Watry Q&A: TLC, Hell in a Cell, WWE Releases, Reigns’ Debut, More

“I have been reading your stuff on 411mania and nodq.com for the longest time now and I have never felt inclined to email in. The general consensus of you not being most popular is harsh at times but also can be well-founded too. But I still read your stuff because I do enjoy your articles and find your perspective interesting most of the time.

That said, your article about your friend Megan and trip to Wrestlemnaia was the greatest thing you have ever wrote. Forget about the predictions you brag about getting right. This is your crowning piece. Maybe it is because I can relate as going to Wrestlemania is my ultimate dream and it will be happening next year. But I genuinely loved your article.

Thank you for the great stuff.”

– Jay’s Ways reader

Backstory

Once a month, I reply to the comment section. These comments and questions are from my columns written in October 2017. Enjoy!

Truths And Lies

JaySin316: He realizes and doesn’t care, it’s a gimmick. I only clicked by mistake and then decided to maybe save you from any future bs like this. 2 simple steps, see the name Watry, and avoid.

Hey man, how’s it going? Nine years later, still the same mistake clicking. Hope all is well.

StyxCharon: With a PPV about every 3 weeks , it gives the WWE most chances to ream its fans by charging PPV rate for tickets…s

A little exaggerating on a pay-per-view every three weeks but a fair point. The problem is fans keep paying it (supply and demands), and live attendance is only one part of the overall WWE business strategy. Almost every other metric is up as well and will continue to be. It is not excuse making or a defense of the programming. Just the benefits of having smart people heading up a major corporation.

Benjamin J: So should internet fans be held to the same standards of behavior as contracted WWE talent and vice versa? You expect snark over someone’s release from guys on the internet with no personal stake, not from a contracted rookie with career aspirations, and the WWE roster rightly put him in his place over it. To draw the comparison is inane, at best.

The two situations are absolutely not alike…except those same fans who wanted to be compassionate towards Emma and play the ‘woe is me, offended’ card also take great joy in bad things happening to other they don’t like. Hypocrisy at its’ finest. Again, just take a look at ANY news ever about Eva Marie. Didn’t see much brotherhood and sisterhood protecting fellow wrestlers then. Lio made a mistake, got called out publicly (and hopefully privately too) by many, and life has moved on. Hope he did learn from this. Even at age 22, being ‘young and stupid’ can only be tolerated so many times.

WWE Trivia Generator: I’ve followed Justin on various wrestling news sites for several years now. I can say for certain that there is no other columnist out there that is as practical, even keeled, and dare I say as fair of a writer as him. I really enjoy how he doesn’t intentionally go “against the grain” like so many of the writers do just to appease their audience. Justin analyzes the facts and reports them as truthfully as possible without any skew one way or another. I think this is what bothers people the most about him is that he isn’t telling the IWC “what they want to hear.” He’s the guy who delivers the truth whether you want to hear it or not. My only gripe with him is that he doesn’t write more columns, as I would enjoy reading more of his thoughts and opinions. Justin, I thank you for your many years of service to the IWC and for all of the entertainment you’ve provided myself and countless others over the years. Keep the columns coming!

Yay! Thank you for the kind words. Very cool comment and exactly why I keep writing. For all of YOU. Maybe a new column opening?

AG Awesome: What is your podcast going to be about?

I’d assume WWE and maybe some other shows. I don’t really watch much (no television channels at my place) but have certainly binged Stranger Things, Glitch and love my Big Brother every summer! Basic podcast discussing all things wrestling with other topics sprinkled in there. I have received quite a few offers to co-host but nothing that has caught my eye. Still going to test the market for a little bit longer before making a decision.

Email and/or Twitter DM me for more details.

WWE TLC 2017 Review

Chris: Good review. I found TLC to be a very good show. But the real reason for my comment is since I don’t have a twitter, I wanted to answer your tweet:

I was in New Orleans for WM30 and had the time of my life. New Orleans is an amazing city! One tip I can give: STAY OFF BOURBON STREET! The street is just basically a tourist trap and there are a lot of great spots for food, drink and nightlife in the immediate area.

Speaking of, there are so many great places to eat (Central Grocery Company, Antoinne’s I could go on and on). The streets at night are basically a showcase for great jazz/blues music. You’re in for an amazing experience in April. Enjoy it and as they say:

Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler!

Thanks. A buddy of mine sent me an email looking for information on New Orleans and its tourism. The request was NOT done for myself potentially heading to WrestleMania 34 in April 2018, for the record. I was asked online and no, there are no plans to attending. Going to WM33 in Orlando, Florida was a one time bucket list type of deal. That being said, never say never!

As for my WWE TLC 2017 review, I have only re-watched the main event again since it aired. Enjoyed the bout but REALLY enjoyed it upon a second viewing. Really was just one of those giant clusters that are fun every once in awhile. No, you can’t do that type of match a lot but considering the circumstances, it worked.

WWE TLC 2017 Preview/Concerns

Voice of Logic: Doing the whole 205 Live thing is pointless, as I don’t watch it. You heard it here first.. Shut down 205 Live… Watry doesn’t watch it, it’s pointless.

It is, so I’m right. Again. If WWE Network wants to keep trimming content and save money (and having a market cap of over $2 billion along the way), doing a live cruiserweight show every Tuesday night can finally stop. It was a bad idea from the beginning and still is. The talent involved are all great and would excel without 205 Live just fine.

gblock: A better way to fill 3 hours:

*Watch NJPW house shows from this week.
*Rub one out, take a nap and then do it again.
*Watch the Super Bowl regular season rematch on NBC.
*Playthrough a SNES game or two.
*Volunteer your time to charity.

Well, WWE TLC 2017 ended up being a pretty good show but to humor you, let’s discuss each item.

1. I haven’t watched New Japan Pro Wrestling all year and could not tell you a single thing going on. I asked in early 2017 for companies besides WWE to make me care, and none did.

2. Come on, PG column here! Besides, I don’t nap. Not my thing.

3. I don’t have cable television or any local channels for that matter. Not even NBC. I have Hulu, Netflix, and WWE Network on my Roku. That is it.

4. I did buy the Super Nintendo Mini the morning it was released. Still making my way through the Super Mario games. Love those above all else.

5. I did volunteer my time the day before WWE TLC 2017 in Sheboygan for a fundraiser walk. Everybody raised over $15,000 and is one of the many charities I donate to each year. I had been plugging the event in my columns since summer…did YOU donate?

The Goalfather: Asuka/Emma ain’t going 15 minutes LOL

Counting entrances and post-match garbage, it did. Chalk up another tally in my ‘W’ column. Not sure why folks thought it would be a one sided fight and be over with in 30 seconds.

Yohannes Setiadji: I just realized, there is no Table Match or Laddet Match or Chair match like they always have at TLC PPV.

Good point. What would fans complain about then? Add useless gimmick matches and watch the reactions. Don’t add them…and nothing. Hmmm.

BoboBilliken: Alexa’s on total Divas so she’ll be champ until filming is over..or until Wm34..

Total Divas has been on the air since summer 2013. It has proven to mean NOTHING for current WWE story lines. Seriously, there is no correlation to who is on the show to who is champ. Takes all of five seconds to shut down that theory.

IMissMarkingOut: Rest of the time goes to plugging 2K18.

I don’t play modern video games. My time stopped after Playstation 2…but that Snoop song is very catchy.

WWE HIAC 2017 Review

Nothing of note here. Just that I predicted the Sami Zayn heel turn by using common and sense following what WWE was telling us was coming beforehand. Exact opposite of the fantasy bookers who have been wrong for the past decade while my track record speaks for itself.

September 2017 Q&A

David Ross: That letter intro is pretty lame to be honest. Reeks of “look, I’m super popular”. Enjoyable column though.

You’re right David. I should take it down.

Carl Rood: The thing is going to RAW of Smackdown from NXT is ALWAYS treated as a promotion. It’s why those two shows are referred to as the main roster. While you can argue RAW is above Smackdown, because it is, it’s never referred to as going up or down a level when a wrestler crosses, even during the last days of the previous brand extension. They don’t treat the NXT championship as being equal to the WWE or Universal championships.

That is all stuff I agree with. The issues is when it comes to calling Adam Cole, Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, and others ‘developmental talent’ where as Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, AJ Styles and others signed went right to Raw or Smackdown Live. All three brands tour. All three have the goal of making money for the company. All three have their own separate titles. All three have their own feuds. All three are unique enough for fans to recognize them as being DIFFERENT. The pecking order and all that is…whatever. Some guys/gals go to NXT to help out. Some go to RAW. Some go to Smackdown. The talent is spread pretty evenly and truthfully, many would argue the best wrestlers are still in NXT.

TwentyTimes: “[Reigns] was far from pushed straight to the top.”

Tbf he debuted in a Big 4 PPV main event and fueded with Daniel Bryan, John Cena and the Undertaker in his first 6 months on the main roster.

He might not have been the champ straight away, but he was heavily featured as a star from day 1.

If it wasn’t for poor booking, he’d probably be an accepted “top guy” right now, but its been f’d up since that Rumble ending with Batista. They shjould have called an audible that night and put him over.

Easy to dispute all of those points, as I already laid out (on another website).

Let me do it again.

1. The Shield (Roman Reigns included with two internet darling Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose which immediately counters your first accusation of WWE playing favorites) did not actually feud with anybody for the first six months. It was just random six person tags. Throwing in John Cena and The Undertaker would be like throwing in The Rock too! It was a one-off attack. Not quite the story line or monster feud for the newcomer(s). That’d be similar to saying The Nexus feuded with The Undertaker. Uh, no.

2. Nearly every single debuting star is treated as a big deal right off the bat. That is the entire point of vignettes, impact arrivals, etc. If you show up looking like a bum, what is the point? A moot point to say Reigns (again, including two internet darlings with him) was made to look strong early on. Well, DUH!

3. No, they shouldn’t have called an audible. Reigns winning the 2014 Royal Rumble? Really? Is this what it’s come to? Yeah, because THAT would have worked. The man is clearly THE GUY in the entire industry now, is a multi-time champ, main evented three straight WM events, and is without a doubt on top of the world right now. I’d say it worked out pretty well. Don’t believe me? Check the WWE stock price. You know, something tangible and real, unlike fantasy booking scenarios on the internet and yelling at a wall about how the entire business is DOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!

NRW: The Match

Well over 1,700 views now. An updated version is coming soon with more special features added on, including commentary! Thanks to all of you who commented and/or watched. Even if YOU may not care one bit, it means a lot to us. Much appreciated.

New Orleans Inquiry

Anybody ever been to New Orleans? Share your experience on the city, tourist attractions, etc.

Feel free to leave a comment below or email me as well. Asking for a friend…

Cheap Plugs

Story behind NRW: https://noahwatry.tv/2017/07/09/the-lessons-of-backyard-wrestling/

Multiple columns posted weekly (on another website).

Follow on Twitter: @JustinWatry

Email: [email protected]

Thanks.