411 Fact or Fiction Wrestling: Are You Excited For Taker vs. Lesnar?

1. You are not excited for Undertaker vs. Lesnar at Summerslam.

Justin Watry: FICTION – I am absolutely excited. You would have to be a pretty cynical Negative Ned to NOT be pumped up for The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar at Summerslam. Even before their awesome brawl on WWE Raw, it is simply put two of the biggest names in wrestling history going at it. The poster could just read Taker/Brock, and I would be sold. Considering Summerslam is in New York this year, it is not wonder WWE is going all out for the pay-per-view, or as someone in the company told me last week, it will be an ‘all hands on deck’ kind of weekend. From the NXT live special to the rumored Sting return to whatever is going on with Seth Rollins and John Cena to THIS battle?!?! Wow. Start counting those network subscriptions now…

Tony Acero: FICTION – On the contrary, I’m very excited about the Taker vs Lesnar match, and was as such before RAW. Admittedly, RAW only heightened the excitement. We are, unfortunately, at a time where “Larger than life” figures are few and far between within the WWE. Patrick from Tough Enough may think that the days of the big guys are dead, but he’s wrong at least in the light of Taker vs Brock. Of course, we can wonder why it has taken Undertaker over 400 days to exact revenge, but considering how long it takes him to make his entrance, maybe it’s not too far off the mark. I do not have a sphere to look into for the future, so my only concern here is the health of The Undertaker. No, I’m not one to assume that he’s at the end of his rope, with one leg to stand on, because I’ve seen older people do miraculous things – like read a column with bad writing – and still survive. The quality of the match will rest in the layout of it, and if Monday night is any indication, we’ll get more of a brawl, and less of a technical masterpiece. Still, I’m pumped, and for the first time in a while, it feels like we have a big time match coming.

2. While Hernandez obviously misrepresented himself, TNA’s failure to contact Lucha Underground and perform basic due diligence is in excusable.

Justin Watry: FACT – First off, Hernandez lied. Welcome to business everybody. People will stretch the truth and/or do whatever is in their best interest. Didn’t know that was a mystery in 2015. If he thought saying one thing or stalling on another was for his benefit, then so be it…and hey, maybe he did not knowingly lie. Maybe he figured what he said was the truth. It could have just been that he did not have all the facts himself. Possibly? As for TNA Impact Wrestling, it is just more of the same. WCW checked on Lex Luger to be sure he was available and fact checked everything. Even recently, you think WWE even got near Samoa Joe if they knew he was under contract still with TNA? Did their due diligence and brought him in months later. Just common sense across the board. Wrestling, MMA (Rampage Jackson!), music deals, television contracts, etc. If you screw up, it means either a lawsuit or a giant mess. Par the course for TNA – a giant mess.

Tony Acero: FACT – Oh, TNA. Ever see a business try really really hard to be something it’s not? They have a niche, they have a role, they try their best to fulfill it, and maybe at some points get lucky, but all together, they just…won’t last. TNA’s failures don’t rest solely on their lack of communication with Lucha Underground, but just in their entire business model. We’ve seen just recently their alterations to contracts, the rumored pay struggles, and the diminishing of the product as a whole, making their “creative direction” the least of their worries.

3. WWE bringing in Jushin Liger for the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn event is both an unexpected and awesome surprise.

Justin Watry: FACT – I know next to nothing about Liger and have only seen a few of his matches on DVD. Love me or hate me, I am always honest. That being said, I love this move because of what it means for NXT. All bets are off. We have seen that in the past couple of years with all the independent talent signed, with Samoa Joe being brought in, Rhyno and THE Brian Kendrick getting involved, and now the Liger match. All it does is open more doors. James Storm? Austin Aries? Come on down! AJ Styles? MVP? Matt Morgan? Either as one-offs or full blown signings, NXT has changed the game within the wrestling industry. It does not matter who you are, what company you were with, or any other ‘rule’ fans assume exist. I love it!

Tony Acero: FACT – If anyone claimed they expected this, they’d be lying..or can tell the future. On a different site. This is another in a long line of gifts to the wrestling fan, and it’s one that should be just another selling point for what is already a great brand. NXT continues to thrive, and although it will never reach the heights of its parent brand, it shouldn’t ever do so either. Bringing in international superstars like this, and known names is something we would never even consider happening in the landscape that is the WWE. Those doors were always closed as far as McMahon was concerned, and seeing Joe waltz in, then head on out; Rhyno have himself a stint there, or even Kendrick over on Total Divas, the fluidity of the wrestling product within the WWE is weird, but welcomed.

SWITCH!

4. Following the recent departures (Magnus, Storm, Aries), the issues with Hernandez leading to his release as well as the release of MVP, TNA’s roster is the weakest it’s been in years.

Tony Acero: FICTION – I can’t readily call their roster the weakest in years simply because I don’t have enough knowledge on their roster. I’ve not seen an episode of TNA wrestling in a few years now, and I have no desire to – even if there is a great product over there. I know that the once former Derrick Bateman is doing great things, and I hear that The Funkasaurus is in a much better place creatively, but I don’t really know much else. With that being said, I can’t readily call their roster the weakest. If it is the weakest, however, then that’s not the roster’s fault as much as it is the business side of things (as stated, in an earlier question, above, somewhere other than here). I feel bad for the talent that is there, because from all accounts, it’s one of the better talented rosters aside from Lucha. All in all, it’s just a damned shame that we haven’t had a positive question to ask about TNA in such a long time.

Justin Watry: FACT – It has nothing to do with Hernandez or MVP. I can take or leave Hernandez, while I was in favor of MVP heading to TNA last year if you recall. It just depends on what the definition of “weak roster” means. By star power, obviously. Jeff Hardy and Kurt Angle are all you have, and both are out right now. Not like anybody can ‘draw’ in TNA anyways because they do not actually charge fans but whatever. In terms of talent, I have ALWAYS praised the hard working men and women inside that squared circle. Yet, even that, Storm is gone (could still work for them), Aries is gone, Magnus is gone, Hardy and Angle are hurt, a couple X-Division guys just left, and the list goes on and on. At some point, you have to remove your head from the sane and realize there is a reason why stars leave TNA and others refuse to go there. Right now, in July 2015, that is more obvious than ever.

5. John Cena defeating Kevin Owens at Battleground was the wrong move.

Tony Acero: FICTION – I have to side with Bully Ray in that one doesn’t have to go over to be over. However, that’s where the siding stops because as right as he is, I don’t feel this is what’s happening here. Was Cena defeating Owens the wrong move? No. But, there were so many better moves that could have been made. The thing that has always bothered me about the WWE is that they can easily, EASILY alter the landscape of their product with just one to two pushes that are consistent, yet they fear the change because of what – investors? Merchandise? Even that, however, is a catch-22, because the only reason why they feel they CAN’T remove Cena from his spotlight is because he sells the most – yet it is THEY who put him there. Kevin Owens IS marketable, and is a star. He doesn’t have to be BETTER than Cena, but he also mustn’t be removed from the dance. And this has nothing to do with whether Cena deserves his spot, or whether or not he can wrestle. No, this has everything to do with their worry of creating new stars without putting forth the effort (and support) to allow people like Owens to grow. I see little things that are already shoving Owens into a spot of “regular.” Let’s take the Taker vs Brock brawl. Why was Owens there? Because Triple H said to be? He shouldn’t have been. It has nothing to do with him. Leave that little moment to the R-Truths and Matadors of the company. Owens should not have been there. That’s a minor complaint, but it’s a microcosm of a bigger issue. So, is Owens losing at Battleground the wrong move? No. But the follow up, almost certainly will be.

Justin Watry: FICTION – No explanation needed.
…

…I kid, I kid! Relax.

Confession: I predicted Kevin Owens would win on Sunday night. If you read my Jay’s Ways column over the weekend, it was a tough decision but with the assumption a gimmick/blowoff bout was coming at Summerslam, it seemed logical. Why is my answer Fiction then? Because I watched RAW last night. Summerslam is hyped as the most important show of the summer. Arguably the second biggest event of the year (I would argue Royal Rumble myself). All you have to do is look at the past ten Summerslams and where John Cena was slated on the card for you answer. Go ahead…take a look, I will wait. *two minutes later* See what I mean? What we saw on Monday was nothing unexpected. John Cena is the United States Champion, making the belt worthy of its name, while Seth Rollins is the WWE World Champion in need of a major PPV opponent. Dean Ambrose? Just did it. Randy Orton? Just did it. Sting? Eh, he is going to be busy. Roman Reigns? Not the right time. Brock Lesnar? Just did it. Thus, insert John Cena to make a cool champ vs. champ set up and (again) positions the #1 man in a prime position right as Summerslam rolls around. Makes sense to me.

6. Thus far, the booking of the WWE’s “Diva’s Revolution” angle has been well done.

Tony Acero: FICTION – Ha! WELL DONE?! Any storyline that creates more questions than answers is one that is problematic. Why would Sasha Bank team with Tamina and Naomi? What connection do they have? What does Stephanie McMahon have to do with any of this? Where will the Bellas go if they lose this “battle?” If they win? If we are to believe that this is an ushering of a new era, then the logical conclusion is that the “old era” dies for the new one to rise. That’s how these stories are supposed to work, but just like Owens v Cena, I don’t see this ending in such a way. Look to the Brie vs Charlotte match, which was pretty lackluster if you ask me. We have proof that Charlotte is able-bodied, but none for Brie. The splash to the outside was awkward, and the match was average. We could have had Paige getting the help she was looking for – with no Steph involved. We could have had Paige go to Steph, and Steph bring in Banks and Charlotte. We could have even had Sasha show up on her own accord, demanding her spotlight considering she is the NXT Champion. There were any number of ways to go with this possibly wonderful storyline, and as per usual, the WWE goes with a basic and formulaic approach that literally NO ONE asked for.

Justin Watry: FACT – The initial Raw segment was so cool. I mean it; that was legitimately a ‘moment’ in WWE history and one that will be remembered forever. Having jumped on the NXT bandwagon last year, that made it even more special. To see all the women out there, wow! Goosebumps. The followup at Battleground was pretty good. Even if it was last minute and presented as a filler triple threat bout, the fans reacted as if it was worthwhile. In this case, the live crowd MADE that match. Raw kept the momentum going a little bit more with not one but two very good matches. All of it was positive and treated like a big deal. Heck, WWE even announced a match for Smackdown during Raw…featuring this new revolution! Time will ultimately tell the real story, but nobody can deny that this past week has been great for the division.