This is our new weekly article on the blog, where the nerds offer 10 takeaways for the week just gone. Anything is on the table, any promotion is able to be discussed and the floor is yours, nerds!
1. DOM - JESSAMYN DUKE MVP
The NXT wrestlers in the crowd are often more entertaining to watch than the in-ring action. Jessamyn Duke is my Raw MVP.
2. MATT C - CIAMPA vs. CROSS HYPE
Although my appetite for wrestling in the COVID era is low, the thought of Kross vs Ciampa has got me excited. I hope Kross can start a dominating run and break apart from all the workrate guys that have dominated the title scene for years.
Also, Ciampa is obviously great so this match could be the match of the night.
3. ROSS - LOVE FOR THE TAG CHAMPS
I truly believe that the women's tag team division has been great for the roster. Ever since the elimination chamber where Sasha and Bayley were first crowned champions, the division has offered tandems to shine and actually, we have been treated to many great matches in its short life span.
From the Iiconics to the Kabuki Warriors to the fun partnership of Cross Bliss, the belts have given wrestlers a focus that have either led to a singles push or more TV time as a pair and I think they have proved a success.
The Role Models winning the titles on Smackdown in an excellent main event will put more of a shine on them and also play a big part in their current storyline which I am absolutely loving.
Shoutout to them crying on the floor in their photoshoot in a dig at Ryan Satin.
4. BRUM - SOMETIMES THE LACK OF SWERVE IS THE SWERVE
To talk about NXT and mention Swerve twice in the title with not actually talking about the wrestler Swerve is a swerve. Yet an unintentional swerve. I'm going to stop saying swerve (soon) or I might turn into Vince Russo, bro.
Most people, including myself, have thought for weeks that the finish of the Cruiserweight final would definitely be the Lucha Kidnap Squad ("LKS") taking out whoever's Fantasma's opponent was (either KUSHIDA or Spud) to start his reign and a new heel faction.
When the LKS walked down to the ring in the NXT main, I assume most people did their best "quelle surprise" face as they saw the inevitable happening. However, NXT decided to postpone this by having the LKS just be the indirect reason for the finish rather than a traditional run-in/heel turn setup.
This was great as not only did it subvert expectations but it stopped having a whole tournament being finished with an angle (usually a terrible idea with the exception of Survivor Series '98) whilst still giving Spud his strong moment in defeat by taking out the LKS and only being beaten because of a distraction.
We're going to end up in the same place (unless we get an even bigger swerve) but well done on NXT on not taking the most obvious path.
5. JAMES - ALMOST READY FOR A COMEBACK
I feel like I'm almost ready to start watching current wrestling again. Anyone looking for a recommendation of something old Arisa Hoshiki vs Hazuki from last year is an absolute banger'
6. BRUM - CODY: THE THIRD WAY
Cody's actions of late, especially this week, will have people pointing to an impending heel turn. These people may be right and AEW may decide to be lazy and turn him. However, my blind optimism is hoping they go a different route.
In AEW, Cody has never been a white meat babyface. Even when the crowd have been going wild for him and he's been going up against dastardly foes, he's still a suit wearing, silver spooned, company executive with an ego issue.
However, his self awareness in this role, combined with honesty and hardwork (as well as the real life stuff of him creating this company) , has got the crowd on his side. The great thing about this character is by adding a few extra flourishes (an interfering manager, over celebration, general hubris); adding heel tactics in his matches; and fighting lovable babyfaces, you can flip the crowd quite easily.
If AEW are patient, they can have Cody as a Swiss army knife who can be used to have interesting rivalries and matches with anyone, whilst still maintaining his character's thematic integrity and also keeping the crowd invested. The holy tweener trinity, if you will.
Usually, this would be a good thing, but now it's even more important as you have a top star as their mid-card title holder. Having a guy who can work anyone gives so much flexibility to the title run. Outside of Punk '11, the most interesting week to week run of John Cena' s career was his US Title Open Challenge.
The company's top guy working with an array of talent was win-win for everyone. That worked because of the complex nature of the character of John Cena and the fans relationship with it. This relationship has usually been a problem for WWE's booking, but this was a case of it working very well.
If AEW can create this environment but without having all the baggage that came with the fans' relationship with Cena, then they could unearth a booking goldmine. Let's just hope they do.
7. DOM - INSTAGRAM WIN
8. ROSS - COLT CABANA TO JOIN DARK ORDER?
I really enjoyed the Colt vs Jericho match this week on AEW. The in-ring work was really good and I agree with JR that it was Cabana's best showing for the company. Add in Sammy Guevara's amazing work on the outside and you had yourself a great TV match.
The way Brodie Lee went up to Colt at the end of the match was super interesting as Colt is a much loved wrestler, who you would feel wouldn't fit the stable. However, what was said to Colt about finding his way after losing is classic heel in that it has an element of truth.
I'm looking forward to the story developing.
9. BRUM - MAVERICK: CONFLICTING EMOTIONS
I bloody love Spud/ Drake Maverick so I'm really happy for him that he has a WWE contract & his talents have been spotlighted of late. I don't begrudge anyone of that, especially a performer I rate so highly & that appears to love his job.
However, there's something about all of this that makes me very uncomfortable. One of two things have happened here: Either Spud was never released & this is all one big angle, or at some point after his release, WWE decided to rehire him due to his efforts.
If the situation is the former, that's very crass by the WWE. To release a bunch of talent & make one a plant to make an angle of people legit losing their jobs is terrible.
The latter is also a bit icky. Now's not the time to get into the moral position of WWE's mass releases, but to perform mass cuts and then immediately cherry pick one to bring back if they work hard enough is exploitative of Spud and callous to the rest.
10. SHAFI - WWE APATHY
I have nothing but pure apathy for WWE at the moment and next week's AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura match is an unfortunate casualty of that so I probably won't even watch it - even though I should be hyped.
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