SmackDown Carries On...No Matter Who's in Charge....

How’s It Going, Enthusiasts?

 

Boy, it was gonna be a short post but then all sorts of shit just went down so, let’s talk about it.

 

So, as everyone knows, Mr. Vince McMahon has seen the writing on the wall and has tendered his resignation. He has announced his retirement. It appears Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon will serve as co-CEOs/Chairpersons for the time being. This all happened just after it was announced that Triple H would resume his executive duties. It’s hard to determine when all this was decided but it appears to now be in effect.

 

Nevertheless, don’t expect changes in production to be immediate. Mr. McMahon will retain the majority of WWE shares and therefore continue to have the final say in much of its dealings. However, that does allow the space for gradual changes so, don’t think things will remain static. What we have to hope for is that the changes are in fact for the better.

 

Some glimmer of hope for that stems from the recent cryptic tweet of Bray Wyatt/Windham. Looks like he’s going classic and looking to Dante Alighieri for inspiration. That’s great if it leads to a new “preacher” incarnation. Word is that Wyatt is listed on the RAW roster so he may be one of the surprises set for Summer Slam. If so, that is very encouraging. As I’ve said, I have no problem with Bray Wyatt, it’s the Fiend split off that lost me. It just wasn’t cleanly fleshed out, too many holes to point out. I know plenty ate it up, but I have to say those people’s tastes may be questionable. They’re probably Shudder subscribers and just like the horror genre. It’s not enough to appeal across the board. Say what you will, but I accept the lowest common denominator. It’s good to have working examples to start from. The Fiend was just too abstract.

 

Yet, if he follows more general tropes like, redemption by becoming a “preacher”, now the general populous can follow him and whether he admits it or not that’s what Wyatt really wants, marketable appeal. I hope it works out this time.

 

However, back in Boston, WWE is supposedly left scrambling as news of Mr. McMahon’s retirement broke, Brock Lesnar basically questioned why he was waiting around and left. Sounds like Lesnar only plays if Mr. McMahon is driving so, I don’t know where that leaves things but I kinda get the sneaking suspicion this is all a work. That’s fine. I don’t care if it is. I think it’s kinda genius if it is actually because it shows that WWE is well ahead of its audience which is the only way to make kayfabe work. Good for them for getting a handle on their own game if this all really has been “scripted”.

 

Regardless, “replacements” are being worked out and one of the rumors is that it may be Goldberg who steps in. Now, the last match he and Reigns had wasn’t bad but again, no one is exactly clamoring for the match up. This makes Seth Rollins' current rumblings interesting as well. Sounds like he’s making a case for him to step in against Roman Reigns at Summer Slam seeing how he’s “lowkey carrying” the company. He’s currently professing the obvious as he touts his technical prowess over Roman Reigns’. This is a given to be honest. Guys like Rollins have to work harder because guys like Reigns have the proverbial silver spoon. Reigns has the looks and the lineage so it’s on him to prove there is more to him and at this stage in Reigns’ career, it is about time. We can all admit Reigns is much improved from his start but there’s still plenty he can still improve upon. Rollins will always be a great rival/compatriot but right now…I don’t know if he’s the right fill in. Yet, if they build it now, he could suit for Survivor Series or next year’s Royal Rumble.

 

If I had a say, I’d have Wyatt surprise and take the role at Summer Slam but people would probably complain that he takes a loss. What is clear at present is that the Audience doesn’t want a bullshit fight. They don’t want any hijinks. They want people winning clean currently so, it’s hard to see Wyatt winning here unless a long-term strategy has already been fleshed out. I would angle for Randy Orton if he wasn’t injured or Bron Breakker just to counter Rollins’ claims that Reigns doesn’t elevate anyone. Lesnar leaving WWE in the lurch allows for someone to “rise to the challenge”. Breakker appears to have the big-time chops. Let’s see if he measures up.

 

In the meantime, WWE does the “scramble” for tonight’s SmackDown. I guess we should presume that Liv Morgan and Ronda Rousey are here to save the day as WWE pieces together what to do between now and July 30^th. Shinsuke Nakamura and Ludwig Kaiser will do their part and if anyone is smart, their take their shot to make something of themselves. We’ll see who does rise to the challenge. Next week should be very interesting 😉 Funny tweets and Likes get retweeted. Be kind out there. See how they fare under all this “upheaval”.

 

 

See You in a Bit,

-Nicole Alexis (^_~)