The Inaugural Women's Royal Rumble Review (2018)

The WWE's annual Royal Rumble is many pro-wrestling fan's favorite pay-per-view, and with good reason.

It is the pop-filled prelude to WrestleMania, typically establishing the primary Championship narratives that lead into Vince McMahon's "showcase of the immortals". Unfortunately, recent Rumbles have been mired in fan discontent, with the WWE and its audience locked in deep disagreement about who deserves the "top guy" moniker, and thus a shot at WrestleMania's main event.

All eyes await, with a mounting sense of anticipatory dread, as the final four participants are revealed. There is a collective sense of "really...this is who it's going to be?" that hangs over the final minutes of the match like a grim cloud.

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

Last week I found an enjoyable solution to the problem of writing about RAW; ignore everything that was terrible about the episode and focus entirely on the excellence (Bexcellence) of Becky Lynch.

I could employ the same tactic this week. Charlotte & Becky were certainly the best part of the show, and not just because the rest of the episode was so grating. Even on a great episode, Charlotte & Becky’s exchange would have stood out. Becky’s promo was biting & sincere. It’s not easy to throw insults at Ric Flair (even a blatantly heel Ric Flair) and not have the crowd turn on you. Becky managed to walk that tightrope with poise and conviction, continuing to flesh out her character as a fearless competitor quick to speak the truth.

THE RAW REVIEW

Following the 2014 Hell in a Cell pay-per-view where a “Ghost” interfered in the main event (bringing Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose’s career-defining feud to an unceremonious close) the WWE’s flagship series gradually devolved into a predictable variety show that served rote promos, frayed story-lines, a disjointed tone, incoherent “comedic” segments, unimportant matches, and inconsistent characterization. These issues led to increased viewer-discontent, the stunted growth of a variety of talents, and stalled Superstar-ascents that were, during the Spring & Summer of 2014, nothing short of meteoric.

These issues persisted all the way through to the final episode of 2015.

THE RAW REVIEW

RAW REVIEWSTim KailMarch 10, 2015roman reigns, the royal rumble, wrestlemania, wwe, wwe network, professional wrestling, sports entertainment, vince mcmahon, triple h, writing, art

WOW:EP 5:A STONE COLD STORY

THE PODCASTTim KailJanuary 30, 2015steve austin, stone cold steve austin, wwe, wwe network, professional wrestling, the royal rumble, podcast, work of wrestling, roman reigns wins the royal rumble, roman reigns

THE RAW REVIEW

Nine.

That’s the number of times the word “respect” was used in the final RAW interview segment featuring Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar, and the 2015 Royal Rumble winner, Roman Reigns.

“Respect”, the word of the snow-day, slithered into your subconscious thanks to the oratory stylings and the storytelling savvy of Paul Heyman (and anyone else who may have contributed to the structure of that interview). That word was purposefully planted in the back of your brain, and there that word remained throughout this interview.

THE RISE OF ROMAN REIGNS

Roman Reigns has won the 2015 Royal Rumble. As a result, the relationship between the WWE and the WWE's fans is as strained and contentious as ever.

I'm a fan of Roman's. I've always liked him and always thought he could be exactly what the WWE wanted him to be so long as they booked him properly and emphasized his strengths. This is a common perspective among many long-time pro-wrestling fans. It's truly a shame to watch his career, and the future of the company, be negatively affected as a result of bad booking and not consistently creating a character that could convincingly face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

ROYAL RUMBLE REVIEW PODCAST

THE PODCASTTim KailJanuary 26, 2015roman reigns, the royal rumble, triple h, the rock, wwe, wwe network, professional wrestling, wrestlemania, dean ambrose, seth rollins

THE RAW REVIEW

One. Two. Three.

Happiness.

For a brief, beautiful moment, I experienced genuine happiness at the end of Monday Night Raw.

My viewing of RAW last week was slightly similar.

JOHN CENA:BENEATH THE WRIST BANDS

If you are reading these words, you most likely have a strong opinion about John Cena.

Whatever that opinion may be, I encourage you to read this from the perspective of what makes good character work, not from the perspective of a passionate "lover" or "hater". Love Cena, hate Cena, or ignore Cena, this article is about one thing and one thing only: how small, seemingly insignificant creative choices can have powerful thematic implications.

THE MYTH OF JOHN CENA: SHEDDING THE NEON SKIN

John Cena has been the "top guy" in the WWE for over a decade.

This is an unprecedented run that has inspired legions of fans as much as it has inspired legions of detractors. The character, and the performer, will consistently elicit a strong reaction one way or the other, but his existence also leaves room for more complex reactions.

For example, my feelings about the character have evolved from 2005 (when I first became aware of Cena) to the time of this writing.

The Writings