Readers of this column hate when I use the term “fake wrestling.” I’m not sure I blame you. But who cares? You keep reading.
Brock Lesnar, as WWE champ, shouldn’t be involved in “fake wrestling.”
But, at Night Of Champions, Lesnar lost to John Cena but kept the WWE title thanks to a hokey “fake wrestling” finish.
Seth Rollins hit the ring, bashed Cena, curb-stomped Lesnar, then tried to cash in his “Money in the Bank” briefcase. Cena ran him off, and the bell never rang, so Rollins retains the briefcase. Lesnar retains the WWE championship.
Lesnar doesn’t care. At all. He just wants to get paid.
But using a “fake wrestling” finish devalued Lesnar’s legitimacy, however slightly. It also devalued the “Money in the Bank” concept. Rollins asked for the cash-in. Ring the bell! Cena ran him off? Tough luck. Cena’s interference gets Lesnar DQ’d. The belt doesn’t change hands. You lose the briefcase.
“Fake wrestling” can have logic. It needs logic. That finish didn’t.
Brock Lesnar should be pins and submissions. Period. He’s the “real guy.” That’s his value.
When Goldberg got beat with the cattle prod, all the air rushed out. It wasn’t Goldberg’s fault, but he was never perceived the same way after that. Nor was WCW.
Raw’s rating this week was the year’s lowest. Is that a direct reflection?
Cena vs. Lesnar had a chance to be one of WWE’s great feuds in recent memory. WWE’s top star for the last decade gets turned underdog to defend his turf against a killing machine. Last chance, or new beginning?
Now it’s just “fake wrestling.” Typical. It might as well be Ronnie Garvin vs. Ric Flair. Cena should dress in drag and ambush Lesnar.
What it is that makes WWE too often incinerate something that’s working?
If that finish was meant to extend the Cena-Lesnar feud, I can understand. They just chose the wrong path. With Roman Reigns injured, the rocket up his rectum fizzles. Could be a blessing in disguise. Reigns is nowhere near ready.
Maybe Daniel Bryan gets second life as a top guy. Then again, who knows when Bryan returns? Anyway, the idea of him beating Lesnar is silly. Underdog storylines can’t be ridiculous. There’s no way to suspend that much disbelief. The best use of Bryan would be getting squashed by Lesnar. Build Lesnar further.
Lesnar should beat Rollins when he tries to cash MITB. Ditch the cliche. Build Lesnar further.
Lesnar should not lose until WWE is absolutely sure about who should beat him.
The John Cena-Brock Lesnar feud was so good. That finish at “Night of Champions” just sucked the life out of it. It’s so disappointing. Each wrestler has a well-developed persona, and Heyman adds so much.
What do we know about Rollins? Excellent worker. Excellent look. But what do we really know? He used to be in the Shield, and he has the MITB briefcase. Keep going. If there’s any more to Rollins, I haven’t noticed. That’s a shortcoming on WWE’s part, not mine. They’re supposed to make us notice.
Good night for Dean Ambrose Monday, BTW. Maybe he’s the guy that’s closest to being ready.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
