RAW Is Set & Ready for Money in the Bank...

A Merry Monday to You, Enthusiasts!

So, it’s that time again.  Money in the Bank is this Sunday so we have the final offerings before we see who gets to hold the “Game Changer” this year.  I personally don’t have any preferences.  I’m kinda in a “let’s see what happens” mode.   If they make it work, they make it work.  That’s more what I’m looking at.  If it takes well. 

As for tonight, we have a few points of note that are supposed to get the tummy grumbling for this upcoming night of madness.  We have ourselves a big, fat Fatal-4-Way betwixt the likes of Finn Bálor, Kevin Owens, Bobby Roode and Braun Strowman.  Now, just looking at it, one would lean towards Strowman but if the WWE is smart and want to keep things interesting, Strowman should be formidable but not invincible.  Wrestlers just have to be smart about it.  If they fuck up, that’s their ass but if they finagle a win, they finagle win.  I get that he’s a Monster among Men but no one likes someone winning all the time.  So many people can’t stand the likes of Tom Brady and LeBron James for just that reason.  Every now and then, someone should get the jump on him.   This past Super Bowl and the recent NBA Finals have been satisfying to many just because the usual didn’t take the top spot.    The WWE should note this.  He can win like 75% of the time.  That’s believable. 

The Ladies have their own Fatal-4-Way as well with Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Ember Moon and Natalya.  Again, I don’t have any real investment but I do like Natalya so, I’ll be rooting for her.  Again all this really has to be is entertaining.  Let’s see if the Ladies manage it.  We also have a showdown between Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey and here I’m not exactly sold.   I feel it’s a little early to have Rousey try to sell one of these David(a) vs. Goliath(a) matches.  I feel the only thing that makes it believable is if she loses, unless her Judo training comes in handy or something.  The thing about Kayfabe in the Modern World is that We the Audience are just so much more aware than previous crowds.   Mid-match we can look up information on just about anything, the wrestlers included.  As far as we can tell, this match wouldn’t go down in the UFC yet it doesn’t mean the “underdog” can’t win.  I just don’t see Rousey selling a win.  We’d know it was decreed and so, where’s the surprise, disbelief?  This genre has the delicate job of “lying” to us.  We want to believe it’s real.  We know it's not, but we want to believe.  Matches like Rousey vs. Jax are matches where the “truth” can come out.  WWE Creative has to be careful not give away the whole game ‘cause then why watch?  It’s a truly delicate balance.

In other news, we also get to see how Baron Corbin eases into his “Constable” shoes.  Will there be a sort of Eric Cartman tinge to his “authori-tay”?  I think he could have fun with it.  The problem I’ve had with Corbin is that he comes off too much like a heel.  He seems like a real dick.   Not exactly what a Heel is.  Again, it goes back to “lying to us”.  The Heel plays the “bad guy”, emphasis on plays.  There’s a “Big Bad Wolf” sort of sentiment and this can be hammed up to add some comedy or satirical color.  This is how a person can “like” a heel.  Kevin Owens does a great job of tightrope walking the line.   I know he’s playing a character, I don’t think he’s an asshole.   I have no idea what to expect of him in real time.   Corbin, I’m not sure I should give a damn about because I think he might actually be a dick.  He may be doing “too good” of a job.  This Constable role may enable him to sprinkle some comedy in so we see that he does in fact know it’s for play-play and we can then decide if we like him or not.

Speaking of people with a sort of “bad rap”, we also have the showdown of Jinder Mahal and Roman Reigns to look forward to this evening.  Now, I say these fellows have gotten “bad raps” because I think in both cases the flack isn’t entirely warranted.  In Reigns’ case, he was simply mishandled by Management and in Mahal’s case, pissy fans are having trouble with wrestlers earning status.  It’s kinda medieval when you think about it.  Jobbers can’t rise up the ranks?  Once a jobber always a jobber?  Not very American if you ask me.   Mahal did the work and revamped his character and his effort was rewarded with a shot and he’s been believable in my mind.   Putting these 2 together has been an interesting experiment and I think it prompts the crowd to question their feelings.  Is Reigns really so bad when paired against Mahal or vice versa?  Your opinion is yours to have and to hold, just understand why you think that way.   For me, all these guys have to do is be entertaining.  Don’t really care who wins.  Funny tweets get retweeted and as for Likes/Favorites…I’m open.  Let’s see what you all got.

See You in a Bit,

-Nicole Alexis (^_~)