The Wrestling 5&1 06.15.13: AJ Lee vs. Maria Kanellis!

Lots to talk about this week! Why not get right to it, eh?

Push Daniel Bryan? Just say YES! YES! YES!
By Greg DeMarco

If the reports are to be believed, our beloved Daniel Bryan is on the verge of a large WWE push, complete with pay-per-view main event billing. And it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The current landscape of the WWE sees John Cena at the top of the food chain, holding the WWE Championship after overcoming “the worst year of his career” and beating The Rock in the main event of WrestleMania 29. Cena’s opponent for this weekend’s pay-per-view main event is Ryback, another “freak of nature” built by steroids—basically a younger Scott Steiner (minus the wrestling ability—and the math skills).

Below that you have the semi-main event—which so happens to not be the company’s other world title. The semi-main event at Payback features one of the WWE’s most valuable performers, Chris Jericho, playing the antagonist that brought back Chicago’s favorite son, CM Punk. Punk’s return will likely happen mid-show, as to not overshadow the “main event.”

The Intercontinental Championship will also be defended in a Triple Threat Match. This was originally Wade Barrett defending many hardcore fans’ favorite belt against The Miz and Fandango. A concussion to the wrestling’s mediocre dancer caused a change to the match—enter Curtis Axel. Axel is the company’s current flavor of the month, making his inclusion a surprise to no one.

That ends the portion of the card we knew about with one week to go—and the third match on the list was changed with less than one week to go.

Now you can add the Divas Championship match between champion Kaitlyn and AJ Lee—a match that is about two pay-per-view events too late according to most fans. Sheamus battles Damien Sandow in one of the company’s most well-built current feuds—and it’ll be the pre-show. The Shield, the promotion’s hottest act, is once again split over two matches, as Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns defend the WWE Tag Team titles against the makeshift Daniel Bryan & Randy Orton team while Dean Ambrose defends his United States Championship against Kane.

Then you finally have the World Heavyweight Championship match, where Dolph Ziggler returns from a concussion to face Alberto Del Rio, a man who has a hard enough time beating Ziggler’s bodyguard (Big E. Langston) and former bodyguard (Jack Swagger).

Outside of the June pay-per-view event, the WWE is focusing much of its creative energy around the latest saga regarding Triple H, a semi-retired company executive who couldn’t stop burying the up & coming talent if he tried.

So the landscape ain’t pretty, and the thought of a Daniel Bryan push is exactly the shot of adrenaline the company’s creative output needs.

Will it happen? I explore that below, as I believe there’s plenty of evidence to say it will.

You Decide: Can a Daniel Bryan push be the answer to the WWE’s creative woes?

Free Write: BEST
By Tony Acero

Time for some fun! I asked Greg, once again, to send me over a photo prior to my writing for the column, and once again, he send one that had me stumped for quite some time. In looking at the picture, one word continued to jump out at me: “BEST.” Both men in the ring have used the word in their own monikers. While one spent the better part of the 90’s proclaiming that he was the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be, the other is still riding the horse, “The Best in the World,” and who here wants to argue with either man. So, it got me thinking. Who is the best? No, not amongst solely these two competitors, but within the entire roster, past and present.

One thing I have done my best to stay away from during my three + year stint at 411 is list columns. I thoroughly SUCK at lists. You say, “Hey Tony, what’s the top five sodas out there,” you’ll invariably get my take on five different ways to say Mountain Dew. Ask me who my top five favorite rappers are: Eminem, Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers III, the white guy from D-12, and B-Rabbit. I mean, I just suck at lists. Hell, if you guys see the Wrestler of the Week Column, I have a solid #1 answer, and ok #2 answer, and the rest are interchangeable. In fact, I am so unsure and apathetic that AJ Lee will undoubtedly get a spot on the list every week. Suffice to say, I know what I like, and I know it well.

So why the struggle when coming up with who I think “The Best” wrestler is? Is it because of the numerous different qualities that each wrestler has? It is all in the perspective in which I am looking at the men? I mean, Undertaker is easily my favorite wrestler, but even that choice is flawed by emotional pull more so than his talent in the ring (which, is not a knock, but simply the truth). It’s pretty well-documented that Taker got me my start in wrestling at such a tender age, that it’s nearly impossible not to have a soft spot for the dude. Then we look at people like the Smackdown Six who put on some technical masterpieces. Or even further back like Bret Hart, who was the hero I simply didn’t understand – a “too good” good guy that I didn’t like.

And what of the age factor? Why, when I was seven, did Doink the Clown seem like such an awesome wrestler? Why does my 12 year old brother feel that The Big Show is the best wrestler ever? What about little Ivan, barely 8, and falling into the trap of Cena fandom? And why the fuck am I asking so many damned questions? I guess what I’m trying to get at is that in asking myself who I think the best wrestler is, I find a struggle within. There is an answer, and I think I know it, but I don’t know if all the reasons above mentioned are why.

When I look at my answer, I question why I don’t talk about him more often. I mean, there are many of you who can say, with much assurance, that their favorite wrestler is X, and will talk ad nausem about said wrestler. You will harp on anyone that attempts to belittle their talent and throw fisticuffs towards the wall if anyone gives them the all-evil “meh.” I then consider the Heath Ledger syndrome, in that whenever I bring up who I think is The Best, there is an automatic assumption that it’s simply because he is dead. I think what helped me to figure it out (and to be fair, while reading this, I am almost positive that you can tell it has slowly revealed itself to me as much as it has to you), was actually asking myself the question.

So we go from a photo of Punk and Bret Hart – two men who are the best of their eras, and who very few can argue that to be the truth, and we end up to a name that I feel I simply don’t say enough.

Who is the best wrestler in Tony’s book? Eddie Guerrero. Now that you know, take a gander back at what I wrote and see if it helps in knowing, or if it alters your perspective on the photo, what I wrote, and how you feel about it.

You Decide:

Let me hear your responses, and…BRING ON THE GIRLS!

Once AJ the latest incarnation of The Battle of the Bang is done, Paige will also take her place. But for now it’s time to see how far AJ can take it. Let’s get it on!

VERSUS

Voting ends Tuesday night and you can vote once every hour!

This isn’t a new thing…
By Greg DeMarco

A potential push of Daniel Bryan isn’t really coming out of nowhere—he’s been here all along! Ever since his first NXT appearance, Daniel Bryan has been making news in the WWE.

Hell, that first NXT appearance I mentioned likely falls into his Top 10 WWE moments to date…

From there he went on to quit NXT, get fired from the company, return, become United States Champion, engage in several entertaining feuds, win the blue Money in the Bank Briefcase, become World Heavyweight Champion, and eventually lose that title in 18 seconds at WrestleMania 29.

It was a move that many members of the IWC hated, but it started the “YES! YES! YES” chants and turned Daniel Bryan into a bona-fide star.

Daniel Bryan spend the next part of the year embroiled in a love square with AJ Lee that also involved Kane and CM Punk, culminating with AJ Lee leaving D-Bry at the altar to become the General Manager of RAW.

The “YES! YES! YES!” chants continued, but Bryan combatted that with is “No! No! No!” chants. A random partnership with Kane and some anger management classes lead to two men hugging it out, birthing a new tag team for the WWE to latch on to. Team Hell No provided some great matches, and lately has been an opportunity for Daniel Bryan to break out.

Fast forward to this week, where the rumors of Daniel Bryan’s push have never been greater. Bryan went on to have a week that seemed to solidify his push, as he scored a clean win over Seth Rollins in the culmination of a show arc that saw Kane and Randy Orton unable to get clean wins against Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns, respectively. Couple that with Friday’s Smackdown, where Daniel Bryan was the first man to take down The Shield in a six man tag team match, quickly becoming the most over face on the roster.

Daniel Bryan’s star has never shined brighter in the WWE, and with John Cena and Ryback engaged in a war, CM Punk returning and Dolph Ziggler needing a chance to tear it up as a world champ, there are plenty of quality opponents for Daniel Bryan to face.

My suggestion for his big feud?

John Cena.

If the WWE were smart, Ryback would win the WWE Championship at Payback, retain the strap at Money in the Bank and go on to face someone new (Randy Orton?) at SummerSlam. That opens the door for Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena at the company’s second biggest event of the year, one that could see Daniel Bryan get the huge win that propels him through the main event stratosphere—and a potential believable world title run to close out 2013.

And given the rest of the WWE’s offerings in 2013, this is just what the doctor ordered.

You Decide: Just how far will the WWE really push Daniel Bryan?

The Heyman Guy Curtis Axel
By Tony Acero

I’m here to talk about…Daniel Bryan! Ok, I’m kidding. I spoke quite a bit about Bryan last week, and it appears that Greg has gone DB-CRAZY this week. Rightfully so, though, amirite? Considering the excess of Daniel Bryan, I figured I’d give an answer that was asked by you guys a couple of weeks ago by Scott. He asked who we think would have been a better “New Paul Heyman Guy” and gave his breakdown as follows:

Kassius Ohno: Paul as Don King
I think this is the standout on your list, as he is both unknown and known enough to come across as believable that Heyman would care to employ him. He has a vicious look, and has no history of crappy matches or losing such as Axel. Pulling him from NXT and claiming he was the newest hot ticket would have been pretty bad ass.

Ted DiBiase Jr.: Quality got really good before his injury but lacks charisma
I think, in this particular instance, that DiBiase and Axel would be completely interchangeable and neither would manage to make big waves. DiBiase may actually get a worse response, considering his history, particularly how long he has been around and yet to prove anything.

Wade Barrett: Paul as Don King 2
I love Barrett and I think he is one of the more inconsistently booked dudes on the roster. He’s a great promo crafter, and is pretty good in the ring. He’s got a good look, and his hair is impeccable. Still, I think his lack of history with Heyman would have made a re-debut with him as something incredibly forced (which, I feel, would be the same with almost anyone [more on that later]).

Antonio Cesaro: Can have amazing matches, just needs a bit more ‘sizzle’
This would be awesome, but what I don’t get is why the Dubs don’t think that Cesaro can stand well enough on his own. In a three minute match, he kicked a bunch of ass with Sin Cara and no one batted an eye. He’s more than capable on the mic, and he can gooooo! I’d put this as number two on your list for the sheer sake that perhaps they’d believe in him more than ever with Heyman on his side.

Daniel Bryan: Paul doesn’t see Bryan as a weak link, but as a wrestling machine.
Bryan, right now, is untouchable. He needs no Heyman. He needs no MAN, beside him. I get how it could work, particularly with your thought of the weak link idea. It would be pretty awesome, to be honest, and this sits as a #3 on your list, I think. Still, I wouldn’t do it at all. Bryan is on fire right now, and Heyman is just more fire. If he were lighter fluid, maybe, but as it stands, it’d be a waste of both talents.

As for my list of who I think would be a great “New Paul Heyman Guy” would be someone with a vicious side from NXT, and no one fits that bill better than Kassius Ohno. A Paul Heyman guy, to me, is someone who is larger than life, and I don’t mean that in the sense of Brock Lesnar (physically), I mean an imposing figure IN the ring. If there is one thing that Paul Heyman guys have going, it’s their ability to have an amazing match. Enter, Ohno.

Please keep in mind, though, that although I have personal preferences, I don’t necessarily think that the “WHO” has been the biggest problem in all of this. No, make no mistake, that if it were anyone else in the role of Curtis, with everything left the same, there would still be problems. This is all about the “HOW;” how it was booked, how it was portrayed, and how it all somehow turned into a Triple H storyline. For whatever reason, Curtis Axel is secondary to the story of Triple H’s ability to wrestle, and his family caring about him. And the reason no one cares is because that feeling of “this time, it’s real” is all over the place. We have seen Triple H and Vince at odds, before. Hell, we have seen Triple H and Steph at odds. We have seen this “family” rip each other apart, make people hurt the others, etc. and yet THIS time, we’re to believe that they truly care about each other? Then we have to consider how long it takes for Triple H to be “medically cleared” and why, all of a sudden, it matters. There are just far too many questions within this “story” that don’t’ have enough people caring to ask.

So, it’s not the WHO, Scott, as much as the HOW. Because WHO doesn’t matter when the HOW is horrible.

You Decide: Would Khassius Ohno be a better Heyman Guy than Curtis Axel?

The Casual Fan: WWE’s Most Important Customer
By Greg DeMarco

WWE Payback is this weekend, and before last week—just two weeks out from the event—two matches were announced for the card. But those two matches were the major selling points of the pay-per-view: WWE Champion John Cena defending against Ryback in a Three Stages of Hell Match, and CM Punk’s WWE (and hometown) return against Chris Jericho.

As a hardcore fan, this seems atrocious. The card is likely to feature seven or eight matches, and we only knew two of them with two RAWs remaining? But what about the casual fan?

Now, just who is this casual fan, you ask? Well, if you’re reading this then you’re not one of them! Casual fan attend WWE events for no other reason than to be entertained. Casual fan doesn’t really have time for TNA, if they even know it exists. Casual fan doesn’t always keep up with title changes, and casual fan definitely doesn’t follow wrestling on the internet.

Casual fan does have money to spend, and they’re a little pickier when spending it on wrestling. You see, casual fan needs some convincing…but not that much!

No one knows for sure the number of casual fans in the WWE Universe. Based on ratings fluctuations, merchandise sales and web traffic, I’d say that about 75% of the WWE Universe is made up of the casual fan.

Wanna know more about the casual fan? Casual fan chants both “Let’s Go Cena!” and “Cena Sucks!” Casual fan thinks Sweet T is a huge improvement over Tensai, isn’t sure why people are chanting “Albert” and couldn’t even remotely guess who Giant Bernard is. Casual fan doesn’t give a crap about Zack Ryder being responsible for the WWE’s surge in social media over the last two years, nor do they think he deserves a push. Casual fan popped for The Miz’s face turn because THE MIZ TURNED FACE! OMG!

Casual fan is also responsible for peaks and valleys in the Raw rating—because casual fan is easily distracted by the NCAA Final Four and Monday Night Football. Casual fan likely thinks MMA is absolutely brutal, while simultaneously talking about how every shot in wrestling is fake and doesn’t hurt.

Casual fan had no problem with Sheamus, a face, stealing Alberto Del Rio’s car. They never once uttered “B A Star, steal a car!” Because casual fan thought it was funny.

Casual fan loves Fandangoing, but doesn’t care one bit about Fandango. They don’t know who Summer Rae is, nor do they care who the dancer is at all. In fact, they don’t know that Summer Rar be came from NXT because NXT is either a crappy show that casual fan didn’t watch or these weird letters that Michael Cole mentioned when The Shield debuted.

Casual fan doesn’t know that Dean Ambrose was Jon Moxley, nor does he know about t. He hasn’t heard of Tyler Black, nor is he familiar with this Ring of Honor company that made Black famous enough to hit the WWE. Don’t even bother bringing up PWG, Chikara, DGUSA, AIW and more. Casual fan “ain’t got time for that!”

Believe it or not, casual fan is the WWE’s favorite child. They don’t care about the hardcore fans, because they already got us. We’re watching regardless.

This is much like the WWE of the Mixed Martial Arts community, the UFC. Take a look at this weekend’s UFC 161 card. Is the UFC promoting Yves Jabouin vs. Dustin Pague? No, that bout is on the Facebook stream. What about Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley? That’s a hell of a fight—one that has many hardcore MMA fans salivating. But it’s not on the commercial, and it’s on the FX preliminary card. No, the household name talents of Dan Henderson, Rashad Evans and Roy Nelson are all over the event’s promotional materials, and those weren’t even the original headliners. Those are names that the casual fan knows, and that’s who the UFC is trying to attract to this card.

That’s no different for the WWE. Ryback vs. John Cena and CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho are what Payback is being sold on. If the casual fan buys into those matches, the event will be a rousing financial success. If the casual fan doesn’t buy into them? No bueno.

We love to think that, as internet hardcore fans, the WWE needs to care what we think. They don’t. Our money is already in their wallet—it’s the casual fan that the WWE covets, because that’s the customer they actually have to win over.

You Decide: Is the casual fan the WWE’s most important customer?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook page, Tony posted this pic for all to comment on…

And the commenter with the most “likes”???

Mark Arnold!

Mark Arnold: This is a face of a Diva, when they see a Knockout PPV match.

Think you have what it takes to win the Caption Contest? Head on over to the Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook group and join today to see what Tony, myself and the gang post next!

Want to enter? Caption this picture:

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This week we take a look at a DeMarco favorite, honorary DeMarcette, Rain!

Rain recently revealed that she intends to retire at the end of 2013. She has over 14 years of wrestling on her body, as well as a blossoming fitness career and a new husband to keep her busy.

Don’t worry…when that time comes, I will ensure it gets plenty of coverage!

Tony Acero is currently a student at Cal State University of Long Beach. He is double-majoring as a Creative Writing and Literature major. His first book, Through The Looking Glass, was published in April, 2012. Looking Through, currently available, is a preview to the release of his second book, due out in Fall 2013.

Tony joined 411Mania in April 2010, and currently contributes in both music and wrestling. Tony is an avid drinker of Mountain Dew and Jack Daniels. He is a writer who hardly takes himself seriously, yet has an innate ability to create moments that are both human yet fearful in his writings.

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Greg DeMarco is a graduate of Virginia Tech (Bachelor’s in Business Management) and Arizona State (Master’s in Higher & Post-Secondary Education). He works in online higher education. Greg started in improv comedy in 2001, making his stand-up debut in 2004.

Greg first appeared as a ring announcer for Rising Phoenix Wrestling in Phoenix Arizona in 2006 and served many promotions in both on-stage and back-stage roles for over six years, most notably Ring of Honor in 2010. He began writing for 411Mania in October 2010, founded The Greg DeMarco Show in May 2011 and opened WrestlingSmash.com (and Wrestling Smash Radio) in January 2013.

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Until next week…