WOW - EP147 - Survivor Series 2017 Review

This year's Survivor Series fluctuated between "fine" and "fun". Nothing was terrible, but nothing was too memorable, and in-between existed a lot of legitimately good fun.

The basic conceit of Raw and SmackDown facing off in competition would resonate more if the stakes were clearly outlined and involved more than "bragging rights".

We might know the motivations of the characters when they're outside the squared circle (i.e. Kurt Angle wants to keep his job, Shane McMahon wants SDLive to be more than the B-show), but we don't know what an actual win in the wrestling match itself signifies. The concept of "why" any of this is happening doesn't have an instantly accessible answer beyond, "Because!"

You Will Keep Booing Roman Reigns And It Will Change Nothing

If you still boo Roman Reigns, nothing will convince you to stop booing Roman Reigns.

It doesn't matter if the WWE books Roman Reigns in a manner that "emphasizes his strengths and hides his weaknesses", it doesn't matter if Roman Reigns adds fifty death-defying moves to his repertoire, it doesn't matter if Roman Reigns journeys back in time and works the indies for fifteen years before coming to the WWE, and it doesn't matter if Roman Reigns starts cutting promos with the eloquence and depth of a classically trained Shakespearean actor.

No matter the objective improvements in Roman Reigns' performance or the improvements in the way WWE books him, and no matter how well-reasoned an argument in Roman's favor may be, you will go on booing.

And that's fine. I've accepted this. Keep booing.

No energy should be expended by anyone (least of all Roman Reigns fans) in an effort to convince you to change your mind. You are entrenched in your perspective and you're just going to keep digging in.

THE RAW REVIEW

This week’s RAW, right from the start, demonstrated the value of deviation.

One of the most consistent and entirely accurate constructive criticisms leveled at WWE’s three-hour broadcast is that the show adheres to its formula at the expense of offering unpredictable, exciting content for its regular viewers. This is a good constructive criticism that comes from respectable minds and respectful fans - not just from an angry internet contingent who behaves like an unruly, spoiled child. The people who offer this criticism are sympathetic to the difficulties of creating a massive “Sports Entertainment” spectacle like Monday Night Raw; they simply want the show to be as watchable as possible.

THE RAW REVIEW

On a show overflowing with experienced pro-wrestling talent, in a company designed to create “WWE Superstars” (which are, unavoidably, a particular brand of pro-wrestler) Stephen Amell, star of the hit comic book-inspired TV-series Arrow, was the most captivating part of the show.

That should never happen. An actor should not be able to come on RAW and show the roster how to perform.

I write that with the utmost respect (and genuine thanks) for what Amell gave me last night.

You entertained me.

EXTREME RULES REVIEW (IN REAL-TIME)

THE PODCASTTim KailApril 27, 2015extreme rules, wwe network, kane, seth rollins, wwe, pro wrestling blogs, wwe blogs, randy orton, cage match, roman reigns, big show, dean ambrose vs luke harper

THE RAW REVIEW

RAW existed in that bland middle-ground of inoffensive but forgettable this week.

It wasn’t especially bad, but it wasn’t especially good.

Three hours chugged along, and only about thirty minutes of it seemed to matter while the rest of the show was…fine.

It was mostly Randy Orton’s show, and your investment in the episode hinged largely upon your willingness to get invested in Randy Orton’s psychology.

WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF WWE'S NXT?

NXT is loosely defined as the WWE’s farm-league, a home-grown developmental territory of sorts broadcasting out of Full Sail University in Florida. Every Wednesday at 8pm, pre-taped, one-hour episodes play on the WWE Network, and every two months the promotion has a live, two-hour special.

THE RAW REVIEW (10/20/14)

Monday Night Raw was incredibly strong this week (and emotionally moving, upon reflection), reinforcing a solid narrative foundation for the upcoming Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

This was the show fans, and especially the two top-stories, needed. If the WWE was hoping to create incentive for people to purchase the Network, and also get fans more invested in the "double-main-event" then the WWE has succeeded.

The Writings