Opinion
WWE Performance Center Mania Is A Real Thing, And I Love It
WWE marches to the beat of their own drum, and that continues with the move of WrestleMania 36 to the Performance Center–and still gives us the escape we need.
WWE marches to the beat of their own drum, and that continues with the move of WrestleMania 36 to the Performance Center–and still gives us the escape we need.
Let me start in the most important way: I hope you and yours are happy and healthy. Wash your hands. Make good choices. Love one another. We’re going through some crazy times, and for many that’s just piling on with whatever they already had going on. Be smart, and be good.
Yesterday I wrote a piece on WWE WrestleMania 36, and urged WWE to, at minimum, postpone the event. Mere hours later (you’re welcome) the company announced their stance: WWE WrestleMania 36 will go on as scheduled on Sunday, April 5, just 90 minutes north and in front of 70,000 less fans.
You’ve all seen it, but here it is:
“In coordination with local partners and government officials, WrestleMania and all related events in Tampa Bay will not take place. However, WrestleMania will still stream live on Sunday, April 5 at 7 pm ET on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view. Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWE’s training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania.”
WrestleMania, the Granddaddy Of ‘Em All, will be held inside the WWE Performance Center, with no fans. Wrestling’s biggest stage will emanate from WWE’s smallest–and I am absolutely thrilled.
The world is going through some crazy shit right now, man. People don’t know what to think. I heard comments from a gentleman in his 60s who has lived through Vietnam, the Cuban Missile Crisis, 9/11, and more. He says he’s never seen the public react to anything in this manner. People are hoarding things they don’t need to hoard (if we’re placed on mandatory quarantine, we still get to leave to get food and supplies at set times). I personally remember 9/11 like it was yesterday, when I was working as a manager in the legal department of a credit card company and Vickie, one of my clerks, came to my desk: “Greg, they’re saying a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center.” She went to the break room to check out the news, and returned a few minutes later. “Greg, another plane just crashed into the World Trade Center.”
The world is crazy, man. Experiences–ups and downs–is what life is all about. And how you respond to them is the most important thing we have and do everyday.
Internally, WWE has one really big goal in all they do: to put smiles on people’s faces. Triple H said exactly that while stealing the show during Friday’s Smackdown from the Performance Center. You can tell that Bryon Saxton was trying to do the same during Monday’s Raw from the same location.
We know the card so far, and what we can expect to be added. We don’t know how the event will look, how WWE will make it unique. But I guarantee you, they will make it unique. It’ll be a night to remember for many reasons. But this is what WWE has always done.
Earlier I mentioned September 11th, and my experience around it. I also remember the Thursday after, when WWE presented Smackdown Live as the first major sporting/entertainment event to take place after the horrendous attacks. WWE is a part of American culture, no matter how many people try to dispute that. We all talked about the financial implications of cancelling WrestleMania, and that the company was waiting for Tampa to cancel the event so they can collect on an insurance policy. Well guess what? That didn’t happen! WWE cancelled it first, proven by the statements from Highspots in regards to the hassle Marriott is giving them over cancelling WrestleCon.
Thanks for asking Peter. Unfortunately Mania cancelling before the city or state actually puts us in a bad situation with our venues. pic.twitter.com/tm6tb7l75o
— WrestleCon (@wrestlecon) March 16, 2020
Here is the key text there:
“Unfortunately Mania cancelling before the city or state actually puts us in a bad situation with our venues.”
WrestleMania cancelled (in terms of the local Tampa market anyway) before the city put the kibosh on the event. WWE is eating the cost. Now it’s possible the city steps in and does a major shut down that WWE can lean on in an insurance filing, but that is likely to take years to resolve now that they made the call on their own.
But they made the call.
Pro Wrestling is an escape
For me, professional wrestling has always been an escape from real life. My two best friends (Patrick O’Dowd and Miranda Morales) both came into my life thanks to pro wrestling. I’d still be here, but I know for a fact my life would be vastly different without pro wrestling. I watch it. I talk about it. I podcast about it and thousands of you listen. I write about it and the same numbers read.
WWE puts smiles on people’s faces. No not you, stupid internet fan who complains about everything. But the kids and families who make up their target market. Those who still seek out larger than life characters and experiences. Those who look at Roman Reigns as a hero, not as a problem being shoved down our throats. Those who will tune in because Bill Goldberg is back in the spotlight, and they “remember that guy.”
I am excited to sit down on Sunday, April 5, 2020 and watch WWE WrestleMania 36 as a fan. Truth be told, WrestleMania and the Royal Rumble are two of the only events I can still watch purely as a fan. I hope you’ll join me in taking time away from the stresses of live and everything the Coronavirus is taking from us. WWE decided that it can’t take our escape. It’s going to put a smile on my face.
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Opinion
Chris King: The Wyatt Sicks’ Wasted Potential By WWE
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.
It’s that time of the year again, folks; it’s unfortunate and downright awful that so many WWE superstars got released today. I’m not going to list all of them, but I am going to talk about one of my favorite factions,
The Wyatt Sicks. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) were something special. After Bo’s brother Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, WWE felt like there was a hole that needed to be filled. Wyatt was one of the most creative and brilliant characters, and Bo would be taking over his brother’s concept and bringing it to life. In 2024, at the end of an incredible documentary highlighting Wyatt’s career and struggles, Bo appeared on the screen portrayed as Uncle Howdy. The last time Uncle Howdy was seen on-screen was at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Pitch Black Match. Howdy jumped off a structure onto Knight.
This post-credit scene sparked so much speculation and excitement that Wyatt’s brother would carry on his legacy and possibly debut the faction that was Wyatt’s concept. On the June 17th episode of Monday Night Raw, The Wyatt Sicks made their dramatic debut ,destroying the backstage area as well as “murdering” Chad Gable. It was such an iconic arrival for Howdy as he made his menacing walk from the back into the audience who were chanting “Holy Shit.” The Sicks and American Made (Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers) battled for months, with The Sicks being victorious. On the September 9th episode of Raw, The Sicks defeated them, with Howdy getting the win with Sister Abigail.
The following year, The Sicks would move over to Friday Night SmackDown, and it seemed like WWE had a plan in place. They would win the tag team championships from The Street Profits and start to look dominant. Now, what should have happened next is Howdy should have won the United States title. The Sicks could have held all the gold over on the blue brand, but it never happened. The Sicks entered into a never-ending feud with The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga.) It started off exciting, and the WWE Universe was red-hot for their interactions.
After months of repetitive matches and The MFT’s stealing their lantern, the feud grew tiresome and boring. Even Tama asked Solo why they are still holding onto the lantern, as it was destroying them as a whole. Finally on the SmackDown before Mania, Tama
gave the lantern back to Howdy against Solo’s wishes. Please explain to me why both factions fought almost every single week instead of just having one final blowoff match at WrestleMania.
It should have been either a massive street fight or a falls count anywhere match on the grandest stage of them all. Instead, it turned into a meaningless week-after-week extravaganza that benefited no one. The MFTs won the rivalry, and The Sicks don’t even work for WWE anymore. This was the same criminalized creative process that Wyatt dealt with during his first run in the company.
We’ll never know how much of a dangerous force The Wyatt Sicks could have been in the WWE. For all their careers’ sake, I hope they stay far away from the company for as long as possible. Every superstar that was cut deserves better!
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Opinion
Chris King: Bloodline Saga: Is This the Right Call For WWE?
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns is once again World Heavyweight Champion after his dominant win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42. On the following night on Monday Night Raw, The OG Bloodline came back together as a well-oiled machine as The Usos stood side by side with Roman. With the WWE Universe asking who would be the first to challenge “The Tribal Chief,” Jacob Fatu shocked the world by answering the call.
Fatu is running hot after his impressive win over Drew McIntyre and feels like he is ready to become the new world champion. This bloodline segment ended Raw, and it picked right back up on SmackDown with even Solo Sikoa and the MFTs involved. This is now two shows that have been centered around The Bloodline saga, and it’s made me question whether or not WWE should be retelling this story.
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) ran WWE for over four years as Reigns’ henchmen, doing his dirty work to retain his title. Even though Roman has declared he doesn’t want Jey and Jimmy to serve him, it sure seems like WWE are spinning their wheels. Fatu could add a whole new chapter into the story, even if he’s not able to beat Roman at Backlash. “The Samoan Werewolf” could be forced to do the same thing as Jey did all those years ago and fall in line.
In my opinion, I feel like Fatu should be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship because that’s a title I feel like he should win. I understand standing up to your blood and trying to prove you’re the best, but I don’t think this is the right move. It feels like 2022 all over again, as The Bloodline is the central focus on both shows. If Fatu doesn’t win, what happens to all his momentum he’s been building over the last two years?
Why did WWE make this the best choice for storyline purposes? Why couldn’t creative have come up with a different challenger for Roman? There are so many other superstars that could challenge The Tribal Chief, such as Rusev, Bron Breakker, Gunther, or even a returning Sheamus.
I just can’t help but question WWE’s logic here, and it kind of reminds me of all the times The Shield reunited. Could WWE be pushing the same storyline too many times here? Could the WWE Universe get tired of this rinse and repeat cycle of The Bloodline Saga?
Are we about to see all the weekly episodes solely focused on The Bloodline again? Will it be cinema… Yes. Is there still money in The Bloodline… Yes. Was it the right call? That’s to be determined!
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
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