Extreme Rules Wasn't that Extreme but RAW Wants You to Know That's Okay...

Happy Monday, Enthusiasts!

Did you catch Extreme Rules?  Well, it wasn’t the best offering but I have to say it is nice to see that the WWE is trying.  It’s clear they’re thinking about it and such but they have yet to find their proverbial stride.  Yet, the display was enough proof to me that they’re looking for it.  That appeases me at the moment.  Given circumstances, I feel we really shouldn’t harp on them too much.  Everyone has other things on their minds so, there’s a mild pass on the particulars but this is why I’m championing that the WWE just simplifying things.  Let’s take Edge’s example.  I think he has the right overall idea.  He’s attempting to make wrestling watchable TV.  Not an easy task but he currently has the chops to do it ‘cause he’s got some real TV experience.  Not the case with the bulk of the roster.  So, I understand leaning on old tricks but I have to voice that I feel it’s best to follow Edge’s lead here.  He’s keeping it believable by keeping the feud “personal” but personal on a WWE level.  He’s not trying to dig up personal histories or issues.  He’s simply sticking to old WWE history and choosing to “finish it”.  We can follow this for the most part and we’re not questioning how real it is.  It doesn’t matter.  We believe the story we’re being told.

As much as I appreciate Extreme Rules’ attempt to entertain, I think that overall the notes are to walk things back a bit.  I think it tried a little too hard to be “extreme” which allows us all to question the believability of it all.  The prime example was the Eye for an Eye Match.  As a match, I had no problems with it.  Both Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins had a competitive go-round that held my interest.  Naturally, this started to wane as they began to attempt “eye-gouging”.  We all know no one is losing an eye here.  As much as Rollins may have tried to sell this by losing his lunch the very premise of the match is questionable from the get-go.  As I said in my previous post, we’re not exactly keen on seeing someone get maimed.  Current trends frown on that sort of exploitative exhibition.  If traditional Freak Shows are now taboo how is the WWE supposed to explain this sort of thing?  They don’t ‘cause it’s all staged but that’s my point.  Why go here when it’s blatantly a stunt?  And a stunt no one asked for on top of that. 

What may have played better is a more figurative “Eye for an Eye” Match.  So, we could have gone in with that thought of this eye gouging.  Both Rollins and Mysterio could have attempted it as they did but the true kicker should have come in some other sort of blinding.  Maybe, Mysterio could have “pepper sprayed” him.  Discredited this “Messiah” moniker by somehow proving Rollins is the one really without sight or Rollins could have made some convoluted speech of how Mysterio could never really see what he was about in the first place.  Any of that would have sold better than selling that Mysterio’s other eye was “popped” out.  Mainly because we could half buy my suggestions, we know that Mysterio’s eye and probably eyes are fine.  So to try to sell he lost his sight for the WWE just prompts us to roll our eyes. That’s the difference between bad melodrama and true kayfabe. Kayfabe should be hard to differentiate from the truth.  We have to believe it or at least it should be easy to believe.  But if it’s unbelievable, then it can’t be classified as kayfabe.  So, you see what I’m saying?  Can’t buy it ‘cause it’s obviously isn’t real so…what’s the point?  I think this is the primary problem the WWE currently has nowadays.  How do you believably sell the bullshit?  They’ll have to think long and hard about it ‘cause the old tricks don’t land anymore.

This is further exemplified by the Swamp Fight between Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt.  I didn’t mind the cinematic approach but again, to finish with The Fiend shoots the whole thing to hell ‘cause Wyatt just comes out of the water in a mask.  Ooooh, scary.  We can’t by the spooky aspect they’re going for because we know it’s just Wyatt in a mask.  This isn’t the Halloween franchise.  That’s why I keep saying they should just task him with putting together a 90 minute script and they can see if they can make him into the next Rob Zombie with some horror flicks through WWE Studios.  We just can’t suspend our disbelief under these conditions.  The Fiend will be a divisive sell until they get real about presenting him. 

The return of Finn Bálor could help here but only if they get an illusionist to help build his Dæmon persona.  That could actually land if they get us scratching our heads on the “tricks” Bálor performs.  I’m fine with going along with the myth but the WWE is going to have to commit to selling the lore.  Half-assing it isn’t going to get the results they’d like to see.  In that sort of juxtaposition, it will become more clear that Wyatt is demented and Bálor is potentially “something else” and the fun could come in how they demonstrate the hocus pocus.  The makings of a career lasting rivalry are there, but they’re going to have to get real about fleshing it out.

However, that doesn’t mean Extreme Rules didn’t have some high points.  Personally, I want to give a little shout out to the Ladies, Bayley in particular.  The Ladies didn’t disappoint as expected but though Bayley and Nikki Cross wasn’t the most popular match, it was nice to see Bayley start to have fun with her Heeldom.  She is finally going from Our Arya Stark to Our Bratty Arya Stark and thankfully she’s having fun with it.  She’s going through her dark, high school faze and I’m glad Bayley is finally getting the hang of playing the part.  To me it’s clear that Facedom suits her better but all good things in time.

An honorable mention also goes to Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler.  Even with all his “stipulations” Ziggler still ate a Claymore for the loss but at least he did this on his terms.  Ziggler may have to use stipulations and clauses to actually get a title run and in that case he must understand his wins will always have asterisks by them as it will be marked that it came due to weighted circumstances.  That may give his character some depth as he strives to prove himself.  This isn’t exactly fair because it’s safe to assume that Ziggler would get a proper title run if he were a bigger gentleman but since his proportions are generally attainable, he’ll have to settle for Intercontinental Titles and perhaps US Championships.  McIntyre did his part and for now all he has to do is develop being the “Scottish Psychopath”.  If he nails that, his place in the WWE Universe should be secure.

So, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s get to tonight’s action.  We have the fallout on RAW tonight so I’m sure we’ll get some follow-up on Mysterio’s condition.  The Ladies may have a rematch or 2 because as we know, fallout shows often hold rematches that often reverses what came to be in the previous PPV.  Randy Orton is going to start loosening up for Summer Slam with help from Big Show and we’ll get whatever other blanks filled in as we get on with the night.  As always, funny tweets get retweeted and as for Likes/Favorites well, we’ll see if the WWE has taken any of the Social Media consensus into consideration.  If they have, we shouldn’t be too upset with the direction they go in.  Feel free to let loose if they continue to miss the mark.  We gotta push for progress here.  Let them know we aren’t that dumb.  Do that with some wit and you may just find yourself Liked and retweeted for all to see.  Can’t be that bad.

 

See You in a Bit,

-Nicole Alexis (^_~)