The Official WWE / NXT Discussion Thread *May Contain Spoilers*

[SanX]

<p>I'm sorry if I offended Dynamite, but my reason is simple.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> I see jinder's push as a way to give Orton/Bray a soliditary first defence. I mean come on, it is better than jobbing Rusev/Zayn/AJ Styles or even Crobin who has been solid. Its not like he is going to defeat Randy Orton/Bray? </p></div></blockquote>

[The Dynamite Sid]

<p>If you people are arguing that Jinder Mahal - a career jobber who has never been over - is a better choice than Sami Zayn then I really don't know what I can say to you. You're clearly delusional</p><p> </p><p>

And as for the plaintiff cries of "but who else is there!?!?!?" Literally anybody. Nakamura? No? No. I suppose you're gonna tell me they shouldn't book that good match we never thought we'd see because they should wait and "not job Nakamura out" or "not waste it on a face champion". Get real.</p><p> </p><p>

I say again. I'm in no way angry about Jinder or about your right to defend this, no matter how demented that is. I'm shocked and flabbergasted frankly but hey I hope you all enjoy what will be a 5 star classic. I don't care either way because I just won't watch it</p>

[The Dynamite Sid]

Nobody in the history of TEW has ever booked this. Ask yourselves why. It's because nobody has ever cared about Jinder Mahal.

[SanX]

<p>Nobody is excited for it. Thing is, Is Randy going to lose his first PPV Title match? NO. Also, you want to Job out Nakamura in his first ever WWE PPV(internet will be furious)? Or Zayn's first SD PPV( after which people will put label on Zayn as perennial jobber)? So who is going to do the honours? Why not another jobber. </p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Also, its not like I'm in favour of this booking.</strong> If they could have given this chance to someone like Crews or Kalisto(I know he was traded) and booked an open match at PPV, it could have way better and would have worked wonders for their careers. <strong>Harper</strong> was the perfect logical choice too as he was the shared no#1 contender with AJ Styles before wrestlemania.</p><p> </p><p>

Anyway, with WWE, I have gone into Autopilot mode. See, after their so many screw ups in recent times, my mind automatically tries to find reasons/defend the decisions to reduce my future disappointment. I was genuinely enjoying SD before Shake-up. I agree with most of you points, though, its wrong but what can we do as fans? Wrestling is <strong> silly</strong> and we all <strong>love</strong> it.</p><p> </p><p>

PPV still 4-5 weeks away. There is 50/50 probability that WWE will follow through their plans anyway. </p><p> </p><p>

Also,I am going to get my 5 star classic, though it will be for the different title - Kevin Owens Vs AJ Styles.</p>

[Blackman]

<p>People also seem to forget that they've moved to a subscription service. They don't have to sell PPV's anymore, even though Owens vs Styles will sell the event quite well. They've moved important titles to opening match slots in the past if I recall correctly.</p><p> </p><p>

In TEW terms: if you would book the match, the only rating that will take a minor hit is the prestige of the title. The PPV will still be more than solid. That said, there were obviously better options.</p>

[The Final Countdown]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>People also seem to forget that they've moved to a subscription service. They don't have to sell PPV's anymore</div></blockquote><p> Exactly this. For as great a value as the Network is to the hardcore fanbase, this is the biggest downside of it IMO. It allows them to be lazy and not have to worry as much about whether or not they're putting together intriguing main event matches to sell shows.</p>

[shawn michaels]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Final Countdown" data-cite="The Final Countdown" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Exactly this. For as great a value as the Network is to the hardcore fanbase, this is the biggest downside of it IMO. It allows them to be lazy and not have to worry as much about whether or not they're putting together intriguing main event matches to sell shows.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yes, but the hardcore fanbase by itself doesn't quite make it. They need casual viewers to subscribe/keep the subscriptions as well and if there isn't an interesting product, they probably won't. Sure, they can be lazy up to a certain point, but if they keep that mentality, they will loose subscriptions.</p>

[raaecl]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Dynamite Sid" data-cite="The Dynamite Sid" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>If you people are arguing that Jinder Mahal - a career jobber who has never been over - is a better choice than Sami Zayn then I really don't know what I can say to you. You're clearly delusional<p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> He's a legitimate heel, Sami Zayn isn't. India is a big market for WWE and lets face it, its a B PPV. Its definitely worth it imo.</p>

[The Final Countdown]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="raaecl" data-cite="raaecl" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>He's a legitimate heel, Sami Zayn isn't. India is a big market for WWE and lets face it, its a B PPV. Its definitely worth it imo.</div></blockquote><p> If they're trying to create a star for India, shouldn't they be trying to push him as a face?</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Yes, but the hardcore fanbase by itself doesn't quite make it. They need casual viewers to subscribe/keep the subscriptions as well and if there isn't an interesting product, they probably won't. Sure, they can be lazy up to a certain point, but if they keep that mentality, they will loose subscriptions.</div></blockquote><p> I think a lot of those people are tuning out or have already tuned out. That's why the rating for Raw keeps slipping; the 3 hour Raw is just too much for the casual fanbase. Heck, it's too much for me, and I've spent eight years writing dynasties on this board.</p>

[Mootinie]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>That said, there were obviously better options.</div></blockquote><p> I'm not sure there were. SmackDown is shockingly short of heels and they're trusting themselves to create a new one. I'll do my best to explain why I see Jinder as a good choice by listing the cons of choosing many of the talents mentioned above.</p><p> </p><p> Sami Zayn has only recently been drafted and will win the WWE title eventually when his story demands it. Zayn is getting close but falling short at the final hurdle, that's been his story since arriving on WWE television and thus, his first shot at the big one should be booked as a memorable moment on a big show and should be presented with the grandiosity that it deserves. In order to make that story work, he needs a devious opponent that is easy to dislike. Randy Orton, at present, is not that opponent and turning him back to heel would be careless. It's best to save the Sami Zayn story for later.</p><p> </p><p> Over the past couple of months, Luke Harper has flip-flopped between being Orton's rival and Bray's ally to Orton's friend and Bray's rival so much that suddenly presenting him as Orton's primary thorn in the ass would be so confusing in this larger context that it's not even worth thinking about. I understand that it's all competition but you cannot manufacture four weeks of compelling television with such a story. Harper's role in Orton's life has met it's end momentarily, like any ordinary television show there's no demand for him to reprise his role now it's met its natural conclusion. </p><p> </p><p> Shinsuke Nakamura is a boss ass bitch that will kick your head off. So he shouldn't be losing for sure but is also too new and unproven on the main roster to be winning the title and carrying the brand at this juncture. His feud with Dolph Ziggler is perfect for both parties involved as Nakamura needs to be put in a position to succeed and Ziggler needs to be putting such talent over and showcasing their best strengths. It's hardly wise to use Dolph Ziggler just to put Randy Orton over (like he needs it) when you could be using him to put the future face of the brand over instead, which benefits the brand far more in the long term. Both performers have their role in this play called Backlash and it would be unwise and damaging now to recast them.</p><p> </p><p> Mojo Rawley is an excitable yet one-dimensional babyface. Do we even need to think about how four weeks of television would play out if this guy was positioned as number one contender? Next.</p><p> </p><p> Baron Corbin is your next WWE Champion. Just not yet. He needs to work AJ Styles for a couple of months to learn how to really work and then he will be ready to be the big evil that Smackdown needs heading into the summer. Make no mistake about it, Corbin will be defending the WWE title against Zayn, that's when that story will occur. So having him lose here? I think it will do more damage than good, especially if the match is not anything to write home about. I've mentioned above that Orton has a tendency to work on autopilot and if Corbin's match with Ambrose at WrestleMania is anything to go by, Corbin simply cannot carry a talent that isn't giving him 100%. Just like Zayn, the story of big banter Corbin is yet to come but the timing needs to be right, otherwise you've wasted precious material.</p><p> </p><p> And so, Jinder Mahal. At best, he cuts some good promos over the next four weeks and Orton gives him something to work with during the actual match. At worst, we still have Nak vs. Ziggler and Owens vs. Styles to look forward to so... I'm cool with all of this haha.</p>

[Blackman]

<p>Yeah many have tuned out when the "Mania month" ended. If I don't like a current PPV, I can always (re)watch an old one instead. I assume there's only few that will tune out because Jinder gets a boost, or it might just be out of principle. You could even just skip through the match and watch AJ vs Kevin.</p><p> </p><p>

We all realize it's not AAA long-term booking, but what in WWE is, really? Not much. They need to keep fans interested short-term now, so they won't cancel the subscription.</p>

[Fleisch]

<p>Well, what I knew would happen, happened. Smackdown Live has cemented itself as WWE's B show. "Smackdown lack heels" Well they had Miz & Bray Wyatt until the "shake up". They also have Kevin Owens but hey, lets go with a heel guy from Calgary, Alberta, Canada instead of the guy from Quebec, because the guy from Calgary has Indian lineage, which means Indian fans will love him even though he is both a "bad guy" and...er... a Canadian.</p><p> </p><p>

Let's not forget though, to really cement this "Indian" guy as a threat, and to really get the Indian fans behind him, let's team him with 2 other... er... Canadians who are heels.</p><p> </p><p>

Fantastic. Great logic.</p><p> </p><p>

Wouldn't it make more sense to push the 3 as faces if you want the Indian fans to like them? Are WWE still in the dark ages thinking that certain countries fans can't get behind the product or workers due to them not being of the same race or nationality as them? Pretty sure I wasn't an American or Canadian growing up but still cheered for Macho Man, Bret Hart and Undertaker... go figure.</p>

[milamber]

The Orton/Mahal feud doesn't really matter LOL. I'd put my money on Orton beating Mahal at Backlash, then Ziggler at MITB. Corbin wins the briefcase. Orton turn heel and beats Zayn at Battleground. Styles beats Orton at SummerSlam. Corbin cashes in later on in the year. Nakamura is the guy who beats Corbin.

[K-Nection]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Final Countdown" data-cite="The Final Countdown" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>If they're trying to create a star for India, shouldn't they be trying to push him as a face?<p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Was Bret Hart ever considered a Heel in Canada? lol</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="milamber" data-cite="milamber" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> The Orton/Mahal feud doesn't really matter LOL. I'd put my money on Orton beating Mahal at Backlash, then Ziggler at MITB. Corbin wins the briefcase. Orton turn heel and beats Zayn at Battleground. Styles beats Orton at SummerSlam. Corbin cashes in later on in the year. Nakamura is the guy who beats Corbin.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> You know good and well Vince has not thought that far ahead.....good god he can barely make it to the next show let alone what he is going to do "long term".</p>

[milamber]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="K-Nection" data-cite="K-Nection" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Was Bret Hart ever considered a Heel in Canada? lol<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> You know good and well Vince has not thought that far ahead.....good god he can barely make it to the next show let alone what he is going to do "long term".</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Just based on rumors from Meltzer/Alvarez/whoever about Vince wanting an Orton/AJ feud and Corbin being in line for a mega push later this year. Plus Nakamura is being treated like a big deal so he'll win WWE title by Wrestlemania. But of course with Vince, it's all subject to change at a moment's notice <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Fleisch" data-cite="Fleisch" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Well, what I knew would happen, happened. Smackdown Live has cemented itself as WWE's B show. "Smackdown lack heels" Well they had Miz & Bray Wyatt until the "shake up". They also have Kevin Owens but hey, lets go with a heel guy from Calgary, Alberta, Canada instead of the guy from Quebec, because the guy from Calgary has Indian lineage, which means Indian fans will love him even though he is both a "bad guy" and...er... a Canadian.<p> </p><p> Let's not forget though, to really cement this "Indian" guy as a threat, and to really get the Indian fans behind him, let's team him with 2 other... er... Canadians who are heels.</p><p> </p><p> Fantastic. Great logic.</p><p> </p><p> Wouldn't it make more sense to push the 3 as faces if you want the Indian fans to like them? Are WWE still in the dark ages thinking that certain countries fans can't get behind the product or workers due to them not being of the same race or nationality as them? Pretty sure I wasn't an American or Canadian growing up but still cheered for Macho Man, Bret Hart and Undertaker... go figure.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I had no clue Mahal and the Singh brothers were Canadian and I suspect few people do. Authors of Pain are Canadian and Albanian born BTW but could pass for Indian. Jeet Rama and Kishan Raftar are both developmental Indian born stars who toured with WWE last year in India. As for pushing Mahal as a face -- he's better as a heel. Remember when Vince wanted Del Rio to be the poster boy for WWE in Mexico and turned him babyface. Total flop. Getting stars with middle eastern heritage on TV and house shows is enough to help break into that market, regardless of their alignment or push.</p>

[K-Nection]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="milamber" data-cite="milamber" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> I had no clue Mahal and the Singh brothers were Canadian and I suspect few people do. Authors of Pain are Canadian and Albanian born BTW but could pass for Indian. Jeet Rama and Kishan Raftar are both developmental Indian born stars who toured with WWE last year in India. As for pushing Mahal as a face -- he's better as a heel. Remember when Vince wanted Del Rio to be the poster boy for WWE in Mexico and turned him babyface. Total flop. <strong>Getting stars with middle eastern heritage on TV and house shows is enough to help break into that market, regardless of their alignment or push.</strong></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> If you book them smart you don't have to change their alignment to pander to those regions. Just put them against the British guys in those regions and you will get the desired reactions. It is sad but that is human nature.</p>

[Rayelek]

My biggest complaint is that WWE took The Bollywood Boyz, guys with legitimate Indian last names (Sihra) and switched it to Singh, in the vein of Tiger Ali Singh and Ranjit Singh (Khali's former translator). Do they think there's only 1 last name in India?

[K-Nection]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rayelek" data-cite="Rayelek" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>My biggest complaint is that WWE took The Bollywood Boyz, guys with legitimate Indian last names (Sihra) and switched it to Singh, in the vein of Tiger Ali Singh and Ranjit Singh (Khali's former translator). Do they think there's only 1 last name in India?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <span>http://cdn.meme.am/instances/66938163.jpg</span></p>

[Poputt]

<p>Is there only one last name in Canada?</p><p> </p><p>

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_wrestling_family" rel="external nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_wrestling_family</a></p><p> </p><p>

Is there only one last name in Samoa?</p><p> </p><p>

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoa%CA%BBi_family" rel="external nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoa%CA%BBi_family</a></p>

[Russelrules44]

Is there only one last name in Canada?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hart_wrestling_family

 

Is there only one last name in Samoa?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoa%CA%BBi_family

 

Singh seems to be a really popular name in India. The Great Khali's real name is Dalip Singh, Jinder Mahal has Singh as a middle name, Tiger Ali Singh has Singh both in his ring name and his real name.

 

That being said, it's actually a bit of a change in pace for WWE. If I recall correctly, Ranjin Singh was the last person to have that as a last name. They've actually done a pretty good job resisting 'Singh' otherwise.

 

I don't take it as McMahon or WWE being racist, I take it as they realize Singh is a popular name in India and decide to use it to their advantage.

[Poputt]

I don't think there's anything racist about it either. For all I know they chose the names or at the very least didn't veto them. I mean people were saying "Bollywood Boys" was a racist name, because...

[SanX]

I think singh works both ways. There are a lot of Sikh people in Canada not just India. This way, they can appeal to both.

[milamber]

The WWE Shop launched in India a few weeks ago and a 4-Day Tryout is happening this week in Dubai so Vince is definitely targeting the Middle East market.

[CQI13]

I highly doubt Vince believes another race is inferior to his...I do think that Singh has a better sound to it than Sihra for a bad guy.

 

I really think this whole thing is a non-issue. I for one would have been thrilled to have Sami win that match only to lose to Orton. But whatever.

[shawn michaels]

If we booked WWE in TEW we would probably end up with no one having overness.

 

I liked the opening segment of Raw. Those 3 together was gold for me, and entertaining, but the ending makes me believe Miz will have his 374658367 IC reign, after taking another "loss" in this segment to Ambrose.