01-03-2018, 04:01 AM | #201 |
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I was thinking about that just last night. Not particularly because I want it to or necessarily think that they would, but the WWE Title match doesn't matter, and it's within their wheelhouse to just randomly microwave a guy they want to be more important so they can insert them into random positions next time they need someone in there.
AJ vs. Dolph would also be a great match. Dolph has never had a one-on-one match at WrestleMania, so I can kind of see a Vince in at least one of the infinite number of universes saying "Fuck it! Let's see what he can do!" |
01-03-2018, 04:03 AM | #202 |
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It seems odd to suggest that the WWE has plans, but they put the US Title on him just to take it off him for some reason. I don't think it "means" anything, but I wouldn't be shocked if they did randomly go with 2018 Royal Rumble Winner: Dolph Ziggler. Especially if they want to start depending on him more to pump up house shows because Orton is going to be dialing back and Cena won't always be around and they want Styles to eventually move to Raw or whatever. Dolph's like their next main eventy sort of guy, but they've just never watered that garden.
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01-03-2018, 04:17 PM | #203 |
Feeling Oof-y
Posts: 17,136
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I figured the thing with Ziggler was just to give him a good out/talking point after nobody being interested in what he does.
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01-03-2018, 04:17 PM | #204 |
Feeling Oof-y
Posts: 17,136
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Also, Styles to Raw, Balor and/or Joe to SDL.
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01-03-2018, 05:01 PM | #205 | |
Former TPWW Royalty
Posts: 66,588
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Good/Bad news regarding this week's viewership.
The good being it went up compared to last week despite the stiff competition from NCAA bowl games. The bad being WWE already starting 2018's Road to Mania lower than last year which set a new post-1997 record for lows. Also bad with RAW getting decimated in the rankings for the week. Quote:
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01-03-2018, 07:02 PM | #206 |
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Are we talking brand switches? They usually use SmackDown as a place for experiments to then get pushed on Raw. Jinder Mahal and Baron Corbin to Raw make the most sense, especially because Roman Reigns is going to need heels after WrestleMania. They also sometimes promote hot acts, so The Usos heading over would not surprise me in the least. Naomi would then likely head over with Jimmy.
Raw --> SmackDown is more about giving guys who aren't getting head room star pushes, or getting underwhelming acts back onto the show where they can experiment with them. It's a lot harder to call. A lot of people see Samoa Joe going over. I actually think Finn Balor is likely at this point, given how cold he is. He might take Gallows & Anderson over with him. You'd also probably trade a woman, so it wouldn't surprise me if either Sasha Banks or Bayley is sent over for a fresh coat of paint. Banks, just seems that little more likely, since they probably don't want all their black girls on one show (you know that is how they think). I've thought for the longest time that Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose might head to SmackDown and get singles pushes alongside each other, but I'm starting to question that now. I think AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor might have SmackDown on lock. An AJ Styles/Seth Rollins trade would not surprise me in the least, however. Or, fuck it, just dump Ambrose and Rollins on SmackDown and send AJ and, fuck it, Mojo Rawley over to Raw. But anyway, my most certain moves are the SmackDown to Raw ones: * Jinder * Corbin * Rawley * Usos * Naomi |
01-03-2018, 08:37 PM | #207 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,167
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I was thinking Rollins and Ambrose to SmackDown, but now with Ambrose hurt for a prolonged amount of time I think they'll just stay on Raw and they can milk another brief Shield reunion when Dean comes back before they eventually do a Rollins/Ambrose feud.
For some reason, I'm cautiously optimistic that they keep AJ on SmackDown. I'm not sure why, but I am. I think Randy Orton might be sent to Raw because he can always be put over as a huge acquisition even though he'll probably continue to take weeks off at a time now and then. For the blue brand, I have a weird feeling Braun Strowman might be their big trade. Mostly because I think they will want to make him a World Champion sooner rather than later and Reigns will presumably be keeping the Raw strap for a long time after Mania. |
01-03-2018, 09:01 PM | #208 |
MVP Mark
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Braun will not be the same on SD. He's so over because he is able to destroy the top talent like Reigns, Rollins and such. Braun will only be as over (heel or face wise) as his opponents are.
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01-03-2018, 09:10 PM | #209 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,167
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I agree. I'm just not sure WWE will fully realize that until they attempt to build a brand around him.
If he goes to SmackDown and crushes AJ, Nakamura, Zayn, and Owens like grapes - I feel like people will turn on him in a hurry. Granted, they made Zayn look believable against Braun in 2016 and AJ just looked like a million bucks against Brock. But still. At this point, I feel like even a nuclear bomb strike putting down Braun wouldn't be believable for his character. |
01-03-2018, 09:12 PM | #210 |
It's all Bullshit
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Really want that myself but i can't help but feel that Vince is not impressed with Nakamura so even a tag title for him might be a shock
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01-03-2018, 09:42 PM | #211 | |
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Quote:
Ambrose & Rollins getting clear out of Reigns' way made perfect sense, and then a trade for AJ would have worked, but I also see them staying put now. AJ is a guy that I can see them "branding" SmackDown around. It's the place you go to see AJ Styles wrestle. Kind of like how Rey was on SmackDown for ages, or even Angle. It feels like Reigns will be the face of one show (regardless of if he holds the belt or not), and Styles on the other for the "smart fans." I can actually see Brock changing brands and going after Styles. They acknowledged "unfinished business." Joe or Braun makes sense too, but I feel the same thing with Braun, and I think they call Lars Sullivan up to do the squash thing on SmackDown. I think they're more likely to bring guys over to bump for Braun, and not vice versa. Truthfully, Owens & Zayn's run might be done by then. Reigns is going to need heels, so maybe it makes more sense to move those polished heels to Raw, and have the less polished guys on SmackDown (Corbin, Mojo, etc.) to work with Styles? I also imagine that Jeff will be getting back around then, and might be kept as a singles. AJ and Jeff holding fort on Smackers? It would make sense to move Finn to wherever AJ is, but is Vince really that keen on it? Whatever happens with this club is probably a good indicator of that, but Balor feels a bit lifeless on Raw. But does that change when he's got Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens to work with, should they align with Samoa Joe? If he goes to SmackDown, does he add anything that Seth Rollins wouldn't? |
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01-03-2018, 09:45 PM | #212 |
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Kind of changing my mind to Owens & Zayn being the big acquisitions for Raw, with Brock being the main one for SmackDown. That alone changes dynamics quite a bit. The goal is probably to do it in the fewest moves possible. Sasha Banks & Bayley from Raw for the women, and then maybe Becky for the girls. It would really change the feel for the entire shows. If I'm doing tag teams, then it's probably Sheamus & Cesaro for The Usos. Random mid-card switch is Jinder for Elias, who gets a huge push.
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01-07-2018, 01:21 AM | #213 |
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Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think that Ziggler winning the 2018 Royal Rumble makes sense. Help.
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01-07-2018, 01:26 AM | #214 |
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Extra twist to it: They call up Zelina Vega, who does the same thing with Ziggler as she did Almas. Like, it's acknowledged that she manages the NXT Champion too. I think they suddenly go big with her, because they want a Hispanic presence on the show, and they ain't gonna push Sin Cara. And they want female characters. And she's got the movie coming out. And I can only imagine how much they love her over there.
Yeah, I'm actually feeling that. I can see Vince just flipping the switch and going in a direction like that. Almas comes up after WrestleMania. |
01-07-2018, 02:20 AM | #215 |
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I actually want this to happen too. I think Styles vs. Ziggler would be a great match, and it would be kind of a rewarding moment, whatever you think of Ziggler, to finally see him crack into that "WWE Main Eventer" club after years of hot and cold stuff.
Change his theme music. Make him "darker." Not over the top dark or anything, but maybe give him black hair with white streaks or something. Stop calling him "The Show Off." His whole thing is now "14 Years of Greatness." Put Styles over at WrestleMania, and hopefully the match is good enough that the crowd is giving Ziggler a respect pot, then he kicks Styles between the legs and reaffirms his heel status. |