WNS Column: Wilds' War Cry: Cena is The Worst Team Leader

Instead of just recapping everything I have missed over the past two weeks like an episode of WWE’s Smackdown, I want to use this article to address a few important things that are on my mind in the world of wrestling.

I cannot spend too much time talking about TNA, because it will just depress me. They have had some interesting stuff happen over the past two episodes, like Storm’s faction winning the tag team belts—though I think there is some question as to who had that feast or fired case originally—but Abyss joining seemed to not be played up enough. Shaw and Gunner had fun with chairs, the knockouts and X-Division guys both put on good matches with new champs, and we saw a fun hardcore match with Tommy Dreamer, Bram, Magnus, and even Al Snow ran in. I see you have been hitting the gym, Al!

The last episode even ended in a cool way, but it did not last when I realized that everything the company has been building will have to wait over a month to see anything else happen, causing any built heat to cool down. It is a shame. The new deal was already a step back—even though I agree with many that there is potential for both parties to benefit from the new deal—but I think the time off air, only showing recaps and specials, will be what drives a lot of casual TNA fans away. I hope I am wrong. The hope is that the company will come back strong, but this is just another boundary. If anyone is reading this though and was on the fence beforehand, yes, TNA is worth giving a shot when it comes back, even if we are basing it purely off of some of the awesome work talent has put into it lately.

The only thing I remember about Smackdown was from two weeks ago; the triple threat match between Dolph Ziggler, Tyson Kidd, and Cesaro. If anyone missed it, I recommend going back to watch this bout. Each wrestler looked awesome, but the highlight moment had to be when Cesaro was in the submission and still crawled over to get the pin. Ziggler and Kidd would make an excellent feud match-wise, and Cesaro is just sensational all around. NXT had an incredible match with Hideo Itami and Finn Balor against Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel, which is the stuff good wrestling is made of.

So the big thing everyone has been talking about this week is the 28^th annual Survivor Series. The pre-show allowed Fandango to show off a new look with Rosa, but it seemed a bit underwhelming to me, and Cesaro had an okay match with Swagger. They needed a longer match, considering that the event would start off with a twenty minute promo. This should never happen, and I have no clue why a shortened version of this was not simply after the tag title match. I understand wanting to hype the main event, but that is what all of those Raw and Smackdown episodes were for.

In what was probably the penultimate moment of the evening, The Dust Brothers—as I shall now call them—lost the straps to The Mizs (Not sure if that name will stick…). This was an entertaining match that turned into an odd diving splash-fest with one of the oddest tower of dooms I have seen, and a few Papa Shongo references. Each team did well and I actually did not pick Miz and Mizdow as the winners, but I and a lot of other fans were happy to see it happen. I want both of those wrestlers to prosper in the company, but hope that The Dust Brothers do not get lose in the shuffle.

I am glad that the divas got a traditional Survivor Series match, but it felt one-sided and made Paige look weak in my opinion. She should have been allowed to eliminate one or two people at least, and it is hard to tell if creative still wants to do a feud with her and Alicia Fox or not. Summer Rae screaming and backing up as a reversal was pretty funny though. Adam Rose and the Bunny had a match against Slater and the Gator, which could have been better, and I think they need to go ahead and pull the trigger on revealing the bunny’s identity before this gets much older. Maybe this is just the medicine talking, but that match just seemed…weird.

I am not sure why Roman Reigns was interviewed once again via satellite, other than to say: “I would cock this here fist, and I’d make it rain in that bitch.” What? Alright creative, do not ruin the man before he gets back. I am also still not sure what I thought about Nikki Bella’s win over AJ Lee for the divas belt. The throwback to Wrestlemania 28 was interesting and all, but it felt cheap. I am just glad the rumors of her leaving were incorrect, and Brie seemingly doing a heel turn could be interesting, but I have to question if creative knows what they are doing.

Bray Wyatt versus Dean Ambrose was a fun spot; a DQ ending for what seems like the beginnings of an amazing feud. Both of these wrestlers have so much more potential, and their encounter at Survivor Series was pure brutality, with so much weapon use, leading into what should be one of the best parts of the TLC PPV. Dean mocking Bray in the corner, and that leg drop from the ropes; these are the moments that make me excited to keep watching.

This brings us to the last match of course, what everyone has been collectively losing their shit over since Sunday night. The intros did not take too long, and I like Eric Rowan’s new theme (it is like a sped up version of the Deadwood intro music). I suppose the quick elimination of Mark Henry was used to make Big Show look strong and make it seem less likely he would be the one to turn. Big Show turning actually made the least sense to me, and I feel like we have been here before. The best part about the turn was Cena getting taken out and not being able to be the sole survivor. This whole storyline has made John Cena look like a horrible leader, but the man cannot be perfect at everything.

Rusev sure can belly flop, and using the count out to protect him was not a bad move. Seth Rollins was Team Authority’s MVP though, with countless assists and looking good in the end, outmatched in the ring only by Dolph Ziggler who achieved pure beast mode. We all knew Ziggler was good and deserved more, but it is hard to ask for a better rub. Now, WWE, please keep this going and do not waste it.

The last hour of this show started off a bit rough, but the messy nature of the match led into thirty minutes of pure awesome. The homestretch was pure excitement and seeing Ziggler at the center of it was almost an unreal happiness—then the intensity hit. Every fan knew someone would come down and interfere, and the rumors were all over, confident it was true, but this has been so long in the making that it seemed almost impossible.

The man named Sting—is here.  

There were more dropped jaws in that arena then when the streak was brok- okay, maybe not, but it has to be close. The standoff in the middle of the ring between the Icon and HHH actually reminded me of his promos with Undertaker. There was not much of an exchange, but every second of it was close to magical. I kind of wish Hunter had landed at least one punch, but I will assume he tired himself out beating up referees. Now that we have all calmed down from this wrestling high, the question is exactly as it was with Ziggler: what do they do with him now? I really hope the writers have an answer for that. As a whole, the show was not what I would call spectacular, but it is hard to argue with the results when WWE actually gives the fans some things they have been asking for. This Survivor Series will be remembered for Sting, and none of the negatives.

Raw was kind of the opposite. The first hour and a half was not bad, with the return of Daniel Bryan and a little bit of humor—plus two points to AJ for mic skills—but the end; and I don’t mean the match, but the ending with the Raw Anonymous General Manager just—bleh. My guess is that officials wanted fans to remember Survivor Series fondly, so they brought back up some of the worst shit on Raw. 

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