CURRENT OPINION

Since the brand split, RAW has felt like the "A" show but Smackdown! Live has felt superior in the creative department. Which is similar to what it felt like in the first brand extension in the early 2000's.
The feud between Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles for the WWE World Championship has been quite entertaining. The inclusion of "jobber", James Ellsworth, has been great. The downside to all of this is that John Cena is also involved in the title picture, and has been "absent" as of late. Having Cena be the winner will make this feel pointless. Unless of course, WWE is thinking that Cena can turn heel with his 16th World title. It wouldn't be far fetched to think that it's possible. There are a lot of members of the Cenation, but there's all the haters which could grow to include those simply against Ric Flair's record being tied and/or broken.
Or it happens and everything basically stays the same. I am not against Cena winning, and has understood why he doesn't turn, I just don't see how it fits and works at this point in time. Ratings are mentioned a lot, and if you want those to climb, you have to do something new or something old with a new age twist. Hulk Hogan had the same reservations, and things worked out. Business exploded and he was able to return to the old and work with the kids and whatnot. But, like mentioned, the reason is understandable and valid. Rather a child have their wishes answered than entertain me. I can always find something else, or simply follow the opposite brand.

Guess we'll see how things play out. Opinion could change once John is more involved, but at this moment it would be horrible to have Cena win unless a turn is coming. Ambrose and Styles would almost lose value otherwise.

WHERE'S THE REST OF THE GOLD?

We're going to crown a WWE Universal Champion at Summerslam, giving RAW a champion to rival Smackdown! Live and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Which I am happy to see as I don't like the champion being "shared", and if the World title was brought back it would automatically be number two. The Universal Championship is fresh, and new. It fits with the WWE Universe. So, far so good until we see what it looks like of course. It could be an atrocity and will be placed below the WWE Championship (World Heavyweight Championship).

So, what about the other divisions? We have the WWE Womens Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship on RAW, but nothing on Smackdown! Live. With the cruiserweight division coming to RAW as well, there will likely be a title to win. The Intercontinental and US Championships are evenly dispersed, but there is a lot more gold on RAW than Smackdown! Live.
It could be not wanting to overshadow the WWE Universal Championship, or that the WWE Womens Championship changed hands on the RAW re-debut. But, things need to be at least hinted at, otherwise are we looking at waiting until after Summerslam? In regards to the womens division on Smackdown! Live, I am hoping that there is a new title and not them bringing the WWE Divas Championship back. That would definitely be a step backwards. I would like to think that their will be tag team championships on Smackdown! Live, otherwise what are they all fighting for?
It would be easy to have the titles also christened Universal, but then would seem weird having the one title on the opposite brand. Although having Dean Ambrose be the winner at Battleground gave strength to Smackdown!, but perhaps having all the titles follow to the former B-Show, giving RAW the clean slate.

Only two weeks into this new era, so it is of course all wait and see. I was just hoping for more direction on this topic since again it would add to why people are  involved in some feuds.

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UNPREDICTABLE PAYBACK

Unpredictable is used loosely in regards to WWE Payback, but is needed to describe things. Not focusing on the other matches (which you can find my predictions HERE), but solely on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match. We are still a week away, which includes a RAW and Smackdown! before the special event that is WWE Payback and although a lot of things seem for sure, there are variables to make things not as they appear possibly. Bare with me though, as trying to explain all of the options might get wonky.

They are hinting at Anderson and Gallows helping AJ Styles defeat Roman Reigns. That, or it is a swerve? Either are possible, both are still unpredictable. If they help AJ, is it a Bullet Club (Balor Club) reunion sans Finn Balor? Are they face or heel? Face is obvious on fan reception, but what if say they were apart of The Authority who has been absent since Wrestlemania 32? It is the only way I see an AJ victory gaining any heat. What if they turn on Styles? Does Roman retain and move on, or does he turn heel and lead The Authority? Orrrrr, does Finn Balor make his borderline expected main roster debut and forms The Balor Club without AJ Styles? Or somehow we have AJ as both The Champ and Balor Club member? The only way I see Finn gaining heat in his debut, would be like AJ, and joining The Authority in the process or simply screwing Styles out of the title. Even then, who would be more over between Balor and Styles?
See what I mean about things being predictable, yet very not so at the same time? And how it doesn't make sense really based on my ability to clarify? haha And given the current direction of things, well what appears to be, we can't even guarantee Roman retains right now. Before AJ became the Number One Contender, there was unwavering certainty the Roman Empire would continue his run atop the mountain. As a face. Now, not sure of anything at all. I love that. Last week on RAW, Roman's "I'm THE Man" line had some sting behind it looking more like a heel, then a face with a doesn't care of opinions.

So, unless a lot changes via the next RAW and Smackdown! we are in a wait and see situation. Which we should technically always be, but then what would we have to read, write, and talk about? haha Until then fellow wrestling nerds, Stay Nerdy!

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CURRENTLY BACK ON THE BAND WAGON

For who or what? Shockingly, it is John Cena.


After dropping his original "Doctor Of Thuganomics" gimmick, and going with a more "real yet Hogan-esque" route, Cena had lost a large amount of his original fan base. The older crowds had grown tired of his current character, with only the children and ladies remaining. A heel turn would turn opinions around, however, Cena's reasons are as legit as they get. The work he does with children healthy and ill make it totally understandable. Until someone is there to "replace" him, why should he turn? We eventually grew tired of Hollywood Hogan if you remember. Although that could of been blamed on WCW booking.
So, why jump back on John Cena's bandwagon? His current run with the WWE United States Championship. The John Cena Open Challenge has been almost flawless. Why is this "shocking"? The flawlessness has come from the inring work of both the weekly opponents, and Cena himself. Even if your fandom of Cena has never wavered, it was likely nothing to do with him being a great wrestler. Sure, he had great matches against the likes of Jericho or Shawn Michaels but how were we to know that simply wasn't due to those wrestlers being as great as they are. Cena was "more" than Hogan in the ring, but was more known for his "3 Moves Of Doom". Which usually meant limited inring ability. The John Cena Open Challenge has shown us that Cena really can wrestle. Almost against anyone. Sure, he isn't "flawless" but he is a hell of a lot better than most would have thought.
It has been so good, that personally hoping Kevin Owens loses and Cena retains the WWE United States Championship at the upcoming special event, WWE Battle Ground. This way he can continue on and possibly have great matches every week and against a variety of people.

Even if you don't share the opinion of John Cena's current inring work, you have to agree that him holding the WWE United States Championship slightly hinders him from being WWE World Heavyweight Champion for a 16th, and 17th time.

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DANIEL BRYAN. CAREER IN JEOPARDY?

Perhaps a very misleading headline, as it isn't so much Daniel Bryan's career that is in jeopardy, as it is his status within the WWE. Based on fan reaction, he should be a main event personality for years to come. Based on some choices by WWE? Midcard player. One could even call this "Jericho-syndrome" or "RVD-syndrome" as it isn't the first time we have seen wrestlers more over with fans than the people Vince chooses to push into the spotlight.

With the late "Macho Man" Randy Savage being inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame this year, it is nice to see some spotlight on the Intercontinental title, which really only started to truly "matter" when Savage and Steamboat stole the show at Wrestlemania III for the strap. However, Daniel Bryan hasn't been given the things that others (including Triple H) would have gotten. Example, his return from injury had little to no hype or build-up. Roman Reigns was out for a much shorter period and had a slight build to his return. There is also the fact that he has yet to receive a title shot despite being WWE World Heavyweight Champion and only relinquishing his title due to the injury to his neck. And some may say how John Cena is fighting for the other midcard title, the United States Championship, but Cena needs a break from the main event before he ties with Naitch. Yes, for those unaware, John Cena is one World title away from tying with Ric Flair at 16 World title reigns. Here's hoping that win comes with a heel turn, as there is a very good chance it will be met with a deafening chorus of boo's. Back to Daniel Bryan, like mentioned before this is not the first time we've seen this in the WWE. Chris Jericho may have gone on to win World titles as well as being the first WWE Undisputed Champion, but that was after quite a few years of being in WWE despite being well over both as a face and a heel. RVD was similar to this as well, although it is hard to truly include him after failing a screening after winning the WWE and ECW titles. Although his reasons were quite valid, it likely soured him in the eyes of Vince and company. However, like with Jericho, there was a lengthy amount of time before they finally put the strap on Mr. Monday Night. Which makes some wonder, is it because these guys were already established stars before entering the WWE? Or is there something else that causes Vince to be seemingly hesitant on putting greats like this in the forefront?

The final reason for assuming Daniel Bryan may have dropped status wise, is that most others would have meaningful storyline's going into Wrestlemania. Daniel seems to be "stumbling" into this Ladder match where the focus was really on Dean Ambrose and Bad News Barret. The opportunity was there to provide him with one. Simply having somebody "screw" him out of his title shot during his match with Roman Reigns, would have set the stage and not have hindered Reigns in any way if Bryan openly admits Reigns deserves his shot. Insert handshake to let us fans know. Avoid rolling eyes.

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