Apologies everyone for not having this done 8 hours ago as usual, but my partying binge over most of the last week left me in the hospital for an emergency visit last night. The bastards forced me to delete the cameo so that I won’t have a reason to go enjoy myself anymore. Fuckers.
ANYWAYS, here are me thoughts on the week ahead which starts today!
WWE
- Rey Mysterio v. Big E
So, Rey Mysterio has been signed to an exclusive contract with WWE for the next 3 years, which apparently includes a clause removing him from the company’s “Legends Roster”. Now, before I get into my thoughts on this impending bout, I just want to comment on the unique nature of this contract. There hasn’t been an exclusive contract signing signed between any superstar and promotion since the annual drafts started. Why? Because unless a company is willing to spend some valuable draft capital on permanently placing a talent on their draft exemptions list, it just isn’t worth it. So, this will be an interesting thing to watch if and when we have a draft this summer.
So, Rey Mysterio’s first match since last year will have all eyes on that screen for sure, but I don’t anticipate that Big E is going to lose here, unless the Rock is involved somehow. Big E is coming off of his face-to-face with the Champion last week, and this is his moment to show that he can carry the WWE into the first place ratings rank. An appearance from Rock is at about a 75% probability considering the build towards the big event coming early next month.
As for anything else to watch for on Raw, I will say to keep an eye on the following:
Johnny Lawrence and Ryback will most definitely have an entertaining segment. Ryback wants to dine on Johnny’s entrails for him becoming the Sensei of Ryback’s mother’s ass.
Lacey Evans is bound to do something offensively hilarious once again, and we are bound to see a continued build for “Asuka v. Beth”.
What will we see in the saga of Doc Brown and Flex, and will this loop in the defecting Curtis Axel?
Finally, Murrey and Cross showed some signs of a divorce in their relationship. I anticipate something coming to both reveal another member of the Board and to further divide them.
AEW
- Falls Count Anywhere: Splinter v. Menotaur
Two weeks removed from becoming the embodiment of Seal’s “Fly like an Eagle”, Master Splinter is set to take Menotaur on a grand tour of the arena hosting AEW this week. This kick-off to the PPV-caliber will be a fun one to watch, and the rich history between these two legends will help to the story of the bout. Splinter’s sometimes-forgotten legacy is one as sort of a hardcore icon, having had countless bloody encounters throughout his career from ECW to USWA and all over. He has a vicious side which is just as prominent as his technical side. Count on it helping Splinter pick up the win.
On top of that, Splinter is at the center of the biggest unfolding story in wrestling right now. The backdrop of the night will undoubtedly be this burning question about the fate of Benny per the will of the Board. Benny will most certainly try to make another appearance, or at least we will get Sami pleading his case in some way. Either way, there is a lot to watch here.
- TV Title: Cody Rhodes © v. Yokozuna
Yokozuna abandoned his tag partner last week when he left Umaga behind to lose to Omega and Page and get slimed by Riddle and Hogan. Granted, he was trying to help his fellow Bloodline members, but he still caused a ton of embarrassment for his family. Unfortunately for Yokozuna, Dynamite – Dragon’s Fury!!!!! – isn’t going to be a much better night for him. Don’t get me wrong, Yokozuna is going to give Cody a run for his money, but there isn’t a chance in hell that the most protected member of AEW’s roster is losing this title before he has had it for at least two months.
Cody doesn’t really have a solid story as we head towards the next AEW PPV (outside of being a defending champion, that is), but I suspect that that story will begin to develop either this week or next. This match is primarily going to serve to advance the Bloodline story and their troubles with whatever it is we are calling Hogan and the gang (we may also see the Inner Circle resurface, but then again I am sort of thinking they have largely moved on from the Bloodline).
- Athena Star v. Living Dead Girl
Well, it’s finally here, the Knockout’s showdown to which we have been building for decades! Athena Star will finally face her greatest and original foe: Living Dead Girl. It’s crazy to think that this era has seen LDG enjoy more success than Star has, considering LDG’s dominant run here in PWI at the beginning thereof. The female phenom has been out of action for about 2 years, though, and she will undoubtedly have some ring rust. The question is, though, how will Athena capitalize on that?
Who do I think wins here? That’s a little tougher to answer than the other matches I’ve predicted for Athena as of late, because of two factors: this is LDG’s return match and they have a long history. There is a part of me which sees Athena overcoming the odds and ending this once and for all, but the wise part of me is telling me that LDG will stun everyone in the arena and get what will effectively be a flawless victory. Why would I predict such a dominant showing for LDG? I know it is kind of a gamble, but I think that this match is either the first in a series of bouts between them to finish the tale or it is at least one of two to come.
Either way, I believe that their last encounter happens at the PPV, where Athena will win, but she has to get obliterated tonight. Sorry Miss Star.
- World Title: AJ Styles © v. Bryan Danielson
Lastly, we have the Main Event of the evening. Am I wrong for originally thinking that Styles was defending the World Title in a triple threat against Danielson and MJF at the PPV? Regardless, this is the match we have all been waiting for, and it is being given to us for free. Yes, I am excited for it, but I can easily see who is going to win. Does that take away from the awesomeness of the bout to come? Hell no!
Danielson has given us a really fun month since he turned on his former friend at Genesis. Last week, he also aided in giving Logan Paul a valuable debut win over the champion (something which will come back to haunt Styles at the PPV, I think), but tonight will not be his night. Styles is retaining the gold tonight whether it is via a no contest or outright victory, AJ is leaving as he came in: the AEW Champion!
Then, we are on our way to Styles v. MJF! I! CAN’T! WAIT!!!! I think I feel that urge to party building in me again…
PWI/HCW
- Molly Holly v. Natalya Neidhart
After the Women’s Tag Division was disbanded a few weeks ago, Molly found herself feeling kind of lost. That was until Ivory spoke up to remind Miss Holly of who she is: one of the greatest women’s wrestlers in history! However, Natalya is unimpressed and is determined to show everyone that she is both better than the former Women’s Champion and deserving of a chance in the spotlight which continues to escape her.
My counterpart believes this could be the MOTN, and I think he may be onto something!
- The Attraction v. FTR (2)
There’s a lot riding on this one for Teo and Attitude. Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder desperately want to get back to the Young Bucks, but they have to protect their rank and stave off their opponents tonight. Teo is along for the ride, doing so because he believes in his best friend and doesn’t want to let him down again. Reluctantly, he finds himself fighting on behalf of the Million Dollar Corporation, because that’s the other side of the coin. The outcome will have consequences in the tag ranks (FTR wins and jumps to first place, they lose and collapse in the ranks) as well as the Global Conflict (MDC could tie PWI with an Attraction win, PWI ties HCW with an FTR win).
This will be an emotional rollercoaster for sure. Enjoy!
- Premier Semifinal Round: AJ Lee v. Alexa Bliss (10)
After Alexa Bliss manipulated AJ Lee last week into interfering in Becky’s match, thus costing her the gold, she has reminded everyone that this is all really her division at the end of the day. Frighteningly, with the help of Bray’s influence, Alexa is more powerful than ever before. Can AJ get her head on straight on focus on the task at hand here? Will we see another outburst from her, or is AJ in over her head?
The winner finishes the semifinal round off and joins Ruby Riott, Zelina Vega, and Charlotte Flair in the Finale to crown the first ever Women’s International Champion. The question is: who wants it more?
- Randy Orton v. Matt Cardona (8)
And now we come to the Main Event! Randy Orton has had some bad luck since the start of this year, and Matt Cardona wants to continue his ascension through the ranks. The former HLW Champion Cardona has been bragging for weeks about how he is a guy different from and superior to the former EWA Champion Orton because he is “someone who wins”. Orton is a man on a mission to get back to the world title and Dragonfly.
This is a clash of the superegos, a PPV-caliber encounter with no gold on the line or special stipulations: just bragging rights. Holly and Natalya could be the MOTN, but this will be both a close runner-up and a deserving main event!
That does it for me today, brace yourselves for the impending live show report and the flurry of website updates!
See you all later this week for my review!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 