April Random Rants

And Just like that it is May. April was a pretty exciting month in pro wrestling spearheaded by Wrestlemania. Since it was a busy month, and work kept me from keeping up with the wrestling world like I would have liked. Here's a few touchpoints.

First some business predictions.

Wrestlemania was a huge success for Peacock. Now that it has been reported that NBC offered the NBA $2.5 billion for the rights to their games. It makes sense why they allowed WWE to shop Raw and NXT elsewhere. I will say this though, even if they get the NBA rights and can broadcast some games on Peacock.  When the rights to WWE network expire in 2026 the assumption most folks have is Netflix will scoop up the library. While Comcast wasn't willing to overpay for Raw and NXT and was planning to make room for the NBA. Unless something changes, I think they'll put up a fight to keep the WWE network on Peacock. Honestly without WWE content what's the point of Peacock?  Besides the NBA if they win the bid, They air a NFL game here, soccer and MLB games. As far as the normal content they have, a lot of it is hit or miss and really not enough to justify maintaining a subscription with them.

Now back to wrestling

Swerve won the AEW world championship a month earlier than I predicted. In my defense Dynasty wasn't announced yet, and as I predicted the arena lit up. There is still some considerable debate about how AEW handled his follow up appearance on Dynamite. Having him wrestle the opening bout instead of speaking on his accomplishment, reserving that moment for Collision. I'm on the fence about the whole scenario, but I'm looking forward to seeing how his reign pans out. 

I like Mercedes Moné as a wrestler and a businesswoman. But man her promos are really holding her back from being a true superstar. She had that same issue in WWE, and if they weren't able to help her make adjustments and fix it. I don't know if she ever will be able to. Even her acting roles doesn't seem to have made any improvements in how she talks and Eunectes her words.

I'm really curious when is AEW going to do something with my boy Penta? He has not won a singles championship since joining AEW upon the company's founding. He has a unique look, an exciting move set, and keep's the crowd engaged during his matches. Let him run loose as the international champion or something. 

I'm not sure where this Elite/Tony Khan angle will go. I do know the execution was so bad, which to me started with Jack Perry telegraphing he was going to attack Khan with that smirk to the camera. I also found it hilarious the locker room finally cleared out after the Elite left the ring.

To me all signs point to Kenny Omega returning to lead the charge against the Elite. 

Jericho becoming Learning Tree Jericho blatantly stealing the gimmick from Brian Meyers and TNA a couple years ago is hilarious. Not to mention a bit of third eye Matt Sydal's gimmick mixed in. Jericho is slowly becoming a shell of himself, from his in-ring ability which is just natural at his age. To he once was heralded as one of the best wrestlers that always reinvented himself. Thing's just haven't been clicking lately and he seems to be aloof to it all.

I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoy the asethetic's of Daily's Place when AEW run's a program from there. 

NXT hosting Battleground at UFC Apex in June should offer a brand new look and feel to NXT's PLE. I'm sure it's the first of many planned synergy event's between UFC and WWE.

Matt Hardy and Mike Santana joining Impact is a win for the company. While neither man will move the needle so to speak. Hardy did his best work in TNA with his Broken gimmick, and now that's back I'm sure he will chart new territory with the gimmick.

Santana should be in the running for the Digital Media Championship before making his way to the TNA Championship. He has the "It" factor that will help him gain much success in the smaller pond of TNA.

Speaking of TNA and new signings. I'm not privy to their talent budget. However, I predict TNA to sign either Xia Li or Raj Dhesi, formerly known as Jinder Mahal.

Trevor Lee could go either TNA or AEW. He would be a showstealer in TNA's X-Division but AEW had deeper pockets and new roster space. So he may land there. Xyon Quinn would be a good fit for MLW or New Japan honestly if he chooses to go one of those routes. 

None of these talents got a fair shake on the main roster in WWE. Hopefully they find opportunity elsewhere and show everyone just how badly they were overlooked.

How cool is it Joe Hendry's theme song has heads bopping all across the world? Reaching #1 on iTunes in the UK.

Just as it seemed The Bloodline story was over, Solo Sikoa has taken over and with his MFT by his side in Tama Tonga. And Jacob Fatu's eventual debut, it should get very interesting as this new brutal Bloodline dominates until Roman and eventually The Rock return's for a Bloodline Showdown. The WWE has probably given themselves another year of this storyline with the new twist, and I am here for it.

I couldn't help but notice Solo's takeover and disdain for how Roman lost was very similar to how Triple H took over the D-X and his views on how Shawn Michaels lost the championship. Just like all facades of life, the cycle repeats itself. 

The WWE Draft wasn't horrible, but man they need to figure out a better way to execute it and make it seem unpredictable. Too many of the picks were predictable and some of the call ups like Kiana James and Blair Davenport I can see them being relegated to Main Event without being given a fair chance. And my goodness why wasn't Final Testament drafted to NXT full time?

I will stand on the hill forever that my idea for the WWE draft is way better than how they've been conducting it recent years. 

It was a busy April, let's see what May brings us in the world of wrestling. Starting tonight with Dynamite and Backlash this Saturday. Until next time folks.