411 Fact or Fiction Wrestling: Is Seth Rollins a Dangerous Worker?

Welcome back to the latest edition of 411 Fact or Fiction, Wrestling Edition! Stuff happened, people loved/hated it and let everyone else know. I pick through the interesting/not so interesting tidbits and then make 411 staff members discuss them for your pleasure. Battling this week are 411’s Kevin Pantoja and Sean Garmer!

Questions were sent out Monday.

Participants were told to expect wrestling-related content, as well as possible statements on quantum physics, homemade pharmaceuticals, the Turtle Total Trip Theorem, pizza and hydroponics.

1. NXT Takeover: Brooklyn smoked Summerslam in overall quality.

Sean Garmer: FICTION – I think smoked is too strong of a word honestly. The top three matches for NXT Takeover certainly delivered, but Summerslam had at least three that delivered similar quality as well. But if we look at both shows as a whole, NXT Takeover had simple booking, a tag team title match with no BS from Jon Stewart and they did the WWE pageantry without overdoing it. I also think the finish of the Brock match would have been better served a few matches down on the card and have Balor and Rollins main event. Not to mention, the stupidity of the Reigns and Rusev deal as well. Largely what hurt Summerslam is that the show felt REALLY long and there were important title matches that were just kinda there, while matches like Cena vs. AJ outshined everything. So, certainly NXT was better overall, but I didn’t think it was blowaway better. Summerslam was a 6 and I thought NXT was in the 8 range.

Kevin Pantoja: FACT – Just like they did last year. To be fair, it’s going to be hard for a six hour show to best a two and a half hour one at any time. The length of SummerSlam is part of what killed it for me. Still, SummerSlam was a largely average show, while TakeOver was really good. The worst match on TakeOver was Billie Kay against Ember Moon, which was still better than some of what we got at SummerSlam. Even the booking of TakeOver was better, with everything making sense, while SummerSlam certainly had some questionable moments. TakeOver had the Revival/Gargano and Ciampa match, glorious Bobby Roode, the Itami pop and Bayley’s farewell. Add in that TakeOver ended with a feel good moment of a babyface winning the top title, while SummerSlam ended with a dull Lesnar/Orton match and it’s easy to see which side wins.

2. WWE is trying to cover up the bad press regarding their own wellness policy from the Brock Lesnar USADA violation and non-suspension, with the recently announced wellness suspensions.

Sean Garmer: FACT – There is a case to be made for that, but I wouldn’t say it is the major reason these suspensions were happening. WWE obviously doesn’t really care about Del Rio and the people in the office see him as a problem. Paige has been injured and also involved with Del Rio, while also not being used that much by the company. Eva Marie had a story going on Smackdown that was actually working and then all the sudden it had to be cut short due to suspension. I’m still waiting for these supposed “mass suspensions” that were coming and I guess either it was all rumor, or WWE is waiting a bit to space them out. The Brock thing probably made them start testing more, or perhaps finding the right times to test certain folks they really weren’t going to use anyway, knowing they’d pop them and then could show “hey the system does work.” Eva Marie would then be the next “hey see, we don’t play favorites either.” I don’t wanna get cynical about this, because it is a great thing this system is in place. I know there are people out there that don’t like the “WWE controls when the wrestlers are actually suspended part.” However, look at it with sports. Most players don’t just say “hey I’m taking my suspension.” Most of them appeal and keep playing for a while. The wrestlers don’t have anyone to appeal to, so at least getting to finish what they were doing helps in that regard.

Kevin Pantoja: – Well it certainly seems that way. I understand that the WWE and UFC may have different wellness policies but it seemed odd to hear all of this about Brock failing and then he just headlines the next major WWE Pay-Per-View. The most concerning thing for me is that the WWE never issued a statement or anything like that. They could have mentioned that he failed for something that is only illegal in the UFC. Instead, they stayed quiet and since then, have suspended several Superstars. Even in the event that it isn’t done as a cover up, a lot of people are thinking that, which is not a good look for the company. Right now, it feels like Brock Lesnar could shoot up in front of Vince McMahon and Vince would just ask if he could hold the needle steady. That’s how much power Brock seems to have over the WWE.

3. Alberto Del Rio will not be with the WWE in 2017.

Sean Garmer: FACT – It sure seems that way honestly. They aren’t really going to do anything with him. Obviously, he has monetary reasons and whatever his relationship is with Paige to stay with WWE. However, is that enough? The guy got tired of WWE and left before. I don’t really see what’s changed that makes a difference for him to stay again. TNA has gotten much better since the last time he was a free agent and word is they already have an offer on the table for him. He also has that one promotion where he’s friends with the owner. I’m sure CMLL or Elite would love to have him. I don’t know if AAA or Lucha Underground would want him back. He did well for himself in ROH even when he was there. He could even work in New Japan. The guy has options and I think he takes one of them that isn’t with WWE.

Kevin Pantoja: FACT – This one seems pretty obvious. Alberto Del Rio is a very rich man because of the WWE and he’s currently hooking up with Paige, so one would wonder how he could be unhappy. The WWE never seems to know what to do with Del Rio. They try and present him as a big deal but then mishandle him terribly. He got to shine in Lucha Underground as Alberto El Patron because he got to be himself. He spent most of his career as a babyface and his babyface run in the WWE was actually more entertaining than him struggling through a heel promo. Since returning, he’s won the US Title, lost it, won it back and lost it. He had Zeb Colter, then dumped Zeb Colter. Was with the League of Nations, then they broke up. Now he finds himself suspended and as no direction at all again. El Patron needs to leave and possibly head back to the Temple.

SWITCH!

4. Considering the WWE’s change in philosophy over the years, the company should consider recruiting former top-level gymnasts to the developmental system.

Kevin Pantoja: FACT – I mean, I guess fact. I don’t have very strong feelings on this topic but it could be a good idea. The WWE recruits from other sports so why not give gymnastics a chance? You know for sure that they are super athletic. The biggest reason I say fact is because there doesn’t seem to be a down side of doing it. Maybe you find a star, maybe you don’t. Plus, the recent success that the US women had in the Olympics as well as the good job that a former gymnast like Alexa Bliss has done and it could work.

Sean Garmer: FACT – I guess why not? I mean they get every other kind of athlete in there. Wrestlers that do flips or can do crazy moves is in right now and it would provide an opportunity to see what they could bring to the table. Gymnasts have to train a lot, just like wrestlers, and would certainly have the endurance. However, dealing with contact and hitting the mat like that constantly is a much different animal. Just like any other type of performer, some will be cut out for it and some won’t. So, I don’t see WWE counting out any type of background, if it can help them find another NXT or potential WWE star.

5. Sasha Banks is going to get the stigma of being too injury prone, which will lead to WWE not investing in her long term.

Kevin Pantoja: FICTION – This was the hardest one to pick this week. I can totally see the injury prone label being slapped on Sasha, even if it’s undeserved. Off the top of my head, she had the concussion, which seemed to a strange accident, and the current back injury. I don’t think that makes her injury prone but some could see it as that and that could hurt her future. I will admit, as a massive Sasha fan, that she needs to stop bumping so crazy. I’ve seen her land on her neck or head several times and it has to be fixed. She won’t have a long career if that continues. Maybe a return to a less high risk heel style is what she needs, which could work now that Bayley is on the main roster. Due to the possibility of her fixing those problems and staying healthy, I have to go fiction. It certainly is possible, but not enough for me to say a fact.

Sean Garmer: FACT – According to Big Dave, she already had one before with her previous injury. Obviously, when you are as talented as Sasha is, you will probably get more chances than others will. However, at some point, there comes a limit. There comes a time where if you are Vince, Triple H, Stephanie, or anyone with authority in the company, you have to wonder if the investment and the small amount of time she appears is worth another potential injury risk and further risk to her long term health. If you have someone else that doesn’t get banged up as much and doesn’t have to miss any time, you will probably roll with them. That’s just how it is in the world of anything where you are competing for a top spot. Hell, even in regular jobs this happens. If you have to miss a lot, they will try to find someone just as qualified to replace you. You have to wonder, how many more of these injuries, problems, concussions, it will take before the powers that be decide, “we can’t trust her.” When you get to that point, it is very difficult to comeback from that.

6. Following the injury to Finn Balor you agree with Bret Hart, Seth Rollins is a reckless and dangerous performer.

Kevin Pantoja: FICTION – This theory that Seth Rollins is reckless really annoys me. I get that a few people have been hurt in the ring with him, but not all were his fault. Let’s look at it. Starting with Sting, this felt like Sting’s fault more than Seth’s. I don’t think they should have done a Buckle Bomb spot to a 56 year old, but even so, Sting admitted to not tucking his chin and said it wasn’t Seth’s fault. The Cena broken nose spot is one that I guess could be considered Seth’s fault, though even that felt more like a freak accident. The same could be said for Seth injuring himself last year. As for the recent Balor injury, that goes on both guys. Seth probably should have started the spot from closer, but Finn shouldn’t have thrown his arm back the way he did. Watch Dean Ambrose take that spot and he never does that. This is wrestling. Sometimes people get hurt. Some can be reckless, but looking at it, I wouldn’t say Seth fits that category.

Sean Garmer: FICTION – Someone needs to go make a movie called “Grumpy Bret” and just play different clips of him giving things a 4 out of 10 or hating on guys for doing something, or for injuring people, or what not. Look, total respect to Bret Hart for everything he did and for not injuring anyone in 23 years. Depending on who you read, this was Rollins fault, or was Finn’s fault for putting his arm behind his head. Regardless, some of the blame should be put on WWE. Once Sting’s career was ended from the move, perhaps someone should have said “Hey Seth, we will let you use God’s Last Gift, if you just don’t use the Buckle Bomb anymore.” Well, at Summerslam he got to do both and now Finn Balor is out for six months. That being said, it is amazing that I’ve never heard of Michael Elgin injuring someone with the move and he does it all the time. So, I think some of the blame should go on Rollins as well. Yes, he has a track record, but I wouldn’t call him a reckless performer. Bret is exaggerating a bit on that one. Nobody was more upset at himself than Rollins for what happened to Sting. I’m sure he feels the same about Balor as well. This is wrestling and accidents happen. However, if they happen too many times with the same guy at the root of them, you might have to dig a little deeper to see what’s causing them.