411 Fact or Fiction Wrestling: Will Roman Reigns Retain at MITB?

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 Tony Acero and Mitch Nickelson!

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. Roman Reigns will defeat Seth Rollins to retain the WWE Title at MITB.

Tony Acero: FACT – As much as I may want Seth Rollins to have a good redemption story; he is still the heel in this program, and I feel like they may have just scratched the surface of where these guys can – and likely will – go. I think Reigns keeps the title this time around, but come Summerslam, we’re in for a big program that may very well include Dean Ambrose.

Mitch Nickelson: FACT – Roman Reigns is THE GUY. WWE has stuck to that narrative come Hell or high water for pretty much two years so why change course now? Roman will come out to a booming chorus of boos, Seth will be given a hero’s ovation, and one of the loudest pops of the night will happen when the person who wins the briefcase teases a cash-in on The Big Dog. It won’t happen, but it’ll most likely be teased whether it’s Owens or Ambrose or whoever. (My pick is Ambrose – I’m still crossing my fingers for that big Shield Triple Threat for next year’s WrestleMania!) I don’t have a problem with Roman as champ, it just gets annoying how terribly miscast he’s been as the babyface champion.

2. WWE running two, brand specific PPVs a month, sounds like a horrible idea that will lead to overexposing the product.

Tony Acero: FACT – Truly, I’m not sure it will lead to overexposure, but I do fully agree that it’s a horrible idea. PPV’s, for the most part, have lost a lot of their luster that they once held. What was once must see TV is now something people can catch on the Network at any given time. Having two a month will make this even worse, as they will essentially be just a fancier version of RAW. Also, there is something to be said about culmination of stories ending at PPVs. If we have one every two weeks – even if the stories are divided – it will seem like overkill for sure. Lastly, I just don’t trust the writing team to put together stories that are able to have rises and falls in action strong enough to elicit a PPV-like match.

Mitch Nickelson: FICTION – WWE might very well be considering adding another PPV a month for the new SmackDown brand and if they do they should not worry at all about it being a case of overexposure. Under this new(-ish) system, the Raw superstars will have at least 8 hours less of television time under their belts every month by the time they reach PPV simply by not being on SmackDown anymore. Since Raw is longer, the SmackDown superstars will have at least 12 hours less of television time before PPV. Another PPV is more programming for we the fans but I’m optimistic that – at least in the beginning – it should lead to a fresher product.

3. If Brock Lesnar wins at UFC 200, the WWE WILL book him vs. Reigns at Summerslam, with Reigns going over clean.

Tony Acero: FICTION – I think that if Lesnar wins at UFC 200, he will definitely be at Summerslam, but I’m not sure it will be to lose to Reigns. I see where this could go, making Reigns the ultimate threat, considering he beat a UFC heavyweight, thereby making the WWE super awesome, but I don’t see it working out or even happening. I have a strange feeling Summerslam is going to be some weird hybrid of UFC and WWE that will hopefully bring about a lot of new eyes to the product.

Mitch Nickelson: FACT – A Brock win at UFC 200 will reinvigorate the Beast Incarnate – not that he really needed it too much but he has waned a bit from his goliath post-Streak defeat run. If Lesnar wins against Hunt, especially dominantly, then his box office value shoots through the roof. Booking him in the top match for the top title so soon after a UFC win would be a necessary shot of excitement into WWE. Considering the drastic return to a brand split, WWE will be more than happy to exploit whatever value Lesnar might gain from this fight. The only real problem with this match is if there’s a The Beast vs. The Guy match then one of them has to lose. Why turn either guy into a loser? Still, this match at this time is too tempting for WWE not to book.

SWITCH!

4. AJ Styles vs. John Cena will be the match of the night at the MITB PPV.

Mitch Nickelson: FICTION – While it could be match of the night, saying that it will be implies that it’s a lock. Along with it, there are two other matches that are positioned to stake that claim at this point. The Money in the Bank Ladder Match has strong potential of stealing the show and I wouldn’t count out Reigns vs. Rollins either. I’m not knocking the match because I do have high hopes for Styles and Cena and am really look forward to it. My guess is they’ll follow the Cena vs. Owens formula from last year and Styles will get his lone win in this rivalry here. He’ll lose next go around and then tap out clean in their final encounter. For MITB, as long as those three matches deliver then this will be a strong show.

Tony Acero: FICTION – As long as you have Cesaro and Kevin Owens on the card – in a ladder match no less – then Cena and Styles will be second. The Money in the Bank matches typically bring about glorious matchups that – even with some spots thrown in – still stand atop the card as the best match or matches. I see this Sunday being no different. It’s actually looking to be a pretty good ass PPV.

5. If WWE does end up running two, brand specific PPVs a month, the women will main event a PPV before the end of 2016.

Mitch Nickelson: FICTION – If I was asked to defend this statement a year ago I would’ve emphatically said absolutely. Right after the big NXT callup with Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks last summer, it felt like that division was on the verge of something huge. Now, it feels like just another secondary division in the company and kind of blasé one at that. I’m sure there are plenty of combinations that could put on great matches but the buzz for the women has mostly fizzled out.

Tony Acero: FICTION – Before the end of 2016? I’ll bite. If Sasha Banks stays healthy, and finally gets her moment in the sun, then yes, we’re going to see them main event. I hope and pray that Vince isn’t so tunnel visioned that he won’t allow this at least once. I mean, as I said before, PPVs simply aren’t that must see anymore, and building one around a Women’s main event may be a hell of a way to make it seem more important.

6. What is your excitement level for Sunday’s WWE MITB PPV.

Mitch Nickelson: 7 out of 10 – Like I wrote in the fourth section, I fully believe that there will be several matches that will be well above average. That’s why my anticipation is where it’s at. The one knock about the amazing lineup of the Ladder Match is that it’s so incredibly stacked when those guys normally would’ve been spread all across the card. Since they’re not, much of the other parts of the show aren’t exciting me too much.

Tony Acero: 8.5 out of 10 – The concept alone nearly begs for uber-excitement, but add in a fun tag team match, and an AJ Styles match that is sure to be a big deal, and we got ourselves a very watchable PPV. I don’t know where they’ll go with it afterwards, but I hope the right man wins the briefcase. Summer is coming, and that typically means stories are kicked into high gear. This may very well be the jumpstart.