SmackDown Finalizes the Royal Rumble...

Happy Friday, Enthusiasts!

How’s everything going? It’s a good one for me. Got some good things coming down the pike. Can’t say the sentiment is so hopeful in the WWE Universe but I suppose the healing can now begin. Let’s get into what’s going on.

Well, it’s hard to get away from the scandal hovering over WWE. Word is that the Feds are looking into it now. More to see if anyone was skirting the financials. Deals like these can’t be on company books so I’m sure there looking for any criminal action on the fiscal accounting of these unsavory affairs. 

It doesn’t look good. I won’t lie. And I’m not sure what happens from here. Yet, at the same time, I feel those who were uninvolved need to focus on just that. One can’t help the faults of others. That doesn’t stop the business from being a billion dollar company and the best in the industry. I figure it’s best to focus on that.

But I will touch on that in light of all these scandalous allegations that there is a call to “omit” Mr. Vince McMahon from the record and let’s be honest. Can we really do that? I know that in these modern times there’s a push to “whitewash” history to something far more inclusive and fair but I think we have to embrace the history. 

That’s why we now have terms like “inhumane” and “cruel and unusual punishment”. At some point, people behaved horrendously towards others to the point others cried undeniable fouls and now we have terms for such despicable misdeeds. It’s how we remember how we came to now. I won’t ever condone or try to explain away what may have transpired. The old sayings hold truth. Absolute power, corrupts absolutely and this would be just another example. But should we change history because of it? No. I feel we should remember so that we can build a civilized future. There’s a reason why things are the way they are. It would behoove us all to remember the history. 

I feel the best way forward is simply reform. There is talk that TKO Management will be on a bit of a mission ridding company of the old unscrupulous guard. I think they are well within their rights to institute a zero-tolerance policy on exploitative behavior. Times as they are, someone would be quite foolish to stumble into it but with the likes of Velveteen Dream trying to redeem himself and Matt Riddle still acting like he did nothing wrong, one can see that the issue may be one that accompanies the human condition.

All TKO has to do is show they’re not having it. If it comes out that you fucked up recently or are fucking up, you’re out. You see the trickle down effect. Who needs it. People are grown and should know better. If they are falling into these sorts of vices it’s pretty safe to say they don’t need ‘em so let ‘em go.  However, if a party has shown reform, then they can be reconsidered.

This was my main problem with Matt Riddle. He did not appear repentant. If he made an effort to understand and do better I would have been more than willing to offer him the benefit of the doubt but what I picked up was that he seemed more along the lines of feeling like the thing was overblown and he wasn’t really sure what her problem was. We won’t know what transpired but if the lady was paid off millions of dollars, he did something untoward.

I know women can exploit this angle but that can be determined and that’s not what I got out of the Riddle situation and him pivoting to porn stars and the like kinda supported my feelings. He’s not trying to be wholesome. And that’s okay in practice as long as all participating parties have consented. It’s really no one’s business but if a person is subjected to poor treatment and disrespect a subsequent grievance should be anticipated. 

All TKO has to do is proceed with this sort of precedent. Okay, we all know how things used to be but that was then and this is now. If you’re out there fucking around, everyone you’re fucking around with better have signed up to do it and settle all your damn debts. If no one’s complaining, there isn’t a problem. I think TKO could proceed respectably from that sort of stance. Don’t start none, there won’t be none.

In any case, that should bring us to tonight’s SmackDown. I could say more but why drag on. I’ll wait and see what’s going on come Monday and continue then if it’s still relevant. For now, let’s turn back to the fun as SmackDown has to complete Fallout from the Royal Rumble. Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Logan Paul are all scheduled to appear. And Bayley will decide which Women’s Title she’ll vie for. The unofficial watch party starts at 8pm PST. Join in if you can and aren’t put off.

See You in a Bit,

-Nicole Alexis (^_~)