Why Bayley Must Win At WrestleMania.

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The Smackdown Women’s championship is a shade under five years old. Created to be a counterpart to the RAW Women’s championship, the title has been held by a who’s who of women’s wrestlers on the current WWE roster.

Bayley currently reigns as a two-time Smackdown Women’s champion. As champion, she currently holds two records in the championship’s brief history. Her current reign is the longest reign in the history of the belt.   She also has the distinction of having the most combined days as Smackdown Women’s champion ever. After saying all of that, here is the question: when you think of the Smackdown Women’s championship, is Bayley the first name that comes to mind?

Probably not.

Bayley’s most recent reign began at the expense of the most celebrated woman on either of WWE’s Women’s rosters today – Charlotte Flair. The same Charlotte Flair who is currently on Smackdown. The same Charlotte Flair who won this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match. The same Charlotte Flair who chose to compete for the NXT Women’s championship as opposed to the Smackdown Women’s championship at WrrestleMania. Certainly, there is more of a buzz about the prospect of Charlotte challenging Rhea Ripley at “The Showcase of The Immortals”. However, Charlotte’s decision can easily be interpreted as a snub.

For all the history Bayley has made and is making as champion, the winner of the Royal Rumble has no interest in challenging for her championship. As a result, a Bayley title defense could be regulated to the WrestleMania Kickoff Show. No matter who she faces or where on the card her match is, a Bayley victory (in impressive fashion) is a must not only for Bayley’s growing legacy, but the legacy of her championship as well. So far, WrestleMania looks to be a forgettable card on paper. This provides the perfect opportunity for Bayley to come through with a performance for the ages. If not, her title reign could lose its luster and her championship could easily be regulated the third-tier status.

Why Can’t WWE Find Its Next Era-Defining Wrestler.

 

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The FINAL lasting moment from WWE’s Super Showdown was in the main event. WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg challenged Universal champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt for the championship. Goldberg has made a career off matches composed of brief, yet effective high-intensity moments. Wyatt is a master of psychological warfare. Which style would win?

Goldberg’s style won. Four spears mixed in with breaking the Mandible Claw twice made for a match that was not fun to watch. In the end, Goldberg defeated Wyatt to capture the title. For those who love nostalgia, it was good to see. Most fans let out a loud, harmonious groan at the sight of Goldberg with the championship in hand. While Wyatt is the traditional bad guy, his character hit a new high in popularity before and during his reign as champion. This immediately resumed the never-ending talk of fans who say that WWE is holding down younger talent in favor of part-time veterans. Another conversation that had new life breathed into it was WWE bringing back older wrestlers because there was no Superstar on the current roster who stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Furthering the second conversation, why is it that no one Superstar is seen as the leader of this era (whatever it’s called)? I think the answer may be found in Orlando, FLWWE_Performance_Centre.

Opening on July 11, 2013, the WWE Performance Center was created for several reasons. One of the reasons was for WWE to always be able to facilitate their respective brands with talent. The facility trains about 65-70 students at a time. WWE roster changes happen for a variety of reasons. Wrestlers can either be suspended or taken off of television for things such as run-ins with the law, violating social media practices, and/or violating the highly-disputed Wellness Policy.
WWE is also known to have roster cuts two time every year. Regardless of the reasons, there is always a fresh crop of hungry, young wrestlers waiting in the wings for the opportunity. WWE scouts wrestlers and other athletes from all over the globe. After they are accepted into the Performance Center, they are all trained in the same facility. They are trained by the same trainers. They are trained in the same environment.
They are all trained the same way. And for that reason alone, it has been hard for WWE to find the leader of the pack.

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People wonder why organizations like Major League Wrestling and the revitalized National Wrestling Alliance are thriving. Sure, exposure on streaming platforms and social media help their causes plenty. However, neither of these organizations have the luxury of a performance center and that’s a good thing. The wrestlers they employ also come from different parts of the world. These competitors bring with them styles influenced by their original promotional radius. More importantly, they aren’t forced to adapt to a certain performance style. The wrestlers in these organizations are given the freedom to truly be individuals. WWE wrestlers are not. Cosmetic differences aside, it is not hard stylistically to tell one WWE wrestler from the other.

If everyone is the same, what can one of them do to truly stand out? They can’t.

I’m not saying the Performance Center is a bad thing. Not only does WWE have great in-house trainers like Matt Bloom and Robbie Brookside, but guest trainers spanning several wrestling generations impart wisdom on the young hopefuls. WWE’s product would probably interest more people if they offered opportunities to guys who didn’t need to be reprogrammed and put them in the ring. Former UFC champion Chuck Liddell is known for saying “styles make fights”. A clash of styles is always a good thing. John Cena may be WWE’s greatest developmental success story. But years before him, wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and others defined eras by simply being themselves. If WWE gave wrestlers that freedom again, they search for the diamond in the rough wouldn’t be such a struggle.

 

RISKY BUSINESS: Is GOLDBERG vs BRAY WYATT A Disaster Waiting To Happen?

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This past Friday, pro wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg made his way to Smackdown. Goldberg was there to tell the world “WHO’s NEXT?”. Would we see yet another match with Brock Lesnar? Maybe he was going to give Big E the dream match he has spoken of lately? Who would Goldberg be going after?

WWE Universal champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.

Yes, Bray Wyatt. Wyatt has been quite the character since debuting on the main roster of WWE. From Wyatt Family leader to WWE World champion and now the Universal champion, Wyatt has done exceptionally well and surpassed all expectations. Now, Wyatt gets to step into the ring with the man who is the owner of one of the game’s most famous streaks. On paper, it looks to be an interesting matchup. Truth be told, it would be more interesting had this match happened 20 years ago. There are so many questions to be raised after the signing of this match but the question on my mind is this:

Is a match with Goldberg not only risky business for WWE as well as Bray Wyatt?

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I ask this question because of Goldberg’s unpredictability and penchant for not only hurting his opponents but hurting himself as well. Wrestling legends like Curt Hennig and Haku have suffered injures at Goldberg’s hands. The most infamous injury Goldberg caused had to be to wrestling legend Bret “Hit Man” Hart. Equally as reckless as he is strong, Goldberg landed a kick to Bret Hart’s head during a match at WCW Starrcade 1999. The kick ended Hart’s career. Goldberg continued injuring people in WWE as well. Ray Gordy – son of Freebird Terry Gordy – served as security during an in-ring segment and grabbed Goldberg by the wrist. Goldberg responded with a shoulder thrust to Gordy’s face and subsequently broke his nose.

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For all the amazing things he’s done, another stain on Goldberg’s legacy had to be his penchant for injuring himself. Days after injuring Hart, Goldberg tried fighting a limousine by punching its windows. Goldberg broke one of the windows and the glass tore a tendon in his wrist. The result was a bloody mess that had to be seen to be believed. Twenty years later, Goldberg faced The Undertaker at last year’s SUPER SHOWDOWN. And while it wasn’t the first time, Goldberg ran headfirst into a ring post and gave himself a concussion. A dazed and confused Goldberg continued to battle “The Phenom” but was no match for him and lost via pinfall.

WWE is in a financial bind these days. More than a week ago, their co-Vice Presidents either quit or were fired depending on which story you believe. As a result, WWE stocks tumbled nearly 25% in a day. Live attendance has decreased as well as the number of WWE Network subscribers. There’s an old saying that states when it rains in pours. The possibility of one of its top champions and most popular wrestlers being injured by a wrestler who is past his prime but reckless as ever is a flash flood waiting to happen.

Kudos to WWE for wanting to maintain and strengthen its relationship with business partners in the Middle East. Props due to them for wanting to entertain fans on the other side of the world. In this case, the risk may not be worth the reward.

PURSUIT OF THE RAINMAKER: Should Okada Sign With WWE?

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WWE has always sought to dominate whatever field it has played on. It was a dominant entity in the northeastern United States when it first began running under the Capitol Wrestling Corporation banner in the mid 1900’s. Once the business was bought by Vince McMahon, Jr from his father, national dominance was the goal. This movement led to the death of the regional territory system in the United States. Decades later, WWE has become a transformed from a professional wrestling company to a sports and entertainment media conglomerate with a global reach.

WWE still wants to conquer the world. With the formation of groups like All Elite Wrestling and the resurrection and restructuring of companies like the National Wrestling Alliance and Major League Wrestling respectively, WWE seems to be up to some of the old tricks of a past competitor: World Championship Wrestling. WWE is seeking to lure its competition’s top wrestlers away from them and bring them to Stamford, CT. One can only fathom what the result of these acquisitions will be.

Years ago, AJ Styles made his WWE debut after leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. Styles has done plenty in WWE since arriving there including capturing two WWE World championships. On the flip side, there is EC3. He wrestled under the name Derrick Bateman in NXT until he was released in 2013. After some time on the indies, he landed in TNA (now Impact Wrestling) and would become its top stars over the years. He signed with WWE after being released by Impact Wrestling in 2018. He has accomplished virtually nothing in WWE since his return.

The latest rumor floating around the wrestling world is WWE COO Triple H is obsessed with signing New Japan legend Kazuchika Okada. Okada is an amazing wrestling. His matches with Hiroshi Tanahashi are nothing short of legendary. He is a five-time IWGP champion and holds records for the longest reign and most consecutive defenses. His legend has spread to these shores as he has won several awards from legendary American publication Pro Wrestling Illustrated including being ranked number one in the prestigious PWI 500. With all that he has accomplished, a westward voyage may interest Okada. He would be performing in the biggest wrestling company in the world. If we could give Okada advice, we’ve got two words for him:

Go for it.

At 32 years old, Okada is probably in his wrestling prime. He has accomplished so much in his career that maybe a Western excursion would do him some good. This may be the perfect time. His puroresu legacy is all but secured but Okada should be able to showcase his talents on this side of the globe as well. The potential dream matches that could be signed with Okada’s signing are endless. The potential for those matches happening in Japan are just as intriguing.

It is a win-win situation for everyone involved. An Okada signing could be the next step at WWE’s plan for global domination. Their NXT UK brand started off with the crowning of the NXT United Kingdom champion in a tournament. From there, it has grown by leaps and bounds and has become just as important as its American counterpart. NXT was once a developmental league. Now, it has become a brand just a few steps behind RAW and Smackdown.

What better way to further that cause than an NXT brand based in Japan and who better to lead that charge than Okada? There are so many positive things that can come from a WWE-Okada partnership. So if the opportunity arises once Okada’s New Japan contract expires, he’d be wise to look into the venture.

ELEMENTS OF A PERFECT: Is This The Beginning Of The End Of WWE?

blogvinceLast week in WWE, the Road to WrestleMania got underway. The ever expanding world of NXT put on NXT Worlds Collide. NXT and NXT UK put their best against each other in a series of matches that looks to be an annual event in the making. This was a precursor to WWE’s yearly event – The Royal Rumble. Men and Women Rumble winners were crowned. The victors garnered many a reaction. Regardless of how anyone felt, it looked as it the path to WWE’s future was clear..
Then came Friday, January 31st.

WWE investors (including myself) woke to some startling news. The first bit of news was WWE Co-Vice Presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson were either fired or quit depending on which story you believe. Both made very impressive presentations during WWE’s Business Partner Summit during WrestleMania weekend a few years back. Conflicting reports say they either quit due to disagreeing with Vince McMahon’s vision for the future or they were dismissed by Vince because they didn’t fit into said vision. The second bit of news came a result of the first bit. WWE stocks plummeted 22 percent. This is not the news anyone wants to hear on a Friday.

Is WWE caught in the middle of a perfect storm? What conditions have brought for this natural disaster?

SATURATING THE MARKET: Ever since the demise of WCW nearly 20 years ago, WWE has not had any real competition. TNA may have made some headway in its early days and was mildly successful. Still, they didn’t have the capital invested to compete with WWE. As the years have gone buy, WWE has added more layers onto its foundation. WWE has its own network. Its presence is felt all over cable and network television with countless amounts of television. There is a saying: too much of a good thing is a bad thing. WWE has proven that over the last few years

DWINDLING ATTENDANCE NUMBERS: House show attendance has been a problem for WWE over the past few years. This is where the oversaturation comes into play. The good thing about WWE’s product is that it is accessible on smartphones, computers, Roku players, tablets, and anything that houses WWE Network. The drawback: pay at least $50 for a WWE experience to attend a live show or catch wrestling from almost any decade for $9.99 a month. Dwindling attendance means dwindling revenue. If you aren’t making money, it’s not a good look for current or potential business partners.

PLENTY OF COMPETITION: For years, people have asked for someone to step up and give WWE some competition. While no one still cannot match WWE in cash flow, there are many great and viable options for people who have grown tired of the WWE product. AEW is the obvious favorite as it has mostly bested NXT on Wednesday night in their head-to-head ratings war. New Japan Pro Wrestling is making its mark on this continent and offering fans something different. Major League Wrestling continues to form strategic partnerships and lives up to its original moniker of “hybrid wrestling”. Ring Of Honor still keeps going along with countless others.

So how will WWE bounce back from this latest setback that has costs them billions of dollars? No one knows but don’t count them out. Historically, they have bounced back from things most business could never recover from. Whether they strike gold with an original idea or pump money behind someone else’s idea and call it their own (cough cough Attitude Era), WWE has a great chance to come back stronger. They can’t waste time. The clock may indeed be ticking for WWE’s very existence.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Our nominees for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2020.

When it comes to professional wrestling, there are several Hall of Fames. Some represent the entire sport while others pay homage to contribution given to either a region or a company. Without question, the most famous of these Halls is the WWE Hall of Fame. Opinions vary on this Hall of Fame. For every thankful inductee, there is a vocal opposer like Scott Steiner. Nonetheless, WWE’s Hall of Fame remains the most visible of them all.

As we move closer to WrestleMania and Hall of Fame weekend, there is always a call for those who have yet to be inducted into it to be recognized and bestowed the honor. Everyone has an opinion on who is in there, who isn’t, and who should be the next in line. Here are our top five potential nominees (in no particular order or ranking) who have yet to be inducted into the hallowed halls.

bulldog8“BRITISH BULLDOG” DAVEY BOY SMITH. It is impossible and somewhat disrespectful to have a conversation about who should go into the HOF without mentioning the name Davey Boy Smith. One-half of the famed and legendary British Bulldogs tag team, the duo captured the World Tag Team titles way back at WrestleMania 2. After the tag team ended, Smith went on to have a spectacular career. He’d capture several more World tag team titles with Owen Hart, become the first-ever WWE European champion, and win a legendary match against Bret Hart for the Intercontinental championship in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium. Smith not being in the Hall baffles many.

demolitionDEMOLTION. Ax and Smash held WWE’s original World Tag Team championship longer than any team in history. The team had an amazing run from 1987 through 1991. During this time, the WWE’s tag team roster was unbelievable. Night after night, Demolition upended some of the greatest teams in the history of the sport. Three reigns saw them take on and defeat all comers until their final reign was ended by The Hart Foundation at SummerSlam 1990. Pain and destruction was truly their middle name.

MIKEROTUNDOMIKE ROTUNDO. The father of Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas shouldn’t be solely remembered for gimmicks like Irwin R. Schyster and V.K. Wallstreet. Long before the record setting number of reigns by Billy Gunn, Christian, and Edge, Rotundo captured five WWE World Tag Team titles with two different partners. And with the recent revival of the NWA World TV championship, Rotunda’s 11-month reign should not be ignored. With NWA World Tag team and Florida Heavyweight championships under his belt, Rotundo deserves this honor that’s long overdue.

STEVELOMBARDISTEVE LOMBARDI. The Hall of Fame probably will never have a wing for preliminary wrestlers. But if they ever did, Steve Lombardi should be the first inductee. Long before he was the Brooklyn Brawler, Lombardi was a familiar face on WWE television in the early 1980’s as an enhancement talent. He was the first televised match-up for most of the greatest stars of that decade. Lombardi never won a championship in WWE but his loyalty to the company for 30 years should count for something.

kenshamrockKEN SHAMROCK. Shamrock – a former UFC champion – paved the way for many of the pro wrestlers who made the transition from mixed martial arts. Furthermore, Shamrock helped to convert wrestling fans into MMA fans. Shamrock thrived during WWE’s Attitude Era and captured the King Of The Ring tournament, the Intercontinental title and the World tag team titles. His fits of rage and multiple belly-to-belly suplexes were always a sight to behold. Matt Riddle, Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, and countless others owe a huge debt of gratitude to “The World’s Most Dangerous Man”
Of course, we’d be foolish not to mention the underlying causes for some of these nominations being wishful thinking. Legal issues between WWE and Demolition could be the reason the record-setting tag team has not been inducted. No one is certain about the relationship between Shamrock and WWE since his exit over a decade ago. But in a perfect world, all these nominees would have been considered. While this world is not perfect, neither is the Hall. Inducting these contributors to pro wrestling culture will definitely bring it closer.

 

 

ATLWRESTLING NEWSWIRE: Triple H’s Off-Color Comment About Paige Garnering the Wrong Attention!

aaaaaaatripasFor the past few days, women’s wrestling has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. First, there was the dogpile on Tessa Blanchard after her tweet asking for solidarity among women brought women in the business out of the woodwork to lend credibility to her stained reputation.

On the heels of that, WWE COO Triple H made an off-color comment about former WWE Divas champion and current Superstar Paige. The tweet has garnered quite a few reactions from a handful of female WWE Superstars. For more on this story, check this link

 

Life After Death: Major League Wrestling FINALLY Lives Up To Its Name!

{EDITOR’S NOTE:  This article was written days prior to Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s MLW departure immediately following MLW ZERO HOUR in Dallas, TX on January 11.  According to sources, Friedman’s MLW contract expired and he decided not to extend it.  Friedman now wrestles exclusively for All Elite Wrestling}

MLW_FUSIONOne of the things I look forward to when I work out is cardio. Mine usually starts on the treadmill for 15-20 minutes. Gym WiFi reception is a mixed bag. Signal strength is usually determined by where you are in the gym. Some spots are good, others are bad. One streaming service I never have trouble accessing is YouTube. YouTube is the home of several wrestling shows. AEW Dark and NWA Powerrr come to mind almost immediately. However, I’ve discovered another show to view during my sweaty, stand-still trek: MLW Fusion.

I came across one show and then another. Suddenly, I discovered that this program had nearly all its episodes on YouTube. With streaming service channels looking for content, you never know what you are going to get when a wrestling organization puts its content on the internet. However, I was pleasantly surprised with MLW Fusion. It is a great program with top-notch action and top-of-the-line production. I sought to find older episodes of the show. You know, something around 2010. I couldn’t find anything and wondered why. Then, I did a little research.

Major League Wrestling was one of many new indy feds that popped up a little more than a year of both World Championship Wrestling andExtreme Championship Wrestling closed their doors in 2001. As was the supposed formula for success back then, an organization sought to quickly establish itself in the pro wrestling galaxy by employing one or many former big-league stars. The tournament for the fed’s World championship was just that: littered with stateside former big leaguers and Taiyo Kea – a Hawaiian who’d been tearing it up in All-Japan. I ordered the DVD from Highspots.com. In the end, Shane Douglas won the championship and sought to recreate the events immediately following his NWA World championship victory. Ironically, the entire show took place at the ECW Arena. These precedents would come to define the organization. MLW served as a hub for former big-league stars, international talent, and some indy wrestlers as well. Nonetheless, the fed was quickly written off as a major league wannabe by many and ceased operations after nearly 20 months.

fatuniorMLW began running shows in July 2017. In the last three years, they have really put in some major-league work. This organization looks nothing like its previous incarnation and that’s a good thing. When looking at the new MLW, you must begin at the top with the current World champion Jacob Fatu. Standing 6’2” and weighing nearly 300 lbs., this man is as agile as he is powerful. He is the son of The Tonga Kid and a member of the legendary Anoa’I wrestling family. Since capturing the championship from former UFC fighter “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Fatu has been nothing short of unstoppable.

Fatu is not the only multi-generation star in MLW. The members of the NEW Era Hart Foundation – Davey Boy Smith, Jr. and Brian Pillman, Jr. (and until recently Teddy Hart) – are both major players when it comes to MLW’s title picture. Both men seek to honor their fathers’ respective legacies while establishing their own. Two men seeking to redefine and re-establish their family name are MLW World Tag Team champions Ross and Marshall Von Erich – the sons of Kevin Von Erich. These athletic youngsters have modernized the Iron Claw while adding a bright new chapter to their family’s legacy.dynasty

One of the best things about independent organizations is that wrestling concepts that some may considered outdated or passé can find new life or be polished. MLW has several factions, but none stand out quite like the upper-crust troika known as The Dynasty. Members Maxwell Jacob Freidman, Alexander Hammerstone, and Richard Hoilday have all found championship success in MLW. Hammerstone won a tournament to become the first (and thus far only) National Openweight champion last June. Friedman became the first-ever Middleweight in MLW history in July 2018. Friedman and Holiday have captured the MLW Tag Team titles as a tandem. With the recent addition of indy wrestling standout Logan Creed, don’t be surprised if one or all the members of the group express an interest in Fatu’s World championship.

The organization is wearing many hats and doing it well. They have established working agreements with several Lucha Libre stars from both AAA and The Crash. They’ve also formed a strategic partnership with Japan’s Pro Wrestling Noah. They have revived the Opera Cup – a championship trophy last won by Stu Hart last century – and are holding a tournament to crown a modern-day kingpin. Veterans like Low-Ki and new blood like Mance Warner provide a little something for everyone. If you aren’t watching MLW Fusion, you should be. Thank me later.

Peace from The Planet!

SHAYNA: What’s Next For The “Submission Magician”?

Shayna_Baszler_bio--3b8d1a0accc26b36ed9fa9f13e55279eShayna Baszler walked into to NXT with an MMA career and Ronda Rousey’s friendship in tow. One of the MMA’s version of the Four Horsewomen alongside Rousey, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, Baszler brought a no-nonsense style of pro wrestling to the NXT Women’s division. It was enough to power her to a championship match against the red-hot Ember Moon at NXT Takeover last year. Baszler choked out Moon and captured the championship for the first time.

Her championship reign was cut short by Mae Young classic winner Kairi Sane. However, Baszler would recapture the title a short time later. During both reigns, she dispatched almost every top contender there was. Near the end of 2019, she ran into the momentum that is Rhea Ripley and lost the NXT Women’s title. Still, she garnered a championship reign that could be equal to or surpassing Asuka’s reign in terms of dominance. As it stands, Baszler has the most combined days as NXT Women’s champion in history.

I do all that I can to avoid the dirt sheets in wrestling. However, I am in wrestling groups with smarks who get a kick out of spreading rumors and damn-near ruining sports-entertainment for me. The most recent rumor states that Shayna will soon appear on WWE’s main roster. If that is true, it makes me asks quite a few questions:

Which brand will she be on? The main roster Women’s divisions are once again trying to find their feet and distinguish themselves from the other. Becky Lynch’s 2019 was culminated with her capturing both divisions’ championships. Eventually, she would lose one and it seemed that things in both divisions would go back to normal. However, it really hasn’t been that way. Seeing as how there really is no difference in the divisions, which one would benefit Shayna the most? RAW remains WWE’s flagship show while SmackDown is now being seen by a new audience with the move to FOX. Which would interest YOU more: Shayna versus Becky or Shayna versus Bayley?

How will her style be accepted on the main roster? Like Rousey, Shayna has MMA big-league experience. However, that is where the similarities between the two competitors cease. When Ronda arrived, people loved her despite her polarizing demeanor. Her addition to the Women’s division was as a win on many levels. Before long, the Universe soured on Rousey and she greeted their disdain with her own vitriol. Ronda’s well-known ugly side resurfaced. It laid the groundwork for her sabbatical after last year’s Mania. Shayna has been a true heel in every sense of the word. She pulls no punches and shows you exactly who she is without needing interpretation. Unless there is a major creative shift, I don’t think that will ever change. Shayna’s approach would be a welcome addition to a confusing division – no matter where she lands.

Given the history of others who have been called up, will her transition from NXT to the main roster be successful? Adaptation is never easy. With a new environment comes new expectations and new challenges. No matter what Shayna brings to the table, her career trajectory is in the hands of WWE writers. In the past, talents like The Ascension, AOP, Bo Dallas, Ember Moon and countless others have fallen extremely short of duplicating their NXT success. Other not-so-successful talents who have moved to the main roster such as EC3, Dana Brooke, Apollo Crews, and Tyler Breeze haven’t fared well either. Sometimes, there is a directional shift that sees these performers become someone completely different. Other times, the writers don’t know what to do with them and they get lost in the shuffle. Hopefully, she won’t be the victim of a bad angle or storyline. Sometimes, things like that can truly hinder one’s career with no recovery in sight.

I’m hoping that Shayna’s past has laid the groundwork for a bright future on the main roster. She has done all the could in NXT. She’s left an incomparable legacy behind. 2020 could be a make-or-break year for the “Submission Magician”. Wishing her all the best.

Until next time… …PEACE FROM THE PLANET.