Truths & Lies: Dolph Ziggler Leaving WWE Rumor, TNA/PPV, More

Eventful week ahead.

Even with the next WWE pay-per-view being a full month away, there are a lot of wonderful things happening. Brock Lesnar is back in the fold. Kevin Owens and John Cena are still feuding. This column has been moved to its new night. Best of all, Wednesday night marks the return of Big Brother on CBS! While not selected for the cast (again), I will discuss just who was chosen below and my very early favorites.

Yes, it has a wrestling connection this season – calm down. Like always though, let’s respond to some reader feedback…

Reader Feedback

My name is: I could see streaming PPVs when WWE was overpricing them. But now, you’re just being a cheapskate if you can’t dish out 9.99 for a PPV, plus virtually their entire library for an entire month.

Two points.

1. That is still an excuse used to justify stealing. Fancy cars are overpriced. Large TV sets are overpriced. I guess that means it is okay to steal them. I mean, “overpricing” items gives me that right to use theft as some backwards logic…eh, no.

2. On your second point, I am with you. If the massive WWE Network tape library, monthly PPV events, NXT shows, new documentaries, original specials, and everything else is STILL not worth $9.99 to you, then you are just stealing to steal.

Team J-Rod: “FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!” – generally shouted by people who don’t have a friggin clue what the first amendment actually entails..

It is the same group of people who go to sporting/WWE events, act like drunken fools, and THEN make a fuss about being escorted out by security. Clowns.

Connie: Great column. Really insightful analysis and informative reading. Well done.

Thanks! I appreciate it. As a bonus, here is another comment from you…

Connie: I think the main problem with Batista’s return was that WWE turned him heel too quickly. He is more natural as a face and he is generally a likable guy, so why on earth turn him heel? Just bad form by the WWE imo.

Fans can debate the timeline all they want, but on Batista’s first night back in WWE, he hugged Triple H and Stephanie McMahon (heels), wore skinny jeans (guaranteed to get people worked up…for whatever reason), and used the catchphrase “Deal with it!” in regards to winning the 2014 Royal Rumble. All in his return promo segment. If that was a 100% face character, his official heel turn was not much of a ‘turn’ weeks later. He just turned the volume up once Daniel Bryan entered the picture.

Okay, bring on the wrazzzzlin!

TRUTH: TNA Impact Wrestling has a live pay-per-view this weekend.

Believe it or not, this is a fact.

Barely.

Instead of (rightfully) pointing out how useless this PPV card looks, how embarrassing it is they had over six months to plan for this, how their own history is being flushed down the toilet with each passing day, and every other credible criticism aimed at TNA Slammiversary 2015, I will just ask two questions:

1. What is TNA’s internal goal for pay-per-view buys this Sunday night? Somebody please tell me with a straight face what the target number is. Email, tweet, or comment section. If you work for the company, I will happily keep your name anonymous if you choose. I would love to know what the executives behind the scenes in TNA are expecting here.

2. Will the so-called “loyal” TNA fans be buying this…or stealing it via illegal streams online as usual? At a time when the company is already without DVD distribution, no live events, non-paying Impact Zone tapings, nearly invisible PPV business, television ratings circling the drain, and alllllll the other (unconfirmed) rumors out there, it is quite ironic that their biggest supporters are the ones NOT supporting the company in this desperate time. Thus, I simply ask all of YOU – who is paying for Slammiversary on Sunday?

As Drew recently said, #StandUp for wrestling…

LIE: Dolph Ziggler SHOULD leave WWE.

Rumors suggest his contract may be up in a few months. Stress the word rumors there. Still, it does not really matter when discussing this subject.

Will he leave WWE? Maybe, maybe not.

SHOULD he leave WWE? Um, no.

An online report hints that he could go the route of John Morrison. Okkkkkkay? Am I supposed to be impressed or excited by that direction? I think Ziggler is way more talented than Morrison, so admittedly, I am biased with this, but really? The last thing I want to see is Ziggler doing stand up comedy, appearing in random cameos for junk movies (insert WWE Films joke here), and wrestling for somebody not named WWE. He belongs in WWE, the big leagues. Not in front of 50,000 viewers on the El Rey Network and a couple thousand more on a different channel.

Newsflash folks: You wanted one WWE World Championship? You got it.

That means everybody’s chances to get the top prize is automatically cut in half. Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler, and countless others are getting nowhere near the gold while Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar keep feuding. Heck, even John Cena and Roman Reigns may struggle to capture the belt throughout 2015. There is no more Big Gold World Title to throw at Ziggler or whoever to keep him busy. There are no longer two chance, just one. Everything else is below that. It is either the IC/US Title (again) for Ziggler or pairing up with Lana to battle Rusev. That is just the reality of the situation. Be careful what you wish for folks…you just might get it.

If Ziggler is truly unhappy with his two World Championship reigns, multiple pay-per-view main event victories, and being able to perform for the biggest wrestling company in the world as one of the more popular wrestlers in 2015 and soon to be 35 years old, then fine – leave WWE. Go right ahead, see where that gets you.

Should he leave? Not at all.

Will he? Time will tell.

TRUTH: I will tune in for the Tough Enough premiere this Tuesday.

Yeah, I am a big fan of Tough Enough. The WWE Network allows me to re-watch all the great past seasons. Sadly, this year’s edition (on the surface) appears to be The Voice mixed in with *some* wrestling on the side. Pretty sure USA Network wants to dress up the show by adding all these unique elements. I just think it takes away from what made WWE Tough Enough so entertaining and popular in the first place. I will tune in because of my past fandom, but let it be known – this thing has the stench of failure already. From TV ratings to the live aspect to the voting process all the way to the after show on the WWE Network, I have a BAD feeling about Tough Enough 2015. I hope I am wrong.

LIE: Former WWE NXT wrestler Austin Matelson will win CBS’ Big Brother 17 this summer.

For the record, I am basing the following off just seeing the cast introduction interview videos. That is it! The season starts this week, so not a single episode has aired. With a former WWE NXT star in the house this year, you can bet wrestling fans will at least have a casual interest in seeing how he does and with my expertise, I have to (unfortunately) tell you all that he will NOT be winning Big Brother 17. Sorry.

Having watched the show since the beginning, first impressions are a huge deal with contestants. I do not sense he will make it to the end. However, I believe he will do very well for himself. Austin will 100% be liked in the social game; he seems nice enough, and fans may flock to his personality as well. Challenges are always hit or miss because of the scripted nature of reality shows. As long as his past injuries do not come back to bite him, Austin will also excel in this area. Thirdly, in the all important mental aspect, he claims to be a die hard fan of the show, thus I trust his thinking with strategy. If he has watched every season like he claims, it is very easy to know the ‘dos and don’t’s’ of Big Brother.

Look for Austin to give wrestling fans somebody to root for, keep it classy (he has not bashed anybody yet from WWE NXT but did take a jab at Mr. Pectacular being in the wrestling business), and become a fan favorite after a few weeks. Do NOT look for him to win though. Who should you look out for then to be the ultimate victor? I have three early favorites:

Vanessa – Yes, the poker player. I have seen her on ESPN in the past and knew who she was. Therefore, it was a pretty cool moment to learn she was going to be on Big Brother 17. Why is she my early favorite? Because of strategy. She “gets it.” Some do, some do not. Vanessa (fan of the show) is sure to be great in every aspect of the game and last until the end. My top vote right now.

Potential downfall: CBS also put a poker dealer on the show. Coincidence? NOT! Perfect reality show casting, I suppose…but could cost Vanessa big time. If the house learns she is a famous poker player and has tons of money, they will want her gone as soon as possible.

Audrey – Same with Vanessa. She has everything on her side when it comes to winning Big Brother. Audrey was very clear that a man will NOT win this season, and I believe it. It it time for a woman to win Big Brother again.

Potential downfall: You never know what kind of cast will be in that house. If there are a bunch of clowns in there with disgusting/offensive thoughts in their heads, Audrey will not last long. Hopefully, everybody understands this is 2015.

John – I guarantee you will fall in love with this guy. I guarantee it. John is going to be a star folks. A star! After watching less than a minute of his introduction interview, I knew he would become a household name this summer. If one guy has a chance to win Big Brother 17, it is John. Perfect choice for an underdog on a reality show.

Potential downfall: Well, you decide…

Cheap Plugs

MIND, BODY, POKER: http://www.wholesomepoker.com/

FASHION FUN: http://winifredjac.com/

Here is where you can send me all of your lovely messages:

Email – [email protected]

Twitter – @JustinWatry

Thanks.