THE RAW REVIEW

I just want the WWE to understand their audience.

That's one of my goals with The Work of Wrestling. I want the WWE, Vince McMahon, and whoever else makes the decisions with the company to understand what the WWE-viewer who lives in the year 2015 actually wants from the company.

It’s hard not to feel dejected sometimes when watching a Monday Night Raw like last night’s Monday Night Raw. It’s hard to accept that the WWE’s flagship show is, more often than not, simply not made for someone like me.

THE NXT REPORT

Like some classic songs, fine foods, or abstract art many pro-wrestlers are acquired tastes. It’s rare that I’ll ever instantly like a pro-wrestler. It’s especially rare that I’ll ever instantly feel like the talent I’m seeing could easily become a favorite of mine the first time I see them perform.

SAMI ZAYN AND THE ZAYNIACS

EDITORIALS, MOST VIEWEDTim KailJanuary 9, 2015sami zayn, sami zayn and the zayniacs, wwe network, wwe, professional wrestling, triple h, adrian neville, kevin owens, kevin steen

THE NXT REPORT (12/18/14)

This was another strong week for the WWE'S strongest hour, NXT, on the WWE Network.

Coming off of NXT Take Over R-Evolution, this episode needed to push the top narratives forward, but also serve as epilogue to the events of last week’s remarkable pay-per-view. The result was an unexpectedly superb main event, where the intensity of last week both winded down to a simmer, but also contributed to the mythos of Kevin Owens.

Owens’ debut last week, both at the start and conclusion of R-Evolution, is the most impressive debut I’ve had the privilege to see live. And while there are many other wrestlers on the roster who’ve been in NXT longer and conceivably have a claim to the main event and the NXT Championship, Owens instantly feels like the right fit for top heel. And, from the character’s perspective, he deserves that top spot above any of the WWE’s home grown, performance center talents due to all of his work on the independent circuit. And, because of his natural charisma and power, it's hard to deny he's better than a lot of guys on the roster.

NXT REPORTSThe Good WorkerDecember 19, 2014adrian neville, baron corbin, bull dempsey, kevin owens, nxt, review, sami zayn, triple h, wwe network, wwe

THE NXT REPORT (12/4/14)

It's hard to believe that NXT's next special is less than a week away. The "pay-per-view" has only existed in name for three weeks and it doesn't seem as though it has been represented too much outside of NXT.

Last week was a slow week that didn't particularly expand upon the top rivalries or storylines, focusing more on building the midcard.

The Writings