singles threat. Where does Killian go from here?

This week’s episode of NXT concluded with a highly anticipated match as Matt Riddle and Killian Dain finally went one on one.

Through a series of brawls they’ve managed to make this feud better than I thought it would be.

Dain relentlessly targeted the ribs of Riddle picking up the win after a series of splashes. Even though he’s the more experienced wrestler I still see this as an upset win for Dain. Riddle has been portrayed as a big deal ever since he arrived in NXT and is definitely someone who could be the NXT Champion.

When Dain came back to NXT he so easily could have fell into the role Kassius Ohno played of the veteran whose main job is to put new people over. So far they’ve done everything they can to make him feel like a threat again and this win over Riddle shows there are big plans for him.

I can see Dain going on a tear from here of just running through people. Putting him in the role of the brand’s monster the role that the likes of Lars Sullivan played before. This way when he does put someone over it means more because he’s been so unstoppable rather than constantly losing big matches. This only served to harm Ohno’s credibility in the long run.

Dain is a veteran of the UK scene as Big Damo so it’s great to see him receiving any type of push because he’s earned it. On the main roster as part of Sanity he could have been the type of monster Vince loves but they just dropped the ball. Having seen Dain in promotions like ICW where he was the first man to win their world championship outside of Scotland. This is what made his mishandling on the main roster so frustrating for me.

He was also responsible for training some of the best Scottish wrestlers through the Source Wrestling School. Alumni include Joe and Mark Coffey as well as fellow Sanity stablemate Nikki Cross. This to me shows that he wouldn’t have an issue with working with and putting over younger talent. He would also make a perfect trainer if he wanted to at either the US or UK Performance Centre.

I don’t know exactly where Dain goes from here but he indicated after this match he wanted to challenge for a championship at some point. I wouldn’t be upset if he beat the Velveteen Dream for the North American Championship. Dream has had a long reign with the title and it would be great heat for Dain as a heel.

I know it seems to be leading to Roderick Strong taking the title but I’d be more interested in seeing Dain with the title. I think the possibilities of him being champ are more interesting and I find Strong the least interesting member of the the Undisputed Era. Dain could really make someone when he drops the title which is great for NXT as they constantly need to build new stars. Along the way he could have outstanding great matches with fellow monsters like Kieth Lee.

If Dain continues on this upwards trajectory with NXT moving to the USA Network it’s an opportunity for more people to see what he’s truly capable of.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Up Next

Andrew’s Stardom 5 Star GP Blue Stars Ratings & Analysis: Day 2

Don't Miss

Tiffany’s NXT Takes: The Hangover Goes On

Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Stone Cold VS. Scott Hall (WrestleMania X8)

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Published

1 week ago

March 14, 2023

Chris King

Chris King is back with another WrestleMania Rewind, looking at the NWO’s Scott Hall battling Stone Cold Steve Austin at WWE WrestleMania X8 from Toronto!

Chris King is back this week with another edition of WrestleMania Rewind, where he is rewatching all the past Mania matches and feuds. This week you’re in for a treat as we look back at ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall at WrestleMania X8.

In late 2001, Vince McMahon bought out his competition WCW and acquired the rights to a plethora of talent including Booker T, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, and the iconic trio known as NWO. Hulk Hogan; Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall were hell raisers, and what better way to make a name for yourself than take out the two top superstars in the WWE The Rock, and Stone Cold?

The NWO cost Austin his chance at becoming the Undisputed Champion at No Way Out during his match with Chris Jericho. Adding insult to injury, the NWO spray-painted ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ with their brand logo just like they did in WCW. As you can imagine, Austin was pissed and out for revenge against the group and primarily Scott Hall.

Hall would challenge Stone Cold to a match at WrestleMania 18. Both superstars beat the living hell out of each other leading up to this highly-anticipated match for who runs the WWE.

The glass broke and Stone Cold made his iconic entrance, and black and white NWO covered Halls’ entrance alongside Kevin Nash. With the odds stacked against ‘The Toughest S.O.B’ could Austin or NWO prove their dominance? Sadly the NWO broke up that very night when Hulk Hogan came to the aid of his adversary The Rock after their ‘iconic’ dream match. Stone Cold would ensure the victory with the Stunner. Hall would perform an Oscar-worthy sell over the finisher.

What a time to be a wrestling fan in the 2000s when nothing was impossible for WWE. Who would’ve thought WCW would go out of business and Hogan would make his long-awaited return to WWE?

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens (WWE WrestleMania 36)

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 36!

Published

2 weeks ago

March 8, 2023

Chris King

WWE WrestleMania 36 Kevin Owens Seth Rollins

Chris King takes a look at the most underrated WWE WrestleMania matches, and starts off with Seth Rollins battling Kevin Owens in the WWE Performance Center at WrestleMania 36!

Chris King is starting a new series heading into WrestleMania season dubbed WrestleMania Rewind. Each week he’ll be going back and sharing his insight over underrated matches at the Show of Shows. First up, is Kevin Owens vs. “The Monday Night Messiah” Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 36.

At the 2019 edition of Survivor Series, Rollins sacrificed himself during the men’s traditional match allowing SmackDown to ultimately gain the victory. The following night the self-proclaimed Messiah, berated the whole roster but KO was not having any part of it. Owens quickly became a huge barrier in Rollins’ cause for the greater good. The Authors of Pain attacked Owens with Rollins’ character in question.

Owens finally had enough of his rival’s mind games and torment and challenged Rollins to a match on the Grandest Stage Of Them All. Rollins mockingly accepted his challenge and the match was made official for night one of WrestleMania. Owens came out of the gate beating the holy hell out of the Monday Night Messiah trying to achieve his long-awaited moment at Mania but, Rollins tried to steal a disqualification victory by using the ring bell.

Owens hellbent on revenge provoked Rollins into turning their encounter into a no-disqualification contest where the fight could be taken all over the empty arena. The highlight of the match, was when KO used the WrestleMania sign to deliver a thunderous senton bomb through the announce table. Owens would secure the victory with a Stunner in an incredible match. Despite having no crowd during the pandemic era, both KO and Rollins put on an intense performance under the brightest lights.

In my personal opinion, this was a great feud that helped both superstars in their transformation as compelling characters for years to come.