Rambles about the wonderful world of wrestling.
It’s the New Era that is part of the New Era… if you know what I mean. Battleground is over, and we are heading into a whole new style of Raw. Before we get there, however, I am going to give a quick rundown of my thoughts on said show. Don’t worry if you’re a SmackDown person; I’ll be doing that tomorrow.
There is an argument to be made for Money in the Bank having replaced Survivor Series as one of WWE’s big four shows. The last few years have had important events take place at this ladder heavy spectacle and this year is no different. Perhaps unsurprisingly, spoilers do follow.
It’s that time of year again. The time when multiple wrestlers climb into a ring and nearly kill each other for a cheap looking briefcase. I always feel split about these multi-man ladder matches. There is no denying that they are entertaining; but are they worth it? Does Damien Sandow feel like the risks he took in Money In The Bank matches were worth his time?
WWE are doing a good job of keeping interest in the generally barren months after WrestleMania. The self-proclaimed ‘New Era’ may be a little bit less fresh than it first appeared but it is still change. However, none of that matters if when the big shows come about they fall flat, so let’s see whether Extreme Rules kept up the game.
A mere handful of weeks after WWE Payback we are back with the next PPV/whatever it is you call a show that is mainly watched via the Network. Special show? Who knows. Either way, there is a sense of deja vu about this. In many ways, this is just a rehash of what we got at Payback and even as someone who enjoyed that show, it all feels a bit lazy.
Last Thursday I wrote in my Hell in a Cell Preview that you would be better off not bothering. Â Well, despite that advice here I am again, having put three hours of my life into a WWE PPV. Â I am indeed a glutton for punishment. Â My conclusion? Â Hell in a Cell once again proves that if WWE’s creative was half as good as their in-ring talent. Â This period of wrestling could be extraordinary. Â Here’s that, but in much more words.
For the first time in a long time, WWE seem to have decided to make Summerslam a big deal. Â Always seen by the fans as one of the bigger events. Â Recent years have failed to live up to those expectations. Â There have been some big moments, Lesnar demolishing Cena for example, but the event has always felt a few notches below Wrestlemania. Â This year it feels different. Â Not only has the show been expanded to four hours, but we have a huge main event and the kind of celebrity participation that is usually reserved for the biggest show of the year. Â Summerslam feels like a big deal and what goes down this Sunday, could well shape the WWE all the way up to Wrestlemania.
It’s hardly revolutionary to claim that WWE need to cut back on the number of PPVs they do (although with the Network they can’t really be called PPVs now), however Payback was one of those shows that reinforced that point.  The post Wrestlemania season is always a bit flat in WWE, as they take the foot off the gas after the ‘Showcase of the Immortals’ and you can’t help but feel that the long-term implications of Payback are, well nothing.
Extreme Rules felt like a show from a jaded company that was stuck in a slump.  Something which is almost impressive, considering it comes just a month after one of the best Wrestlemania’s of all time.  Overflowing with unneeded gimmick matches and the kind of juvenile humour which only Vince could laugh at, it once again came down to a few of the WWE’s great roster, to save the show.
Watching Wrestlemania as a UK fan is a strange experience. Â While our American cousins have a normal evening in front of the TV or for a lucky few thousand in the stadium, we have to stay up to four in the morning on a Sunday evening combating sleep. Â Some years that feels like a huge mistake. Â As time trickles by and WWE piss you off with their ridiculous decision-making, you can’t help but think of a night in bed rather than on the sofa. Â Yet, every now and then the stars come together and WWE knock it out the park, last night was one of those occasions.
Ramblings About Wrestling 