Backstage thoughts from the Raw
Raw emanated from Pittsburgh the past Monday and I was on hand for the event.
When I arrived backstage at 5:30, I noticed a buzz around the outside of the arena and once we went into the back, you truly could feel that it was WrestleMania season.
As far as the crowd, the show was legitimately sold out and the crowd was into a good portion of the show.
But for how loud as it was live, it did not translate onto TV when I watched the show a few days ago on my DVR.
The first huge reaction of the night was for the New Day and there is no doubt coming out of the show that the trio are now fan favorites.
Hopefully, the WWE decides to not change the group at all and let them continue to do what started their transition from hated villains to what will be full-blown good guys shortly.
Watching the segment with Vince McMahon, his son Shane, and the Undertaker caught my attention, but not for a good reason.
Shane, at 46 years of age, is not moving as quickly or smoothly in the ring as some are hoping and my guess is that the match between Shane and Taker will feature.
Reigns hurt by WWE’s persistence
This week, we look at an issue that has haunted many wrestlers over the years in the WWE.
For almost two years now, Roman Reigns has been pushed as the “next guy” to take over for John Cena.
Much like Cena and Batista were the “chosen ones” to take over for Triple H in 2005, Reigns was supposed to take his place on top of the company a year ago with a win over Brock Lesnar at Mania.
But, just like when Batista was to beat Randy Orton for the WWE title at Mania XXX, the crowd told Vince McMahon and company who they really wanted to see.
Daniel Bryan walked out with the title at XXX and Reigns was dominated by Lesnar last year.
But even a year later, Reigns is still not accepted by the WWE fans as “the man.”
I have met Reigns and he is a good guy, but fans just are not ready for him to be the top dog.
If the WWE would just back off, and maybe even turn Reigns into a “bad guy,” then maybe the fans would later accept him.
But the more he is pushed down the throats of the fans, the harder the WWE is making it for him to truly be “the man.”
He returned Monday in Pittsburgh, and he was getting the typical Cena reaction of men booing him and the women and kids cheering him.
Even more WWE injuries
Two more people joined the WWE injured reserve list at Raw.
In his match against Chris Jericho, Neville fractured his left ankle and referee Dan Engler needed stitches after being hit during the backstage brawl between Triple H and Roman Reigns.
Sting officially retiring?
Word broke Thursday that Sting may announce his retirement during his WWE Hall of Fame induction the night before WrestleMania.
This week’s question
Why did Dolph Ziggler wrestle Triple H on Raw? Chad, Monessen.
My guess is that the WWE has come up with a short-term or a long-term storyline for Ziggler and the Authority.
While I do not know this to be true, it would not surprise me in the least as Ziggler is looked at by fans as one of the wrestlers that have been held back.
Other fans, yourself included, are not a fan of him and when you consider than he has been in the WWE for over ten years now dating back to his role as Nicky of the Spirit Squad, it is easy to understand why some fans are tired of him never grabbing the “brass ring.”
In Memory
This column is dedicated to the memory of my cousin, Robyn Keffel.