Another WrestleMania in the books. The event started at 5PM on the east coast, and it finished early Monday morning. WrestleMania did go smoothly for the most part. Overall the card was really good despite being major predictable. I went 11-5 on my predictions, and that gives me a winning record. Yes, I have been watching wrestling for years so you would expect me to be on the money with predictions but still. It's crazy I had that good of a record. 

Being predictable isn't always bad. Yet some of the execution fell flat. Like Brock Lesnar has been a mainstay for years. He lost in such an awkward fashion. Daniel Bryan's match with Lesnar was far better. Brock Lesnar shouldn't be wrestling for two minutes at WrestleMania. I know some fans are glowing that the man who has kept the title hostage is no longer champion. I disagree because that payoff was horrific. Honestly if you wanted a slay the beast angle you just give Finn Balor the title at Royal Rumble.The Lesnar match just was bad, and I do laugh at fans that actually think Lesnar is "sexist" and that he was *actually* mad he wasn't the main event. I feel like these fans try to act smart but then they forget the commentary team doesn't discuss real details. Lesnar could care less about not main eventing. He makes money either way. 

The four kickoff matches delivered. Tony Nese winning is cool and 205 Live is becoming WWE's niche brand among the NXT's. Carmella winning the battle royal was a smart call. Still don't know why WWE treats Mickie James so bad. Hawkins and Ryder winning gold again is crazy. Then Braun is going to Braun. Still a lot of guys in that battle royal could've been used in better matches. 

AJ Styles taking on Randy Orton was fine. It had potential to be match of the but it didn't quite get there. Orton can still give fantastic performances, and Styles still matches up well and gets the most out of anyone. 

The fatal four way for the SmackDown tag team titles was exhilarating due to the amount of talent in that match. Considering most of the talent could've had their own WrestleMania singles matches. A lot of the players in this match will be in more significant roles at WrestleMania 36.

Shane McMahon taking on The Miz was a fun brawl. The Miz losing added an element of surprise. Falls Count Anywhere proves to be a well-done concept especially at WrestleMania. The IIconics won the tag team championships. Hopefully, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce hold the titles until next year. Make the new belts prestigious. This is where I do give WWE props from not putting the titles on Nia Jax and Tamina. 

Kofi Kingston finally overcame Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania. The match had all the close falls and emotional cues. Kofi Kingston winning the championship was probably the best moment overall at WrestleMania. Not to mention Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan put on the best overall match at the event. It was really one of the only moments where I thought to myself. 

"This is something we will remember a couple years from now." 

Most of the WrestleMania results were happy. Also, this year's Mania was really good. I wouldn't say it is anywhere near the best ever. Maybe the event will age better with time. Despite the odd predictability. The event did provide some shining moments. Like the Ron Simmons cameo along with the Scott Hall and Kevin Nash segment. Plus the Hall of Fame class was so good this year that segment was fun to watch. 

Now back to the rest of the card. Samoa Joe put  Rey Mysterio to sleep. Poor Rey didn't deserve that. WWE should've called an audible. Have Samoa Joe face off with someone else. Then we got Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre which was fine with the ten minutes it got. I think fans were still reeling from Kofi that these next two matches were going to be whatever either way. 

Now the match of Batista and Triple H was fantastic. I get fans wanted it to go faster because there was a lot left on the card. I didn't care. This was a complete story. Batista came back and attacked Ric Flair. In the match they lived up to the "No Holds Barred" standard. Which is crazy to think that all the older guys do hardcore stuff (Shane, Batista, and HHH) and none of the younger guys do hardcore stuff. The match was a fantastic finale for Batista's epic career. 

Baron Corbin beat Kurt Angle. Which ended Angle's illustrious career. I guess Kurt Angle follows the dumb "go out on your back" tradition that I hate. Corbin has gained a big win on his resumè. 

Finn Balor taking on Bobby Lashley was truly whatever. It's sad to see the lack of care for The Demon character. It's also sad that match we have seen on RAW and countless pay-per-views was on the card at WrestleMania. 

The Main Event

Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey were the main event of WrestleMania. Even though the ref got the punishment. They botched the ending of the match. It was just terrible psychology. If Becky was suppose to end the match with Rousey tapping out a la to Daniel Bryan tapping out Batista. They shouldn't of attempted that cover. The poor ref went too fast, and it ruined the big moment. The rest of the match was alright. It wasn't earth shattering by any means. 

The match was alright. It could've been better. Overall it was a fun main event despite starting at midnight. 

WrestleMania 35 was a charismatic event despite being way too long. It had few memorable moments. Overall, it was good event but on the scale of WrestleMania it feels smalls. Maybe WWE is over doing it and that's why WrestleMania felt less special. The matches were good. Some of the booking wasn't as smart and WWE has the most stacked roster in the world yet they aren't utilizing it to its full potential. My favorite matches were easily Kingston/Bryan, HHH/Batista, and Miz/Shane. The key point is that storylines matter. That's why Rollins/Lesnar wasn't as exciting because the story was non-existent. We can even make the same argument that the main event forgot what made it the main event. 

WrestleMania 35 was a successful and grand watch despite being too long and forgetting what made WrestleMania special. Hopefully, WrestleMania 36 can continue the success of Mania but adjusting the overall approach. More storytelling and less matches would benefit the event. Make every match important and make every match feel like a dream match. 

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Even though TJP has been released from WWE. I felt the need of including him on my top 50. One of the best wrestler in the world in my opinion. A technical wizard that is also super fast. It is a shame he was never on NXT tearing it up with Ricochet and Johnny Gargano. 

​The enigmatic Nak is a guy who could be so much better, but he has a very bad work ethic and his saving grace is his extraordinary charisma and theme song. The most limited move set I have seen in recent memory. 

The dude has it all. Charisma, strength ,and talent. If he is taken seriously and used as more than just comic relief he has the potential to be a world champion. He has a very good move set and can be a heel or a face.

 One word to describe Cedric Alexander is spectacular. This kid has all the tools to become a main event babyface. A run on NXT would do wonders to help him get more recognition. He can fight, fly, and is an all around 5 star performer.

Devlin is from NXT UK. ​ This Irish bruiser has a chip on his shoulder and he is one of the most believable wrestler in the world. He has the ring savvy and the looks to become a very good upper mid carder.

The Celtic Warrior is a Hall of Famer who gets better with age. His move set is unbelievable, and his strength is out of this world. His brogue kick is absolutely devastating He is also very cool and charismatic.

The big has all the tools to become WWE Champion. All he needs is the chance to prove it. 

The lunatic fringe is a great workhorse and he has to rediscover his passion. When he is on, only a few can match Ambrose's intensity.

The huge WALTER is a very impressive athlete that really has the talent to be the new monster in the WWE. He is agile and his chops are so stiff, it hurts just looking at them.

Kofi Kingston is like wine he just gets better with age. He is the ultimate professional. Highly athletic and deceptively strong. He deserves a world title run and a main event push. 

The most underrated wrestler in the world. Kassius Ohno is absolutely amazing. His strikes are so believable. He can move well for such a big guy and can sell extremely well too.

Too easy. This man is so talented, and it is scary. He can fly and throw you into the tenth row. A freak athlete missing one key ingredient and that's charisma. Give him Lio Rush, and this man will soar to greater heights. 

Cole is a very good athlete. His biggest assets are his charisma and selling. Offense is a different story. If he wants to get to the top as a WWE champion. He will need to add to his superkicks.

The underdog is a wonderful wrestler. He is an artist. He can fight all styles and no one sells like he can. He has a very great arsenal of moves.

The RKO and great facial expressions along with his all-time charisma levels. Randy is winding down a very good career but he is still able to perform at a high level. His WrestleMania match with AJ Styles may be one of his bests. As Orton faces another indie darling. 

​ This man is the master of backbreakers and suplexes. Determined, fast, persistent, and a very underrated performer.Roddy will be a future NXT  champion.

 He is a future WWE champion. Big E is strong, fast, and charismatic. He will dominate for years.

 He is better than he ever was. This man is amazing. He is an ultimate pro, and he will go down as one of the greatest ever. He can still fly and wrestle as good as anyone.
 

 He doesn't do much but what he does he does well. He is a strong athlete and all he needs is to add to his arsenal. It gets old after a while. Still can be a world champion. I still think he needs some improvements. 

​This man is so unique, and he will be a main event act for years to come. His unique offense and kicks are devastating. His fade to black kick is the new RKO.

​The big strong boi is an amazing athlete and is only 22 years old. There is no limit for Tyler. He can be the most dominant wrestler of the next 15 years.

​The kid is the future of the WWE. The most charismatic athlete since The Rock, he has skills. Promo skills and an aura that makes him unique. Watching him is an  experience. If he rounds up his offense a little more, he will be the best in the world.

An absolute monster of a man. His offense is second to none, and he can dominate against all kinds of opponents.He will be WWE champion soon.

 This is a one of a kind athlete that can dominate for years. He is a striker and a master of submissions who can elevate his game if he goes solo. Future NXT champion.

Sky is the limit for this young athlete. He is a tremendous high flyer with a wonderful arsenal of moves. His promo skills are getting better too. His selling is top notch. 

Johnny Wrestling is the best fight from underneath wrestler in the world, and he keeps adding to his already good repertoire of moves. He is a good promo guy too.

Yes he may have lost the name "Cien Almas" but he hasn't lost his world elite talents. He will be WWE champion many times. The man has everything.The look, talent, and the manager.He is next level.

This man is NXT. He is the face that runs the place. The best heel in the business and a wonderful wrestler. His move set varies and he is also very quick.

The evil vegan is a master of the ring. No one is as passionate as Daniel Bryan, no one.He can still perform at a high level. He is a mat technician and a skilled high flyer.

​This kid is a next level athlete who has a unique look and the best offense of any wrestler in the world. He is a stiff striker and can fly with the cruiserweight's. The future is now with the bruiserweight. Dunne should be the first from NXT UK to be on the main roster.

The Kingslayer and future Beastslayer is without a doubt the man in the WWE. The best athlete, the best wrestler, reliable and he's a workhorse. He is a great babyface and can sell like a champ. He is the face of the WWE for the next few years.

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The rumors surrounding Dean Ambrose are interesting, to say the least. For several weeks now the rumor mill (and WWE itself) indicated that Dean Ambrose would be gone from WWE after WrestleMania. The man was not renewing his contract, no matter how much money they'd throw at him, and that left him to be a free agent.

The prospect of this man moving to AEW was definitely something I was looking forward to. He's a unique character in that it's impossible to force a certain character trait to his name; much like Becky Lynch or Kevin Owens. 

When they're allowed free reign is when they do their best work and become the most appealing version of themselves for the WWE audience. 

Forcing the Lunatic Fringe angle on Dean post-SHIELD, and this new Bane-esque villainy did not do the man any favors. Personally I think it hindered him. He was best in the SHIELD and for some time after the breakup (plus his run as champion on SmackDown) when they weren't forcing him to be an absolute lunatic. When he just did what seemed to work best: a silly, sassy smart ass that really liked to hurt people, was more entertaining.

Now the rumors of Dean leaving are disappearing as a result of Roman's return.

As much as I'd miss Dean in the WWE and the prospect of a SHIELD reunion at any moment, I feel like this could be another downfall. Unless WWE were to give him a run that doesn't hinder his character and were to provide a compelling story, it would be okay. But now we'll miss out on all of the possible feuds and stories to take place in AEW.

Ultimately, I just want a good run for Ambrose.
And someday Cesaro as WWE Champion before he retires, but that's a conversation for another day. 

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20. Stop toilet humor

It wad outdated 20 years ago, it is way worse today. Vince's outdated and out of touch fetishes, needs to be put to rest like his grip on the company.

19. Rotation of top guys 

We do not need to see AJ Styles on every ppv, but it would be fun to see Heath Slater or Tye Dillinger once in a while and have performers rotate at the top of men and women's division. Rusev having a main event run? Finn or Bray having a world title run? That would keep things fresh and keep people watching as you would never know what would happen week to week. Making wrestling must see TV. 

18. Be creative with storylines

You can build feuds around championships but also around Twitter wars or personal vendettas or frustration. Having a guy like Mojo Rawley attack Seth Rollins out of frustration of not being on television and seeing Seth as a chosen one. Be creative, by keeping everyone relevant

17. Give Smackdown and Raw a makeover visually

Both shows have looked the same for 20 years. Freshen things up. New logos, new lights, and new entrance ramp. New layout of the ring entrance. Make it visually different. 

16. Give tag team wrestling more exposure

Enough said. Gallows and Anderson, Sanity, Ascension and so many teams shouldn't have to do nothing. Use them and they will reward WWE by making the shows better.

15. Women tag team division

Read the above. Same goes for this division when it becomes a thing. 

14. More managers

Performers like Apollo Crews, Naomi, and TJP could sure use it. Utilize Drew Gulak, Alicia Fox, Heath Slater and maximize their mic skills and use them to help those who don't have a lot of charisma.

13. Less talk

Well. A lot less talk, it is still called wrestling right? 

12.  No more authority figures
It kills the show, it kills ratings. Not to mention it can also kill careers. Just like Baron Corbin. 
11. Keep using General Managers like Paige and William Regal
They are not overbearing, and they are good at what they do. They act fair, and it's believable. 

10. More creative freedom

Best example is Becky Lynch on the positive side of being allowed to be yourself. Worst example is Ronda and Roman Reigns .Being over-scripted kills your ability to look authentic.

9. More interactions betweens shows 

A good thing that happened lately is seeing Mustafa Ali on SmackDown. It was exciting and it gave him exposure. It helped Daniel Bryan make a new star in the process. WWE can do the same with Bianca Belair, TJP, and Keith Lee.

8. Use NXT UK stars 

Guys like Wolfgang and The Coffey Brothers could be used to invade Raw or NXT. 

7. Let Michael Cole and Tom Phillips talk like normal human beings

Not like scripted corporate robots. Cole can be really great when he's got freedom. 

6. Incorporate social media posts on WWE

People like Rusev ,Becky Lynch,Kevin Owens ,Xavier Woods and Sheamus are so entertaining on Twitter and Instagram. Show everyone and it will increase their exposure and help them get more creative freedom and even help the creative team to find cool ideas to incorporate it into their feuds or programs.

5. More big fight feels to big matches

Present big matches as big deals and people will see it as big deals. Matches like Ronda vs Becky or Daniel Bryan vs AJ styles should be presented like money matches. See them prepare in the weeks leading up to the match.

4. Let the performers have fun

When wrestlers enjoy what they do we feel it. It makes the show feel genuine and exciting. Rusev by being able to be himself and use his charisma would make people love him even more. Same thing with New Day. Xavier is such a funny and charismatic man, let him use his wit and cool personality to shine through.

3. Let the creative team have more creative freedom

A lot of writers can come up with exciting and out of left field ideas. Don't be afraid to try new things.If one idea flops, it is not the end of the world.It beats repetition and boredom.

2. Make NXT available for main roster wrestlers.. 

Guys like Tyler Breeze going back to NXT ,or a veteran like Randy Orton going  to NXT to teach those kids a lesson would make interesting television. Or a team like Ascension go back find themselves and make it a storyline. Where did it all go wrong kinda storyline? 

1. Give wrestlers a few months off a year on rotation

That would keep everyone fresh and help with the injury problems. And with such a deep roster it is truly possible to do it. WWE does not rely on one guy anymore. It is a team effort.

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WWE has been the top promotion since the demise of WCW. Others have tried to reinvigorate the wars that were fought in the nineties. This including TNA's attempt to restart the Monday Night Wars. Which they had potential but ultimately flopped. 

Now a new wrestling promotion is on the horizon. Currently they have gone through a bunch of trademarks:

• AEW
• All Elite Wrestling
• AEW All Out
• All Out
• Tuesday Night Dynamite
• AEW Double or Nothing

So these are some fascinating trademarks. All Elite Wrestling obviously gives away that Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks are involved. That makes all the sense in the world. Not to mention the All Out name and Double or Nothing. The latter was rumored to be the sequel to ALL IN. 

Now you may ask who is funding this venture? 

Shahid Khan. Specifically his son Tony Khan. Also to let you know Shahid Khan has a net worth of $6.8 billion, he's the owner of Jacksonville Jaguars. Vince McMahon has a net worth of $2.8 billion, he's the sole owner of the rebooted XFL. Yes, money isn't everything in the wrestling business. At one time Ted Turner was the rich billionaire taking on Vince McMahon then he lost $8 billion in a merger... 

I think the Khan's would be different. It just depends how they organize this promotion. At least they have deep pockets. They just have to make the right moves. That's they key to this entire promotion. Make the right moves!

They can't end up like Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling. It had potential to do something great and it failed. Here is the reason AEW may jump into that number two promotion in the world. First and foremost WWE is so dominant everything looks small in comparison. Ring of Honor still can't get good production value and they can't retain talent despite being able to sell out MSG. You'll always be small, if you play small. So that rules them out as the number two promotion in the world. Impact has been steered in the right direction by Don Callis. Yet I think so much damage has been done to the brand it's a matter of time before Don Callis or the talent get poached away. Lucha Underground is a revolutionary concept of mixing wrestling with an over-dramatic, artsy style TV show, and having it go by seasons. Still it will never reach that number two due to its network, and the format. Lucha Underground provides a great alternative. NJPW is awesome but it's kinda not really in competition with WWE. Which once again isn't a bad thing. NJPW owns a section of the market. 

Tuesday Night Dynamite is one of the trademarks that should immediately jump out. The name sounds like an old-school WCW show. Maybe that's what they were going for? The biggest debate for AEW right now is if they will get on a traditional cable network. There is many cable networks that desperately need content. During ALL IN, WGN America hosted ALL IN: Zero Hour which acted as the pre-show. I'd assume WGN America would be interested in Tuesday Night Dynamite. They only show Cops reruns on Tuesdays nights. WGN America also had WWE Superstars in the past, and well we all know how that ended. 

The other option that everyone is timid to mention is streaming. Why not Netflix? Why not Apple? Why not Amazon? Netflix it would help diversify their portfolio, and it could be another test for them in the LIVE sports entertainment arena. They are always looking to try something new because they know Disney and WarnerMedia are coming after them hard in 2019. Yes, Lucha Underground didn't work out on Netflix. There could be a million reasons why but AEW could be something better. Apple is another competitor. They haven't even revealed their streaming model yet but they could easily help kickstart a promotion. The third streaming option is Amazon. Which technically they could do some smooth operating. Amazon is interested in the Fox Sports regional networks. If their bid is successful that could be a secondary home for AEW. Also I could see AEW doing well on Prime. 

​

The rumor started that The Elite, Chris Jericho, and Jim Ross were forming a new wrestling company with financial backing from the Khan family. Also the other rumor floating is that two WWE stars are going to leave in April to join the promotion. Which WWE is stacking and misusing talent all over the place. 

That's a reason why WWE is signing people like ACH. Who has been in Ring of Honor forever. Same with Trevor Lee, who had a stint in Impact. All these wrestlers are all of sudden going to WWE. There were also reports that WWE offered Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and The Young Buck main event money to come to WWE. 


It's starting to look like they didn't take that offer. Not to mention Cody Rhodes tweeting out to his followers asking what independent wrestlers are being overlooked. That is AEW scouting at its finest. 

AEW could be a legitimate promotion. If you start with this core of: 

• Cody Rhodes
• The Young Bucks
• Chris Jericho
• Kenny Omega
• Gallows & Anderson (the rumored wrestlers to jump ship)
• Jim Ross

You have the best wrestling commentator of all time, one of the greatest wrestlers of all time in Chris Jericho, and then you got the hottest thing going on the indies. Add in a formidable team like Gallows & Anderson it's set. They just have to make sure they don't go overboard on indie talent. 

I rather watch a roster of ELITE guys (pun fully intended) than forcing us to get to know some independent wrestler, who will probably go back to working smaller shows in some small town. That's what GFW did wrong. When you look at GFW Amped, the promotions main show that never aired until Impact bought GFW. They had Bobby Roode, Bollywood Boyz, Nick Aldis, Mickie James, KUSHIDA, TJ Perkins, Gallows & Anderson, Eric Young, and Shelton Benjamin. Now more than half of this list is now in WWE. Yet GFW filled the rest of the roster with TNA burnouts and AAA wannabes. 

AEW will be daunting task but if they make the right moves it will only benefit the world of professional wrestling. AEW will only make NXT and WWE more competitive. Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks want something more. They don't want to simply just settle for Ring of Honor or NJPW. They don't want to have to due their own ALL IN pay-per-views. They want their own promotion. Something that could be successful. 

So what will come of AEW? That remains to be seen but I believe that they are on the right track. One thing is for sure Vince McMahon hates competition. There is no denying that. He's probably going to snatch up more talent on the indies. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts to drain Impact and Luca Underground. 

I have a feeling that with Jim Ross and Chris Jericho involved this will be legit. As long as they are actually involved. If they aren't involved then we will have to wait and see how legitimate the promotion becomes. I couldn't imagine Jericho and Ross burning a bridge with WWE for something minor league-ish. 

No one thought they could pull of ALL IN. Now we have people saying AEW can't be a number two promotion. The Elite like proving people wrong. 

If your a fan of pro wrestling your biggest hope is that Tony Khan and other investors will be All In. 
​
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There is nothing like it when Brock Lesnar rises to the occasion. You instantly remember why he's the part-time superstar. The engaged Lesnar we saw on Sunday night was rare. Proving that Lesnar when he feels like it still has a passion for pro wrestling. It only took one opponent to get it out of him. Daniel Bryan. 

We haven't seen a Brock Lesnar match that good in years. Yeah, his encounters with Goldberg were fine. But this was on a whole new level. At first we thought it was going to be a typical Brock Lesnar beatdown, and all of that quickly changed. Thanks to Daniel Bryan's heel persona. 

Bryan brought out the very best in Lesnar. Even getting the beast to chant "Suplex City." Something we rarely see from Lesnar. The match made Brock Lesnar look like he barely survived. He was moments away from tapping out to the Yes! lock. And for a few moments the "smarks" who care about Lesnar only fighting people near his size were gasping. 

Even though it is ridiculous to point out Brock Lesnar doing a bear hug it is necessary to point out. Lesnar rarely does different moves. Adding a bear hug or any move other than a F5 or suplex into his in-ring psychology is a rare sight. 

This match should open the eyes to the people making the decisions in the back. Lesnar vs Bryan looked like something out of a NXT TakeOver event. There is ways to move this forward. It is time to reevaluate on how you use Brock Lesnar. The part-time star stock rises when he puts on a performance like that. Yet there is obviously a key to his epic performance. Lesnar has to care about his opponent. 

It's blatantly obvious Brock Lesnar could care less for Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Braun Strowman. We don't know why he feels this way. Maybe he has a little bit more respect for Samoa Joe and Seth Rollins but who knows. If I'm WWE I would make sure every Lesnar match was with someone he respected and was willing to perform with. Daniel Bryan got it out of him, AJ Styles was able to get a little bit. Would Lesnar have a respectful match with Shinsuke Nakamura? Especially considering Lesnar's ties to NJPW. That could very well be Brock Lesnar's next good match. This also means no more finisher extravaganza's with Roman Reigns were they just do spear-F5-spear-F5. And no more Lesnar hitting five F5's to win a single match. 

There is obviously some other opponents that I think could bring the most out of Brock. I could see Finn Balor getting Brock to work. Considering how he was on the indies forever and his NJPW ties. I would likened this match to Lesnar's fight with CM Punk. Then my other two options are legends. Kurt Angle, could probably bring out a lot in Brock Lesnar. Then the other legend would be The Rock. Another feud that we thought we were getting. It has been rumored to be the main event of multiple WrestleMania's. The rumor went all the way back to the night after WrestleMania 28. 

Now it's once again rumored that we could see Brock Lesnar vs The Rock go down at WrestleMania 35. I'm all for that. The Rock will energize Brock Lesnar into performing well. If not WWE now has the sturdy backup plan of just having Lesnar vs Daniel Bryan again. Could you imagine a babyface Daniel Bryan defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania for the title? That would be quite the the scene and an iconic moment to close out the show. 

So the matter of the story is that when Brock Lesnar is motivated he puts on an incredible, awe-inspiring match. When was the last time a main roster match truly told a story? It's funny because on Survivor Series you technically had two storytelling matches in Nakamura/Rollins and Lesnar/Bryan. Yet I think the path with Brock Lesnar is quite simple. It's time for him to agree to matches that will be good. 

There is also another opponent that I think would be fascinating for Brock Lesnar. Matt Riddle down in NXT. The man who claims "he will retire" Lesnar. Riddle has a MMA/UFC background. It's now just a matter to if Brock Lesnar actually respects the guy. 

So far Daniel Bryan vs Brock Lesnar is my match of the year for WWE main roster. 

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Alright folks let's just get it out there: Survivor Series is scary.

There's a myriad of injuries on the roster, the card's been changing frequently and, as we know WWE likes to do, it can continue to change as the event goes on.

One rather curious change is the match between Daniel Bryan and Brock Lesnar, what was originally meant to be between Brock and AJ Styles. 

​It's an interesting switch, a dream match for many fans out there. Personally I feel as though I have to be cautious with this match, and try not to expect the world of it. First, I feel that Daniel Bryan at any point of his career, would best have this match against Brock Lesnar if it were the early 2000's, when the man was clearly at his wrestling prime and had more than two moves. Yes, Daniel Bryan has had to change his move set a bit to accommodate his prior injuries, but he's still got a loaded arsenal. Brock....well, he's got fewer moves than the Incredible Hulk.

Onto my second point, the one that has me more worried. Brock is an absolute brute, there's no doubt about that. The man is scary, not so much in the entertainment way, but in the 'I think this counts as involuntary manslaughter' sort of way. Him, against a man who most were certain would never wrestle again at some point, screams disaster to me. Bryan is very clearly willing to die in the ring because of his passion for it, and Brock typically does what Brock wants to do. It just feels like there's a lot of room here for devastating errors that should not even be allowed to be possible.

Considering we're missing out on what would have been show-closing match of the night Lynch vs. Rousey, I suppose watching the possibility of Daniel Bryan being murdered in the ring is almost as good.

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WWE had to make a pivot for Survivor Series. After Roman Reigns' announcement that his leukemia had returned. WWE had to have him relinquish the belt he fought so hard to get. 

Things are beginning to take shape on WWE's Survivor Series. The big four pay-per-view was going to steer away from the RAW vs SmackDown theme. WWE had to change its plans. Here is my projection of the card. Of course things may shift. 
(I'll do it FiveThirtyEight statistical style, so if I get it wrong I can blame it on the "polling errors.")

• AJ Styles vs Brock Lesnar  (99% chance).
• Becky Lynch vs Ronda Rousey  (99% chance).
• Team Corbin vs Team Angle (20% chance). 
• Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (35% chance).
• Seth Rollins vs Dean Ambrose (45% chance). 
• New Day being on the Kickoff (65% chance).

Lesnar looks to conquer Styles again 
I'm most looking forward to Styles/Lesnar II. Just due to what AJ was able to do with Lesnar alone. Styles is still a fresh opponent for Lesnar. Hopefully, we get some actual build up to this match. Styles sadly won't have a shot at getting the W. Considering Lesnar will soon be facing Daniel Cormier in the UFC. It's just a matter of timing. Still these two should be able to provide a solid match. Lesnar's WWE status is still up in the air. According to sources he was suppose to be done with WWE until Royal Rumble season. 

Rousey should lose at Survivor Series
Rousey has been blamed for months (by fans) for injuring her opponents. Her match with Nikki Bella at Evolution was decent but some of the spots looked rough. Maybe just maybe her move set is a little to rough for someone with inexperience? I mean her judo throws and her finisher look botch-worthy on occasion. Don't get me wrong Ronda Rousey is still an attraction but WWE needs to still monitor her in order to make her the next "star" of the company. What if WWE has Rousey lose? That would be the best thing for her at Survivor Series. Becky Lynch is a strong opponent with years of experience on Rousey. WWE shouldn't have Rousey go undefeated until WrestleMania 35 for a few reasons. 

1. It's not realistic. Although WWE has never prided itself on being real. You can't tell me "the rookie" doesn't get rolled up and pinned at some point. 
2. If she becomes a "streak" what is she after its gone? Right Asuka? 
3. Losing to any WWE superstar won't make her "weak" and she is going to lose at one point. Minus well happen before Charlotte Flair beats her. 

The Kurt Angle and Baron Corbin Power Struggle
​Now this brings me to the long winded feud of Baron Corbin and Kurt Angle. RAW's power struggle was expected to collide at Survivor Series. Now it's not looking good as WWE may go for RAW vs SmackDown teams. Due to the theme change. I do believe that Corbin/Angle need to end their feud soon though. I still have a feeling Angle will end up on Team RAW or involved with Survivor Series somehow. He was last year. Plus he has to continue his feud with Shane McMahon. 

The Sad Circumstance of Shawn Michaels
Now my final subject for this blog. Shawn Michaels un-retired in spectacular fashion. Now he is expected to be on a collision course with The Undertaker. Yet seeing HBK wrestle in 2018 bums me out. I just don't have the desire to see a changed man go back to wrestling. Shawn Michaels is bald. Why is that a big deal some may wonder? It ruins his mystique. It destroys the image we once had of him. It's like an old wrestler working on the indys and he no longer looks good. That's essentially Shawn Michaels despite his in-shape look. He can still go but it won't be the same. Triple H is also bald but we got to openly witness the evolution. So it's not as bad as HBK's. 

Michaels has the chance to put on dream matches. The Undertaker is still waiting for his match. If I'm being honest I'd rather have Sting come back for another run. He could've done so much more but wasn't able too. Some part-time returns feel fresh. Some don't. HBK's doesn't feel right for multiple reasons. Maybe it was because he did stay true to his retirement for eight years or maybe it was because he came back for WWE's controversial Crown Jewel event? 

WWE's Survivor Series plans are intriguing. Even though they have to be concerned about fatigue kicking in. WWE has done so many events in a short period of time hopefully Survivor Series is able to succeed. 

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I don't understand why, but lately the WWE roster has been aging so much it makes me sick to my stomach. Especially with so many talented young wrestlers in the company ready to steal the show. Guys like Andrade "Cien" Almas, Mojo, Apollo Crews, and the whole NXT roster and what we see is the full time return of Rey Mysterio, part time returns of Kurt Angle, Undertaker, DX ,Kane, Big Show, R Truth, Shelton Benjamin and so many old guys that being called up to the main roster is a demotion now.

Especially on Smackdown. The Randy Orton's and Jeff Hardy's of this company are the reason why ratings suck and so many people don't watch anymore. I am a huge lifelong WWE  fan and it is the most frustrating time I ever witnessed.There are no reasons to let so many talented guys rot like this and use over the hill guys especially Taker whose matches often result in cringeworthy moments. It is like watching our grandpa in a ring and hope he doesn't get badly hurt. I could understand if there was no young talents ready to take the mantle but there are many. Here is the list of guys I  would make sure we never see wrestle anymore:
1 Undertaker
2 Kane
3 HHH
4 Shawn  Michaels
5 R-Truth
6 Big Show
7 Baron Corbin. Not old but sucks
8 Shelton Benjamin
9 Goldust
10 Rhyno
11 Jeff Hardy

PHASE OUT
1 Randy Orton
2 Shinsuke Nakamura
3 Bobby Roode
4 Brock Lesnar

Fire:
1 Ascension
2 Heath Slater
3 Fandango
4 Eric Young
5 Alexander Wolfe
6 Colon's
7 Rowan
8 Zack Ryder​

Replace them with big pushes from: 
1 Andrade Cien Almas
2 Chad Gable
3 Apollo Crews
4 Mojo Rawley
5 Killian Dain
6 Bo Dallas
7 Aleister Black
8 Ty Dillinger
9 EC3

My main guys:
1 Seth Rollins
2 Dean Ambrose
3 Braun Strowman
4 Aleister Black
5 Ciampa
6 Johnny Gargano
7 Adam Cole 
8 Roderick Strong
9 Kyle O'Reilly
10 AJ Styles
11 Daniel Bryan
12 The Miz
13 New Day 
14 Uso's
15 AOP
16 Revival
17 Moustache Mountain
18 Pete Dunne
19 Drew McIntyre
 20 Velveteen Dream

I believe these changes would result in a younger and more talented roster that wouldn't waste its youth but embrace it. I believe while keeping some veterans you need more youth to counter balance it. WWE's aging problem is getting silly. Not everything should be a "return" or a "comeback." WWE needs to get back to simple wrestling storytelling. Similar to how NXT has proven that it works. 

WWE's only getting older. It's sad to see such talented, young workers get passed by the relics of the past. 

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WWE is staying in this relationship because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is paying them tons of money. I mean heck the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia forced Shawn Michaels out of retirement. Just think about that... WWE has been trying to get HBK to return for dream matches. All it took was Saudi Arabia offering HBK $10 million for one match. Fans have been urging WWE to exit the Saudi Arabia relationship since the start. Greatest Royal Rumble didn't feature a single women for well.. reasons. That contradicts WWE's current women's evolution. Now Crown Jewel is in jeopardy for different reasons. 

The current idea of WWE canceling Crown Jewel created the back up plan to replicate the same exact card at Survivor Series. Also meaning WWE would have to pay Shawn Michaels and Brock Lesnar the same amount out of pocket. Politicians are telling WWE to reconsider their deal with Saudi Arabia. Most are encouraging WWE to put event on pause. WWE is currently monitoring the situation. 

We live in crazy times. This WWE/Saudi Arabia partnership may not last after all. Sorry, for the shorter blog post but this topic is mind-boggling. 

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