The Wrestling 5&1 10.19.13: Kaitlyn vs. Brie Bella

Who Do We Brielive in?
By Tony Acero

Last week, reader Ron Snyder spoke about the possibility of turning Fandango face, and it brought about thoughts of turns in general. This coincided with a recent story of the WWE reportedly being upset that Brie Bella just isn’t catching on as a face. Now, assuming that these reports are real, I figure we’d talk about it a bit. Straight from a source that sourced the source of a news story as an alternative source:

WWE is reportedly disappointed and confused by the fact that Brie Bella is not over more as a face. The company felt that she would get a lot of sympathy during the attack by Tamina Snuka on Raw.

The feeling is that Brie comes off very likable on Total Divas, but the issues there are that the audience for that show is mostly women who do not watch or attend Raw. There is also the fact that Brie went from a heel that mocked the faces to a face with no real turn.

For whatever reason, whenever I see little blurbs like this I automatically question their validity. I mean, the WWE cannot be that dumb to really consider this a shock, right? Really, are there people that are shaking their head, confused as to why Brie Bella simply isn’t catching on as a face? They consider Total Divas the epitome of a character creator, but they don’t realize the audience that show brings in. They think that Tamina’s attack would bring about a more impactful emotional pull, but that didn’t happen. They are putting Brie up against one of the most beloved heel Divas in the industry, and had that same diva tear Brie and others apart in a promo not too long ago. In the off chance that someone within the WWE is reading it, let’s break it down a bit for them.

Total Divas and Its Audience
You guys know who watches WWE Total Divas? The same females that watch the Kardashians…and us. Yes, that’s right, we share a common interest with airheads that are interested in the “reality” behind famous people; sad, isn’t it? Do you know how many calls I got from girls I know telling me they,’re “watchin your wrestling thing with the girls on E!?” I’m almost positive you guys got them, too. There is an audience that already watches the E! channel, and they are the ones that the sporadic camera angles and nonsensical love moments capture. We, the IWC, watch it because let’s face it – we’ll watch a show about Santino shoveling shit in Italy if it was on. So please tell me how you’re going to turn this audience – that doesn’t even watch wrestling, and most likely never will – into fans that can go to an episode of RAW and cheer for their girl Brie. On the off chance that they DO gain a fan from Total Divas to WWE RAW, they will be a mute minority. As for us? There’s no way you’re going to convince us to cheer – or care. Which leads me to…

Tamina, Guys? Really?
This all boils down to the complete apathy that fans – casual and hardcore alike – have for the Divas as a whole. According to the report, the attack from Tamina should have been good enough to allow the turn, and for the fans to feel some semblance of sympathy, but when is the last time that we have actually cared about Tamina OR Brie Bella? There is only one Diva we have cared about the past year and a half or so, and that’s the only one that has been given legit and continuous build up as a person – even if that person comes off one man shy of Cassie Wright. The portion of fans that a) don’t watch Total Divas and b) only have RAW to deduce their reactions upon have absolutely NO reason to care about Brie OR Tamina, so why would the attack matter? Having AJ around is the only possible hope they have to capture fans of the product and make them care about what’s going on. This is to say, that perhaps eventually, we will get some semblance of ethos within the story, but as it stands, there’s absolutely nothing to hold onto, and it’s only a matter of time before the WWE changes their mind and flip flops the mentality of who should be a face or heel, and misunderstand what we fans see as such. Which leads me to….

The Promo
This promo, according to sources, was meant to be heelish above all else. AJ wasn’t dropping a pipe-bomb as much as she was trying to turn everyone from Total Divas face. Immediately, I though to myself that they take this Divas show way too seriously. For them to assume that people care enough to consider the girls as victims just didn’t work, and AJ came off as the most logical and face-like character at that moment. People here at 411, in the comments even, were confused as to just what the hell was happening, and Brie and Nikki’s incessant screaming over AJ’s promo only served to be a continued implication of them just being bitches who are unable to grasp the concept of promos and storytelling. So we have this promo that spells out all of the flaws of the reality show, all of the same points that many fans have made for so long, and we’re to take this as a heel putting down a ring full of faces? MAYBE that would work with the newbs, and maybe even with Natalya, but when the MAIN focus is supposed to be Brie – who is made to be the face that triumphs over said evil – and that MAIN focus is as annoying as a gum-smacking professor who wears his shades in the classroom, then why should we give a damn about her?

Of course, a majority of this you all know, and I’d assume there are plenty more reasons as to why THIS particular turn just isn’t working as of now (Acting, Daniel Bryan tie-in, etc.) but I figured I’d leave that to you guys. What’s most unfortunate is that the above mentioned can be slightly altered and adhere to any one wrestler’s turns that make no sense. The Big Show and Alicia Fox immediately come to mind. I know we are easily acceptant of some things, but there’s been so many times that random turns happen without warning and they simply expect us to latch on without any questions or worries. Sorry guys, not happenin this time…

You Decide: Why else hasn’t Brie’s turn worked?

WWE No Longer Interested in Indy Names?
By Michael Ornelas

It has recently come to light that WWE will no longer be looking to sign big name independent talents, presumably coming off the heels off a tryout where Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards were the stand-outs.

This baffles me.

Here’s the news report in question, sourced from The Wrestling Observer:

WWE is more hesitant now to sign smaller guys and more hesitant in general to sign talent with already-established names on the independent circuit.

WWE also wants wrestlers who think they can’t make it without the WWE. Many indy stars believe they can work for WWE temporarily, return to the independents if things don’t work out and be more successful than before.

I know to take all wrestling news as purely speculation, but there’s usually a source behind it who’s in the know. I’m hoping that’s not the case here, but I really feel that most of the best talents not already in the WWE are some of the bigger indy names. I really hope Richards and Edwards end up with WWE contracts because they are two guys who are in excellent shape, and can deliver exciting matches without needing to slow things down for stamina’s sake. Of course their styles (specifically Richards’) would need to adjust to WWE, but when it comes to “breaking them of bad habits,” it doesn’t exactly seem like a problem for guys like Punk, Bryan, Ambrose, Rollins, Cesaro, Harper, Zayn, Ohno, Neville, and Graves. It’s actually the opposite — I feel like NXT is the best hour of wrestling on television each week because the less-skilled workers are upping their games because of getting to work with guys like the last four I just listed.

And who cares if the talent can make it without WWE? That’s just a testament to their ability, proving that they do in fact belong in the WWE. If I had it my way, WWE would sign the aforementioned American Wolves, Kevin Steen (for his charisma and unique character alone, despite his physique), Kenny Omega, Ricochet, Johnny Gargano, Chuck Taylor and Colt Cabana (both for comedy’s sake), Rich Swann and ACH (for diversity’s sake), and Adam Cole. And for guys that already have size, I’d love to see Brian Cage, Tommaso Ciampa, Michael Elgin, and maybe even Willie Mack. Obviously there would need to be a lot of talent cut from WWE that I don’t necessarily think should go, but if they find the space, that’s the list of guys who I currently think have a lot to offer WWE’s product.

At the end of the day, it just bugs me that WWE has a mindset that’s driven by anything other than signing the most talented performers available. It’s exactly why territories worked decades ago. And if we’re concerned over a performer’s ability to make a living for himself if things don’t work out for him in WWE, that’s ridiculous. Set aside ego, and just give the fans the best product possible. WWE already has a stacked roster, including developmental, but they’re still investing TV time in The Great Khali, so there are improvements that can be made.

You Decide: Is the WWE making a huge mistake in reportedly not looking at the Indies anymore?

Last week marked Kaitlyn’s third consecutive win, bringing her closer to the Hall of Bang! If you recall, Gail Kim is also very close, so next week, if Kaitlyn defeats her opponent, she will take a rest on the bench as Gail Kim takes on a member of the current HOB!! For now, however, let’s see if Brie’s recent moment in the spotlight has any effects on her winning this battle…

And now…..

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

The State of Tag Team Wrestling
By Tom M. John

Does anyone else hate the way that tag team wrestling is used nowadays? It used to be about developing young talent. Let’s take a look at some of the great workers that started in tag teams, shall we? Booker T, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Hardy, Chris Sabin, and JBL just to name a few. Now it’s about putting two random guys together for no reason and throwing them out there, hence the Real Americans, Tons of Funk, Rhodes Scholars, Santino and Khali recently (yuck) and 3MB.

Sure, you have the few teams that actually came in together like the Usos but overall, these teams just get pushed to the side. They named the Usos the #1 contenders for the tag titles two weeks ago and have been on TV 1 time since? Are they planning on using the Rhodes brothers together? I would hate to watch them squander Cody like that. He is already proved to be at least midcard title caliber, why bury him that way?
But Cody wouldn’t be the only one wasted on the tag division. Antonio Cesaro is another great talent that is being wasted by being teamed with Jack Swagger, who in his own right is a better singles man. Cesaro is already over with the fans with his big swing, and was a great midcard champion. He has a great look and his gimmick doesn’t even work for what he is doing. He is supposed to be Swiss? How does that make him a real American? There is zero need to hold him down any longer.

Not to mention they recently repackaged Primo and Epico as Los Matadores. The only problem for them is that El Torito is more talented than both of them in the ring. You would think they would move a little more, fly once in a while with their mascot bouncing around on the ropes like a little kid on speed. Instead they throw their hands in the air, yelling “OLE!”, and perform a double Samoan Drop for the finish. Yes, they have only worked twice since arriving on Raw, and it was against 3MB both times, so maybe they are just keeping things simple, but you would hope with their new opportunity, they would do something exciting with it instead of letting El Torito show them up.

Now keep in mind this is all opinion of how I see things and isn’t shared by Tony or anyone in charge of the Reader’s Rants. But with my final opinion, I feel as though the only teams that need to be used right now are the Usos, Shield, and Prime Time Players. Here is to hoping they let the Wyatt family destroy that division. Put over the gimmick, Follow The Buzzards everybody. #TMJVEGA

You Decide: Is the State of Tag Team Wrestling in disarray?

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

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

Amado Herrera : “He was supposed to pinch my leg if he was running out of air!”

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After a recent string of firings, Sin Cara found himself on the short list of those who were let go. While this may not come as much of a shock, what does is the fact that the WWE wants to keep the character of Sin Cara going. Immediate speculation considered Hunico to don the mask yet again, and attempt to make the character more serious in and out of the ring. However, Triple H has decided that he has a better idea.

Rey Mysterio is currently in an area of uncertainty regarding his return. His most recent attempts in the ring at WWE’s Performance Center found him to be making small mistakes that could cause large harm to others and himself. His efforts have been lauded as full of passion, and one wrestler was reported to say that “Rey wants back in that ring ASAP.” With this in mind, and with the firing of Sin Cara, Triple H has opted to make Rey Mysterio the NEW Sin Cara. Triple H is attempting to “ease the fans into it” by allowing Rey Mysterio show his follies on the large stage, and assumes the fans won’t know the difference considering Sin Cara’s track record of horrible mistakes.

With this news spreading, the amount of tattoo removal companies that have reached out to Rey Mysterio Jr. has been said to be nothing short of astounding.

Good lord, this woman is hot!

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. School’s Out is a short story that found the author arrested due to the severity of its content. Both can be found on amazon.com.

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…