WrestleZone Radio Reacts To The First WWE RAW Of 2016
Earlier today WrestleZone Radio released two brand new shows that took a look at the first WWE Monday Night RAW of 2016. The first was the RAW Reaction hosted by WrestleZone Daily’s Nick Hausman and featured Forbes & Bleacher Report pro wrestling columnist Alfred Konuwa as the co-host.
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Below is the full audio from Alfred’s RAW Reaction appearance as well as some of his comments transcribed underneath it:
On Dean Ambrose’s commentary during Kevin Owens vs Neville and whether he has a future after wrestling as a commentator:
AK: I could see if Ambrose were to ever get injured and they wanted to keep him on the product because he’s one of those stars they are invested in. I could definitely see him pop up on commentary. My worry would be, especially if he did this while he was active, is that he would come off as too much of a goofball. Too much Ambrose in that capacity would wear on people. He’s very talented in terms of wrestling, in terms of a character but he would just turn in to a character of himself if that happened.
On Vince McMahon possibly channeling his inner Donald Trump for his latest run:
AK: To be honest, I think Donald Trump is trying to be like Vince McMahon! I don’t think it’s the other way around. It’s Trump who is using the pro wrestling tactics to get himself over. Vince is just doing what he’s been doing for decades. Like you said, he’s really evolved his character to be relevant in this generation
Later in the day WrestleZone Daily took another look at the fallout from Monday Night RAW. You can find the full audio from today’s WrestleZone Daily along with transcribed quotes from co-host Joe Dombrowski and featured guest Bin Hamin (aka Ben Duerr) below.
Their RAW discussion and comments begin at the 26:06 minute mark:
On Vince McMahon’s announcement that Roman Reigns will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the Royal Rumble match and the possibility that AJ Styles could be in that match:
BH: Huge stakes that they raised there by making it a World Title match. Obviously Reigns has got to run a bigger gauntlet right now. With the Bullet Club signing right off of Wrestle Kingdom 10 it’s huge news. I’ve been talking to The Elite, The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega, and they were kind of alluding to something like that. They said, “Hey, we’re down with those guys but we’re the best.” Obviously, with Kenny Omega turning on AJ Styles… that’s huge news in the world of wrestling. Is the WWE going to keep booking it like Bullet Club is fine and this is an extension? Are they going to corner Finn Balor in NXT? Maybe Samoa Joe and some other guys got him cornered and here comes Bullet Club out of nowhere? Could be awesome. Are they going to be NXT? Are they going to be main roster? This is their chance to do the next NWO big invasion. Where there are no boarders. There are no rules that these guys have to play by. They can show up when they want to and where. Are they going to be on Finn Balor’s side? Or is there going to be a moment where they have to chose and it’s revealed that he brought them in. OR are they going to be a new hit squad for the office. For Vince and them. You never know what tables could be turned. It’s going to be very interesting. A lot of high stakes players. This is exactly the shot that the WWE creative needs in the arm right now. To be able to inject them. To do all kinds of business where there is one reality that can be broken really quickly.
On the back and forth between Chris Jericho and The New Day being reminiscent of The Attitude Era:
JD: It seems like pretty much everything The New Day says and does is pretty intentionally dumb. I had thought we were on the cusp of a babyface New Day but credit to WWE. They have made this group obnoxious enough and groan worthy enough where you can’t help but boo them. They are so over the top. They are so in your face. This may just be me but, not necessarily just in wrestling, but in life. There are few things more annoying than somebody that will repetitively and loudly laugh at their own jokes. Especially when the joke stinks.
Today also featured the debut of a new video feature called RAW Rants ‘N’ RAVES… An Apter Report. This new feature is co-produced by 1Wrestling.com and WrestleZone. It features legendary pro wrestling journalist Bill Apter giving his condensed take on the most recent episode of WWE Monday Night RAW. You can find the debut video as well as some of Bill’s comments transcribed below:
On Vince McMahon as the referee in the main event between Roman Reigns and Sheamus for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship:
BA: I gotta say it. When you see him in a suit like this you don’t realize that this guy, when he’s in a referee shirt, is seventy years old. The guy is really pumped! Maybe he should win the Royal Rumble. It was amazing to see him in that kind of shape. Mr. McMahon just keeps going!
On Neville’s performance in his match against Kevin Owens:
BA: Neville was incredible in his match against Kevin Owens. It takes two to tango, so they say. That spot Neville did off the ring apron, the Red Arrow, on to Owens on the floor. It was absolutely amazing. The whole dynamic between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens is also quite amazing.
