(PWPNation) — My first takeaway: AWESOME! Not really the first, but you can’t deny how great the weekend was. NXT felt a bit off for a TakeOver, but I chalk that up to all the hype for Survivor Series and the fact that every NXT champion was in the War Games.
After an amazing month of pure hype, build, invasions, attacks and surprises, WWE had one of the best PPV Weekends in recent memory. Let’s take a look at 6 big things that I took away from the weekend that you may agree with, or even maybe didn’t notice.
6. The Next Big Thing
No, I don’t mean Brock Lesnar. That was 2002. No, I mean the NEW next big thing, Keith Lee. Rumors broke in the past week that Vince seems to be high on Matt Riddle, Rhea Ripley, and Keith Lee.
It showed this weekend. While Lee had a decent showing at War Games, we can look back and in hindsight realize that they had big plans for him on Sunday, so he was “protected” at Takeover.
15 of WWE’s top guys stepped into a classic Survivor Series Triple Threat and only one man got the chance to steal the spotlight, and dammit, Keith Lee stole every single spotlight. From stopping Braun Strowman to being the last Survivor with Reigns until eliminated.
Keith Lee was given a platform, only adding to the rumor that Vince is high on him. He is THe Next Big Thing.
5. Vince is in a silent war
Maybe it doesn’t seem silent because AEW guys are constantly talking about how they aren’t at war and they don’t care about what WWE is doing, but you have to know they care, especially after Sunday night.
Vince is a smart businessman, for sure. He allowed NXT to beat down BOTH of his WWE brands and to make fans see that the TOP show to watch is NXT on Wednesday nights, not AEW.
It was a slick move. I don’t think you could find a single soul on the planet who thought NXT had a chance to win. A few of us thought the cruiserweight match and maybe the woman’s elimination match, but that would be it.
Vince just delivered one of the best Survivor Series to date, and he put our favorite WWE brand front and center. It almost makes you wonder if Vince passed away and no one told us so that Trips could book the PPV.
4. Cain Vasquez was a missed opportunity
From the minute Mysterio vs Lesnar was made a No DQ match, we all knew that Dominick would get involved. While the short match was impressive and non stop, telling a great story, they really missed the chance to give Rey one last title run and they missed the opportunity to bring Cain in to beat up Lesnar and start a legit Lesnar/Cain fight.
We’re practically on the on-ramp to the Road to WrestleMania. It would have been a great opportunity especially since Rey and Cain have been “La Familia” since he showed up.
3. Seth Rollins is ready to evolve, again
It’s been a hot subject since Rollins won the Universal Title. People hated his angle with Becky/Corbin/Lacey. People legit turned on him when he beat The Fiend at HIAC in a strange way.
Rollins has been hinting at a turn. He’s been getting beat up and beat down for weeks. He barely even had match time in Survivor Series…. The next Evolution of Seth Rollins is happening before TLC, if not during the post Series RAW. (*spoiler, while writing this, RAW started and Seth just pulled a Triple H and made the entire roster walk out on him. Heel mode, engaged!)
2. AJ Styles is on his last run
AJ has been amazing his whole career, but lets talk now, in the WWE. Championship after championship. Match of the year after match of the year.
AJ Styles is the U.S. Champion and he spends his weeks giving back and building up everyone around him instead of building himself up as the “Face that runs the place”
From Humberto to Roderick Strong. AJ Styles is using that US Title like John Cena did, to elevate the younger/new guys… he truly is phenomenal… but much like Cena building up those guys with the US Title, he wasn’t around much longer. It makes me feel that the rumors are true and this current contract will be his last wrestling contract ever.
Number 1
Daniel Bryan will see that Universal Title in 2020
It’s hard to say anyone can beat the Fiend at this point, but if it’s not The Undertaker, then it will be Daniel Bryan.
The current angle with his mental well-being, and the fans going crazy when he finally did the “Yes!” chants… Bryan is about to enter the realm of another full-blown, company takeover, “Yes! Movement”
Lets face it, I can talk about how great of a heel Corbin has been, but D-Bry’s story has stolen the show on Friday Nights. It’s the best angle going right now.