WWE’s Tug of War With The Future

Do you remember a time when there were PPV buy rates that needed to be had? A time where “go home” shows meant something? Pepperidge Farms remembers. I also remember and wish the WWE did, too. There have been times over the last year plus (since the Network became available) that the WWE had me thinking that they also remembered when those final RAW episodes before a PPV meant something. Then there’s last night. What the hell was that? I’d like to meet the writer who pitched that final segment. I’d like to meet him and ask him if that would make him want to sign up for $9.99.

I wish the WWE handled the final RAW before ANY pay-per-view like it still costs $65 instead of $9.99. Instead of beating that ending up to death for how terrible I thought it was I wanted to look at some positives that came from it.

Roman Reigns looked strong-ish

I know it’s a running joke thanks to the CM Punk/Colt Cabana podcast but we know it’s an actual thing. No matter what, make Roman look strong. In the final segment of RAW last night, he did, sort of. Granted, he didn’t knock Lesnar’s lights out, but he didn’t exactly stand down from the “Beast” either. Instead, he did what any little brother would do; he reached up and snatched away what didn’t belong to him.

They painted a picture that Reigns was not going to back down from Lesnar. Reigns stood tall in the face of Brock. He can. He will.

Brock can’t Bully Roman

During their tug of war match in the middle of the ring, in front of millions of people, Reigns proved that he could hang with Brock. At least, that’s what they were trying to sell us. “See guys, Reigns is tough, he can hang on to the belt even when big bad bully Brock is trying to take back what’s his to begin with.” It was basically the same promo that Kane and Wade Barrett did earlier in the night, except Kane didn’t snatch it away, Barrett gave it to him.

I get why they did the tug of war angle. It was the lowest level of physical contact they could have leading into the main-event on Sunday. I get it. I’ll be the first to admit that I like it when Lesnar doesn’t have any physical contact with his opponent before their match. It does make that first physical contact when the bell rings seem that much more important. I suspend disbelief and buy in.

I wish Brock and Reigns could’ve just stood there on RAW and stared at each other. Like it was a UFC weigh-in or something. That would’ve been better than the Black Friday “I saw it first” fight.

Now to the truths that we learned on Monday night…

How about that Response?

That final segment did in fact prove that Reigns should not win on Sunday. His music hit and not a creature were stirring, not even a kid. The chorus of boos that reigned down on Reigns were nothing to the chorus of boos that will echo through Levi’s Stadium if he wins at WrestleMania. I am fully convinced that the crowd on Sunday will absolutely annihilate Reigns. If VKM’s goal is to have WrestleMania, the show of shows, end the way the Royal Rumble did, than he’s going to achieve that goal.

I know Roman Reigns gets compared to John Cena a lot but there’s one big difference between the two. It took years for Cena to get booed by adults while still being loved by children. This booing Reigns movement has started way too early. This is worse than the Cena reaction because it is happening so fast. This movement may be moving away from “He’s not Daniel Bryan” and more to “He’s Roman Reigns.”

Can Reigns be salvaged? I have no idea.

The Situation is now Critical

This is a critical moment for the WWE. If they haven’t already, they need to re-sign Lesnar, and he needs to win on Sunday. That is more evident now than ever before. I’m just talking about the re-singing of Brock Lesnar. There is a clear gap between Lesnar and the rest of the roster. It isn’t even close. The WWE needs Brock a lot more than he needs them and it’s as clear as the day is long. Vince McMahon needs to be on the phone with Lesnar’s people day and night to try and get a deal done by Sunday. Triple H needs to be in his ear that it’s time to put up the cash. It’s time to pay the piper.

Now is not the time to be tough or play hardball, Vince.

There was Hope, for a moment

For a few weeks recently, I thought, maybe Reigns winning can be salvaged. I know for a fact now that it cannot. The ship has sailed and it’s time for VKM & Co., to right the ship, before this attempt at making the “next guy” hits the proverbial iceberg. You can give the fans everything they want for the previous three and a half hours or so at WrestleMania. Daniel Bryan IC title win, Undertaker defeating Bray Wyatt, John Cena winning the US title, Sting beating Triple H, etc. but all of that will mean nothing if Reigns is victorious at the end of the night. The crowd will revolt.

The only way you could have the crowd forget about Reigns winning the title is if him and Lesnar open the show on Sunday but even that’s a stretch.

(As always, you can find me on Twitter @BDenny411 or on Facebook.com/bmd583 – I love to debate and as always will do my best to respond to the comments below)