The WWE returned for its season two premiere this past Monday, giving the world of professional wrestling a first look at Jeff Murrey’s post-draft product. Murrey took a massive risk heading into the 2023 World of Wrestling Draft, shocking PWI and AEW officials when he opted to exempt only two superstars. My sources say that Murrey’s gamble was a calculated risk that allowed him to use the draft rules to exponentially grow his roster, focusing on the women’s division and the tag division.
We kick off Raw with two new WWE stars, former PWI-monster heel WALTER and former AEW superstar Johnny Gargano. The crowd was into the pairing, and I think a big part of that came from the presentation. Both Gargano and WALTER were presented as BIG deals (and they both are, WALTER more so than Gargano, but that’s only because WALTER has had more screen time.) In the PWI, this match would have been lucky to main event Ascendants; but Murrey told the audience that these two men mattered, and the audience responded in kind. WALTER was able to secure the victory, and you have to wonder what else Murrey has planned for this man, who is truly one of the breakout stars of this era.
Backstage, Tony Schiavone is with the Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel. Axel says he’s only going to defend his belt on Premium Live Events because he’s a Premium Athlete. Murrey’s soft spot for the Hennig family is real — after all, the LWF was the height of Mr. Perfect’s career and now Axel shines brightly as a second generation talent in the WWE. Axel is walking a fine line between a serious upper mid-card heel and a comedy act, and he’s bringing gold to the role. You have to know this is the sort of gimmick that only works under Jeff Murrey’s direction, as Axel would surely falter in AEW or PWI.
We’re back for our second match, as Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar make their WWE debut as the Latino World Order against Murrey’s number one draft picks, The Viking Raiders. When Jeff Murrey drafted Rey Mysterio, the internet began to buzz about a possible feud between the elder Mysterio and his son Dom; doesn’t look like we’ll have to wait very long as Dominik appeared, distracting Rey and allowing the Viking Raiders to win the match. Good shit.
Up next, we get to sit on William Zabka’s therapy session. Zabka, the talented actor behind the Karate Kid/Cobra Kai’s Johnny Lawrence character, made a mark at Starrcade when he forgot that Lawrence was a character, resulting in some of the funniest moments of the night. Zabka again stole the show, strangling his poor therapist claiming he was no different than Aiden English. Looks as if Zabka is here to fill the comedy void left in Aiden’s wake and honestly, I’m here for it.
Matt Riddle has issued an open challenge for his European Championship, and though Riddle wasn’t exempted he did get picked by Jeff Murrey. Riddle has been a mainstay of Jeff Murrey’s promotions since he returned to the business, and one has to wonder how much longer Riddle will play that role with a whole new roster of stars Murrey’s waiting to showcase. One such star was the former PWI/HCW xTreme Champion, Austin Theory! We heard on the Starrcade broadcast that Murrey had arrived with a blank check looking to sign the exempted MMouse Enterprises superstar, and that approach worked because when Murrey left the arena, Austin Theory worked for him! Theory is perhaps the most decorated newcomer of the era, with three separate championship reigns since his career began. (He’s held the Ascendants Championship, the xTreme Championship, and now the European Championship.) Theory’s emphatic debut capped off a must-see premiere for World Wrestling Entertainment. Very eager to see where things go next!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 