Opinion

Was Smackdown A Consolation Prize For NXT?

NXT became DXT and invaded Survivor Series DX-Nitro style, complete with a jeep! But was that a consolation prize for what’s happening at Survivor Series?

Published

4 years ago

November 24, 2019

Gou Oussema

NXT became DXT and invaded Survivor Series DX-Nitro style, complete with a jeep! But was that a consolation prize for what’s happening at Survivor Series?

That weird image of HHH, Road Dogg, and Shawn Michaels standing atop the Smackdown ramp as NXT brawled with Smackdown and Raw superstars probably sums up a lot of things that are wrong about WWE, and about Survivor Series (at least how WWE perceives it).

The cool visual of those guys riding a jeep to the ring, a la 1998 WCW invasion, is instantly hampered by the fact that it is those guys who are doing it. In a perfect world, Undisputed Era would have been the ones to lead the raid not HHH and co. We don’t have to go through the obvious things, but we need to do that or else there will be no point writing this piece.

First, HHH and co won’t take part in any match at Survivor Series, so why they were there stealing a bit of the spotlight from the NXT stars?. Second, why is everybody loyal to the point they completely drop any kind of animosity for brands’ sake?. Finally, Is anyone really sure that WWE will stnd behind NXT and book them well on Sunday?.

Onto the real point, though. The conclusion of this week’s Smackdown made it feel like NXT are being prepared for a mugging at Survivor Series, and this was their 15 minutes in the sun (or whatever anyone wants to call it). Yes, NXT got some important wins, and had some decent mic time to cut promos (as short as they were), yet nothing feels special anymore. The gold and black brand could not rekindle the fire that was Wednesday’s show, although that may heavily fall on the shoulders of Vince and co. who are in charge of booking Smackdown. Rhea Rhipley got a pinfall over Charlotte Flair, but I wouldn’t call it a victory because she was a third wheel (despite being really good) to both Charlotte and Sasha in that triple threat. The way she got that pinfall tells the story actually, as she was portrayed as a sneaky heel or worse, an incompetent one.

The Undisputed Era had a better roll of the dice against New Day and Heavy Machinery, yet their victory feels bland. The New Day could have easily eaten a pinfall loss, and it would not harm them. What does UE get by beating Heavy Machinery, who are despite how over they can be, a no-name compared to them or the New Day. UE would have done better by just battering the New Day and making a strong statement ahead of Sunday, especially considering that New Day are almost bullet-proof at this point. Speaking of Strong, he picked up the win, yet had his ass handed to him by Sami Zayn who is not going to wrestle (by the way, i would love to see that match between them) and how does that make Undisputed Era look dominant? No Idea!.

Now let’s talk about the go-home angle, which was messy as hell. To be fair, it is expected to have a MASSIVE brawl like that closing out the show, but the devil hides in the details. Aside from the usual continuity issues, (again) why HHH and co. should be the ones leading and giving orders. I mentioned in my article about whether NXT needs a clean sweep at Survivor Series, that this invasion may quickly become a mirror of the 2001 invasion. For me, that was a shade of that, although not quite as centered around the McMahons as 2001’s was. In the end, I felt that Smackdown was a show built around NXT getting as many good moments and victories as they can, because they might be jobbed the hard way on Sunday (which is a bad booking by the way). If that happens, I will probably start to sour on WWE. If not, I will give them enormous kudos even If NXT only wins one or two matches.

This is only one man’s opinion after all, tell me yours in the comments below and reach out to me on twitter @Austin316Tn. Till next time.

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

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Opinion

King’s WrestleMania Rewind: Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka from WrestleMania 34

Chris king is back with one of the most underrated matches in WrestleMania history–Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka!

Published

2 months ago

April 2, 2023

Chris King

WWE WrestleMania 34 Charlotte Flair Asuka

Chris king is back with one of the most underrated matches in WrestleMania history–Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka!

We look back at Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka at WWE WrestleMania 34. ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ put her unprecedented and historic undefeated streak of 914 days on the line against ‘The Queen’s’ SmackDown Women’s Championship.

For years, this was considered a dream match while Asuka dominated the roster in NXT, while Flair won numerous championships on the main roster on both Raw and SmackDown. The Empress made her long-awaited debut on the September 11th episode of Raw and began to tear through the competition.

Asuka outlasted all twenty-nine other women in the historic first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble match to challenge for the title of her choosing. At Fastlane, she made her choice.

The WWE Universe was so excited for this match myself included. Both superstars delivered a fantastic performance on the Grandest Stage of Them All executing counter after counter. Asuka showed off some nasty-looking kicks to her opponent, and Flair hit a thunderous Spanish Fly off the top rope. Flair was seconds away from defeat at the hands of The Empress but she locked in Figure Eight and Asuka was forced to tap out.

I can’t even begin to explain how shocked I was at this outcome, as nearly everyone expected The Empress to continue her undefeated streak and walk away with the women’s title. This controversial decision was the downfall of Asuka’s momentum. She would ultimately win the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the 2018 TLC pay-per-view in the triple-threat ladder match.

Fast forward to this year when Asuka has recently returned with her Japanese-inspired persona Kana. Kana is dangerous and ruthless and is heading into a championship with Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 39. The Empress has regained all her momentum and is highly favored to walk away with the Raw Women’s Championship. Let’s hope that Asuka and Belair can tear the house down and deliver an A+ grade match both women are fully capable of.

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

Opinion

King: Dominik Mysterio Needs To Do This At WrestleMania

Chris King is here with what WWE should do with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania in his long-awaited match against his father Rey Mysterio Jr.

Published

2 months ago

April 1, 2023

Chris King

Chris King is here with what WWE should do with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania in his long-awaited match against his father Rey Mysterio Jr.

On this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Rey Mysterio finally snapped and beat some sense into his disrespectful punk-ass kid Dominik. The member of the Judgement Day came out to push his father again for a match on the Grandest Stage of Them All, this time with his mother and sister at ringside. The ungrateful punk told his mom to “Shut Up,” as a father even I wanted to jump through the screen and whoop his ass.

Back in October of last year, Mysterio made the emotional decision to possibly quit the company but, instead, Triple H persuaded the Lucha libre superstar to move over to SmackDown to avoid his son. This came after Dominik shockingly turned on his father at Clash at the Castle. Mysterio did everything he could to refuse his despicable son’s challenge for Mania but, a man can only be pushed so far. Mysterio will be inducted into the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame and I expect Dominik to embarrass his father during his speech to further this personal feud.

Yes, the WWE Universe hates Dominik and wants to see him get the ever-loving crap kicked out of him but, this feud is missing a special ingredient to capitalize on the biggest heat possible. Throughout this feud, Dominik has made mention of the legendary Eddie Guerrero on several occasions going back to the “iconic” 2005 feud.

I know WWE might not want to go this route but, Dominik MUST come out to Eddie Guerrero’s theme at Mania. The disrespectful punk needs to come out in a lowrider to garner nuclear heat. It doesn’t matter if The Judgement Day comes out and causes interference for Dominik to get the win, all that matters is that both superstars get the biggest payoff of this nearly year-long feud. Just imagine the Roman Reigns heat after he defeated The Undertaker and multiply that by ten. Dominik portrays the perfect heel and he truly is the missing ingredient that The Judgement Day needed to grow and evolve into a top faction.