Insanity.
That is the first
word that comes to mind when I think of this match, from the second it began
right up until the closing moments. This could be taken as a positive or as a
negative.
Before I go into
this, the first point I want to take notice of is the fact that this match went
on last; it was the main event. WWE took the right decision and I am so glad
that they did because Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins proved last night, why they
truly deserve to be in the closing spot and on a main-event level. WWE clearly
knew/know the excitement from fans behind these two and not having them close
the show would have been a travesty. Ending it with Orton/Cena would certainly
have not been “best for business”… I didn’t find their HIAC match all that
interesting, the amount of false finishes did not excite me, but of course, you
may disagree.
The match started
off BIG, and that is probably an understatement. Ambrose climbing the cell
right at the start made me feel as though one guy was going to be thrown off of
it (in the safest way possible… if you want to call it safe). I did not imagine
both guys hanging on to the side of the cell, from a pretty high distance, with
it resulting in both crashing and burning by going through both announce tables.
I have heard some complaints about how it wasn’t high enough and although I
would have definitely loved one of them going off the top of the cell, I still
loved this spot, one of my favourites in a long, long time. Both guys looked
like they landed in a pretty bad way but I do believe that, that bump should
have been placed somewhere later on in the match because although there were
some great moments after that, the table spot was the biggest, most shocking; I
do understand that WWE probably wanted this match to start off big however.
What I did not
like was Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury coming out with Rollins and actually
getting involved quite heavily in the opening of the match. Imo there was no
need for them to climb the cell and get beaten down by Ambrose once they
reached the top. What did it achieve? I would have much rather preferred
Rollins climbing to the top without hesitation… I mean, this is a HIAC match
where both guys have history, a story about betrayal & vengeance behind
them and a legitimate hatred for each other and hence, want to destroy one
another, right? I was not keen on having Rollins look afraid. It’s HIAC and
after the past 4/5 months, both guys should have seemed completely fearless. I
didn’t feel that absolute animosity and hatred from both men who were former
“brothers” coming through the screen. This type of match is the final resort for a feud
fuelled by hate, you can not get any bigger than a HIAC match in WWE, especially
since how the company book how devastating it is and how there is nothing above
it. So, after the finish of the match (which I will go into more depth about) leads
me to believe that we will never get pay-off for this feud in a BIG way, unless
they decide to one day down the line go through the HIAC route again. This has
been the feud of the year imo and a HIAC match is the blow off match, so I am
not going to lie, the finish was slightly disappointing.
BUT… before anyone
starts hating…
I also understand
that this is a rivalry that will go on for years to come, WWE clearly realise
what they have with Ambrose/Rollins and how invested fans can be in this feud and
so it leaves the window wide open for them to always be able to revisit it at anytime.
Nevertheless, I did want to see a definitive finish after them going back and
forth for 5 months now, neither guy would have looked weak by taking a loss
inside the cell and the place would have gone crazy for an Ambrose victory.
Talking about weak,
was I the only one pissed at how badly the commentators sold Ambrose kicking
out of the curbstomp?! This is a move that has been built up for months as
devastating and no one has yet kicked out of it, no one until last night when
Dean did and the commentators could not have cared less. Their underwhelming
selling rubs off on fans and those watching; it was disappointing. Overall,
commentary was garbage for this match last night, announcing HIAC can in fact
make a match, as we have seen previously from JR.
Yet, this idea of a
lack of hatred transcending the TV screen could have been due to the
restrictions that the PG rating has on a HIAC match. I am never one to complain
about the company being PG, a good product whether it is PG or not, is a good
product and that has no relevance. Yet in this type of match stip, it does.
Blood is needed, blood adds devastation and a great visual to the match up and
reflects how desperately both men want to inflict pain on the other. The lack
of it, is a major factor. Blood makes fans emotionally invested in a HIAC match
and you can’t deny that.
Also, just to
randomly add this in, which is just as random as Kane appearing, does anyone
know what the 5 second appearance of Kane was for?! Was it needed? WWE just
can’t keep him away can they? The one thing I didn’t want was interference and
that was what we received the most of.
Overall, the guys
are capable of a 5* match but the booking stopped it from being a whole lot
better and I do wish the match would have been a bit longer too, I wanted to
see them go at it for a while. I’m not saying it was bad… don’t get me wrong,
it was an amazing match but from these two guys, there is so much to see and so
much more we could have received; that is how talented they are. There is no
one to blame but WWE. What I did love was the storytelling, which is what has
kept us all so invested in this rivalry. I loved the emotion Ambrose portrayed
throughout the match and the use of cinder blocks made the story come full
circle (despite not being used); strong, passionate storylines are what WWE are
in general, lacking today.
The finish of the
match swerved us completely and was entirely unexpected, which is usually a
good thing. I can’t deny that I love finishes to PPV’s that have everyone
talking and debating about why it was done and where things will go from here
on out. This is no different! The lights going out with the sound of Bray Wyatt
mumbling, first of all is SO creepy, I hate it but at the same time because it
is so creepy, love it; weird satanic type of stuff. The lantern in the centre
of the ring with a hologram appearing (potentially sister Abigail) was amazing,
I loved the imagery and it was completely unique, how often do we see something
like that in the WWE? And I find it a complete joke that people are complaining
about a hologram… it was different... for once. I definitely had goosebumps.
Wyatt attacking
Ambrose could potentially lead to a variety of things e.g. The end of
Rollins/Ambrose and Wyatt attempting to recruit Ambrose, Rollins being in on
the whole spectacle etc. But despite, all of this – this is the one feud I have
always wanted to see, both guys are insane and I know everyone is saying it but
that is because it is 100% true… THE PROMOS…IMAGINE ALL THE PROMOS… if both are
allowed to let loose, then this could be something very, very special and the
in ring work will be very unique. So for all of this, I cannot wait.
Bray Wyatt has in
a past interview even said himself:
“Me and him (Ambrose) have that special chemistry
where we can bring out something that no one has ever seen, because we’re both
a little crazy.”
Some say this should have waited for Raw and there should have been a proper definitive finish which I did initially think but at the same time, it puts massive heat on Wyatt and massive sympathy on Ambrose - it builds both of them up and will elevate them. I am very curious and eager for Raw tonight. Just the visual of two insane men going at it will be something to see… them crazy eyes.
Overall, I don’t think
that the HIAC PPV should exist, it ruins the cell’s credibility and they should
maybe get rid of the match altogether… and only bring it out if there is legitimately
going to be carnage.
Also, this finish could
potentially inject new life into the WWE; new fresh feuds are exactly what the WWE
needs, especially after Cena destroyed what Wyatt had going for him. Also, we
will most likely be seeing Rollins/Orton pretty soon as well.
As you can tell,
imo there were a lot of positives and a lot of negatives. This match and the
finish is bitter sweet but if the WWE book this feud correctly and I mean in
the best way possible, no lazy booking or finishes, but for it to be a massive
storyline, I am on board and all for it. An “okay” rivalry will not cut it for me;
especially after how this match ended… it needs to be big and to prove that the
lack of payoff for Ambrose/Rollins was worth it.
This has been a
pretty debatable match. What do you guys think? Lemme know - @WrestlingMenu
- Zara
No comments:
Post a Comment