411 Fact or Fiction Wrestling: Was Fastlane Below Average?

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: First up is Shawn Lealos! He battles Len Archibald!

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 and hydroponics.

1. WWE made the right decision to move forward with the Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar match at WrestleMania 31.

Shawn Lealos: FACT – Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar would have been incredible. It would have told an amazing David vs. Goliath story and would have given Bryan a chance to run with the ball again. Problem is, he had the chance last year and an injury derailed him. I don’t have a lot of faith in his body holding up and want to see more from him before I would trust him with the world title again. However, Roman Reigns is the future and the WWE might as well see what he can do now. The fans have started to rally around him again, something they refused to do for Batista, and the reason is because they are letting Reigns be himself and show some of his natural charisma. Reigns vs. Brock should be one hell of a match, in my opinion, and is the best decision for the future of the WWE. Reigns vs. Rollins for the title should dominate the stories until SmackDown (although they will probably be stupid and give Kane and Big Show the first shots).

Len Archibald: FICTION – Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar is perhaps the most obvious WrestleMania main event not to happen since Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan not locking up at WrestleMania VIII. This is not coming as a D-Bry fan or a Reigns detractor, but as a historian and someone who actually owns WWE stock. The one thing Triple H mentioned on Stone Cold’s podcast that surprisingly went under the radar was his blunt acknowledgement that subscriptions from the WWE Network is driven by hardcore fans. The same hardcore fans who praise NXT. The same hardcore fans who created the wave that put Bryan in last year’s WM Main Event. The same ones who are losing their damn minds over Reigns being there. If those fans drive subscriptions, why would they create a WM Main Event that encourages apathy from that base? I know some fans, such as myself have an addiction and will always watch no matter what, but WrestleMania should encourage more of that base to subscribe. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar may not turn hardcore fans away in droves, but it’s not going to get them to subscribe in time for WM in massive numbers, either. So while I wax lyrical about the art of wrestling, the truth is WM should be WWE’s most profitable event and the event where the company’s CFO can point out, “In the March leadup to WrestleMania, WWE Network subscriptions went up 20%…” If Triple H has enough internal information that he publicly admits the company’s biggest financial gamble is driven by fans who celebrate Daniel Bryan, why they wouldn’t showcase that for maximum financial gain is beyond belief. Supply and demand, man. Millionaires who should be a billionaires, indeed.

2. The Bray Wyatt vs. Undertaker match at WrestleMania will end up better than last year’s Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar match.

Shawn Lealos: FACT – Last year, Brock Lesnar hurt The Undertaker and the match died after that. Honestly, once Lesnar concussed Taker, it was over with. With Bray Wyatt, they have someone who can work psychologically with Undertaker, which is the only way a match with someone of Undertaker’s age and stamina will work. Having Brock beat the hell out of The Undertaker is not something anyone wants to see. Seeing someone playing the same mind games with Undertaker that he has played with people for years is something I want to see. Wyatt is a better in-ring wrestler than Brock, who is just a pure fighter. That alone will make this a better match.

Len Archibald: FACT – Anything can happen in the WWE, but unless somehow Taker suffers another concussion, I think this is a safe bet. Taker has been known to pride himself on his performance, especially in his later years – and after a lackluster effort that ended the defining trait behind the mystique, I think we may be in for a surprise. I am also sure that Bray Wyatt will be looking to make the most of this match: his WM debut was against WWE’s franchise. In his second year, he is tangling with WWE’s embodiment of loyalty. I don’t doubt Bray is taking this responsibility lightly. I don’t think Wyatt, Taker or the agents mapping out the match is taking any of this lightly. Strangely enough, Wyatt/Taker could be a show stealer based off the sheer will of the performers who need to silent their detractors for good.

3. WWE Fastlane was another below average PPV offering from WWE.

Shawn Lealos: FACT – God, the crowd at Fastlane sucked. There were moments, such as when Randy Orton showed up that they came to life. But overall, they just sat on their hands. That hurt the Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan match the most. Sure, they started a “This is Awesome” chant towards the end of that match, but that was it. When Sting came out and one guy in the crowd tried to chant “WCW” and a few people here or there chanted “We Want Sting,” it just made that moment not feel as big. The matches? Well, they might have played a part. I loved Kidd and Cesaro winning. Nikki vs. Paige is proving how much AJ Lee is missed. Stardust losing to Goldust made no sense. The opening six-man match was lacking, especially when Seth Rollins being there reminded me of how awesome the Shield six man matches were. I miss the Elimination Chamber. That made February exciting. This was nothing compared to the Elimination Chamber.

Len Archibald: FACT – I am currently engaged in full run-through rehearsals for A RAISIN IN THE SUN and typically don’t return home until 11pm…Sometimes later. Under normal circumstances, I would have stayed up watching the replay for a WWE “Event” and ate the lack of sleep I need to go to work on Monday morning. Nope, not with Fastlane. An ok 6-man tag, an above average tag team title match, a below-average (even for the division) divas match, a heatless IC Title match, a heatless “family grudge” match, a 20 minute “confrontation”, a decent but strangely emotionally disjointed US Title match and an above average main event makes for one of the best RAWs of all time, but does not make for even a “good” PPV…much less the one before WRESTLEMANIA. By the time I got to the Divas match, I was done for the night. I folded laundry apathetically the next night while watching the rest. Another below average PPV from WWE is slowly becoming the norm.

SWITCH!

4. The booking of the WWE Intercontinental Title has made the title and who ever is the champion a complete joke.

Len Archibald: Fact OVER 9000 – I could drop a “no explanation needed” meme and I doubt I would get much of an argument. Look, the lineage of the IC Title up to 1998 was literally a who’s who of the best performers EVER. You win the IC Title, you are being groomed to be THE MAN or the man who is going to MAKE the man. Imagine Pat Patterson, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, Razor Ramon, Bret Hart, The Ultimate Warrior, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Steve Austin and The Rock being booked the way IC Champs since basically 2006 have been…none of them would be stars and this industry would be DEAD. At this point, if I was a WWE talent and was told I was going to win the IC Title, I would politely decline. That title needs to be called the WWE Bell Biv Devoe Title because it is now POISON. Bad ’90s puns aside, having the IC Champ not able to buy any semblance of credibility or respect in this day and age is just a sad pathetic state of affairs we are in. I don’t want them to retire a championship attached to so many great talents, but that shit is damaged goods, now. Ambrose, you have a better shot going after Rusev if you want to salvage your career…besides, aren’t you the longest reigning WWE US Champ? Don’t you want the title that helped define you back? Ugh. I hate being a man of logic and reason, sometimes.

Shawn Lealos: FACT – Jim Ross is 100 percent right when he says that the U.S. Champion should not be losing every match they fight. Sure, Bad News Barrett won his match, but it was by DQ and Dean Ambrose made him look the fool at the end. Dolph Ziggler was on fire last year and they jobbed him out as soon as Barrett came back. No one has made this title look good, no matter how much they wanted to elevate it. That isn’t Ziggler, Barrett or anyone else’s fault. It is all the booking committee scheduling the champion to start losing every time they win the title. They usually do the same thing to the Money in the Bank winner, which is worse in my opinion since they are expected to win the world title. Thank God they didn’t do it to Seth Rollins and kept him strong. Too bad they can’t do the same for the IC Champ.

5. Much like the AJ Styles situation, TNA losing Samoa Joe will work out well for both TNA and Samoa Joe.

Len Archibald: FACT – Joe is already back at Ring of Honor and I’m sure his presence will bring the promotion some well-needed buzz. Joe will make more money in nine months on the indy circuit than what he would make in TNA in a year. Joe will be more motivated to work the style of matches he wants to with those he wants to work with. Joe may end up in Japan and break some bitches backs in NJPW. TNA will move on just fine because TNA had already done enough to make Samoa Joe enough of a non-factor for fans not to care about his departure. As much as it pains me to say, Joe leaving TNA is a non-factor. His departure will not hurt the company in the slightest. This will also open up a spot for a hungry TNA talent to step up and fill the void a sleepwalking Joe leaves behind. All will be well for both sides. It should have happened in 2011.

Shawn Lealos: FICTION – How did it work out well for TNA? They got a new TV deal on a network that loves them that I can’t even see anymore because the tier their network is on is above my level. They get great ratings on that network, which is like being the best team in Single-A baseball. It worked out great for AJ Styles because he got to lead the Bullet Club in Japan as the biggest American star in the biggest Japanese promotion and had great matches in Ring of Honor. He is making great money now, and wouldn’t have in TNA. Same thing for Samoa Joe. He is going to make a ton of money on his own, and I want to see him show up in Ring of Honor sooner rather than later. But, for TNA, no it won’t work out well for them. They are putting on good shows, but who cares if you can’t see them. I have followed TNA since the weekly PPVs and now I don’t feel it is worth the extra $20 a month to upgrade my cable to see them now.

6. What is your current excitement level for WrestleMania 31?

Len Archibald: 7 of 10 – I am a hopeless addict. My excitement for WrestleMania is set at a 10 from the day after the previous year’s WM and fluctuates as we get to the next year’s event. It may seem high, but I am realistic to the fact that this WM is the next chapter in WWE’s changing of the guard. We are pretty much guaranteed that WM will end with a first time World Champion for the first time in ten years when Batista tasted WHC Gold for the first time. Reigns will Reign, Rollins will be rollin’ and Ambrose…well he’ll be there too. In all reality, the major “vets” showcased at WM will be Cena, Taker, Triple H and Sting…and Sting at WrestleMania for the first time is an event in itself. I’m holding out hope that Kane and The Big Show’s participation will be minimal (HA!) but really for the most part, this is WWE’s future riding on selling the event, potential Lesnar/Goldberg II: Electric BOOgaloo, notwithstanding. For potential historical significance, my excitement is still high…and I can’t help it…on WM day my excitement will probably be turned up to eleven.

Shawn Lealos: 8 of 10 – I love WrestleMania. I want to see it no matter what the main event is and really do consider it the Super Bowl or World Series of professional wrestling. Hell, if my life works out right, I plan on attending the show next year in Dallas. As for this year, I cannot wait to see Sting in a WWE ring, except for one thing. If Triple H is representing the heart of the WWE, there is no way the WWE lets Sting win, because that would mean WCW wins. I’m a WCW guy, through and through, and I hate to think of that happening. I am excited for Bray Wyatt vs. Undertaker. I expect to see Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton, which should be great. I am looking forward to Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns. I figure John Cena will beat Rusev, which kind of sucks since he doesn’t need the rub, but whatever. Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler could steal the show if that happens and it opens the show with at least 15-20 minutes. Yeah, I’m excited. I’m not as excited as last year, but this is the best time of the year to be a WWE fan.