PWP Nation’s Jay Alletto, Eron Ramadanov, Derek Gifford and Zak Fellows breakdown all the latest topics and news from the week of wrestling in this weekly roundtable.
Edition number two!
The PWP Nation staff is back to answer some more burning topics and questions plaguing the wrestling world. In this edition, the guys tackle the bucklebomb and if Seth Rollins should stop using the move, Kevin Owens winning the WWE Universal Championship, Brock Lesnar‘s next opponent and more!
Here are the staffers involved in this week’s article:
- Jay Alletto, Owner & Founder (@JayAlletto)
- Eron Ramadanov, Editor-in-Chief (@Eron_PWP)
- Zak Fellows, Senior Columnist (@ZakFellows)
- Derek Gifford, Contributor (@ItsGifford)
If you’d like to read the first edition, you can by CLICKING HERE.
Let’s begin:
Question #1 – What are your overall thoughts of Kevin Owens’ WWE Universal Championship win?
Jay Alletto: Owens continues the trend of former Ring of Honor Champions winning a major WWE Championship. Its a well deserved accomplishment after over a decade of busting his ass all over the world. Owens was a dark horse candidate to win, but easily the people’s favorite due to his charisma and in-ring style.
Eron Ramadanov: I love it. I’ve been a huge fan of Owens for a long time, even before his days in WWE. He’s the total package and deserves this spot. To be honest, I’m not sure how long Kevin Owens will be holding that title and in what capacity they’re going to book him, but I’m optimistic they’ll treat him the right way with the political backing of Triple H. Not only do I love the win for Owens, but I love what it has done for Seth Rollins. He’s a natural born babyface and I’m happy they’re finally pulling the trigger on his face run.
Zak Fellows: WWE definitely did make a blessing out of an unfortunate occurrence by having Kevin Owens win the title. Especially in an impactful match that had people buzzing and talking. Overall everybody came out looking a little bit better which is always a positive. As far as Owens himself is concerned, we know that he has the capability to pull off good content and him being the surprise winner already creates interest in seeing WWE’s progression and follow up in what is, historically, been a downer period for viewership.
Derek Gifford: I love Kevin Owens as the WWE Universal Champion. Although I would have wanted Big Cass as the champion, I like that they planted it on Owens. He is a brilliant heel and I don’t think anyone will get bored of him, as they seem to do with everyone else. Owens is fresh on the main event scene, so it will be good to see what he brings to the table on this level.
Question #2 – Should Seth Rollins refrain from using the “bucklebomb?”
Jay Alletto: WWE would be smart to turn the bucklebomb into a storyline. It can be hailed as the move that took out Sting and Finn Balor, but that would likely be too easy. They shouldn’t ban it, but they shouldn’t use it as often and maybe work on making it a bit more controlled.
Eron Ramadanov: No, he shouldn’t. The second we start condemning moves because they just so happen to injure someone(s), is the day wrestling isn’t wrestling anymore. When the move is taken correctly, it’s a safe move. Rollins has performed this move for years, and has done it safely for 99.9% of his career. The example I’d point to is the Style Clash. AJ Styles has broken necks with the move, yet no one is really calling for a ban on his move. Same applies here. Balor’s injury was unfortunate, but he shares the blame. He took the bump wrong, and as a veteran in the wrestling business, he should’ve known better.
Zak Fellows: Every wrestling move has an inherent risk to it and as such at some point in history, regardless of what move it is, we will see that move go wrong (How many times did Rey Mysterio put someone into position for the 619 before Perro Aguayo Jr to use an extreme example?). Unfortunately for Seth Rollins, the injuries of John Cena, Sting and now Finn Balor are all injuries of perceived top talent and ones that are fresh in everyone’s mind’s. So the call to ban the move that has been tied to injuries is somewhat understandable. With that said though, Seth Rollins has performed that move so many times and it hasn’t injured everybody he’s ever done it too, so while I can get where people’s general concern comes from, it ultimately comes down to chance and rubbish luck that damage is done that takes someone out of the ring. At the very least, I think he could benefit his own reputation by improving his opponents wherewithal to protect themselves as well as get outside advice on how to deliver the move more safely. It’s a two way street in wrestling matches and both sides need to be aware of the risk of moves performed. This isn’t a Diving Headbutt situation where sheer statistics should tell wrestlers that doing the move is not a good idea.
Derek Gifford: No. The two opponents he hurt using the move, Sting and Finn Balor, are partially to blame for their own injuries. It’s a safe move and nine times out of ten, it works out safely. There is really nothing wrong with it.
Question #3 – Who do you think should be Brock Lesnar’s next opponent?
Jay Alletto: Well, we know Randy Orton will face Lesnar in Chicago, but on a major show, I’d have to say that Samoa Joe should be brought up before the New Year and strategically built up for Lesnar until WrestleMania. I would have Joe call him out week after week as he runs through the SmackDown LIVE roster. He can be Shane McMahon’s “guy” to fight Lesnar.
Eron Ramadanov: Personally, I’d like to see someone benefit from a feud with Brock Lesnar. I understand his drawing power and why he’s booked the way he is, but at some point, it’s time to cash in the chips and reap the rewards of building him up as an unstoppable monster. As for who to do that for, is unclear, but it should be someone that’s going to be around for a long time. That’s why my pick is Kevin Owens. As the new Universal Champion, I think an Owens vs. Lesnar feud could be a lot of fun, as Lesnar being the asskicking babyface, chasing the chicken-sh*t heel in Kevin Owens, especially if they want to lead into WrestleMania and have Owens be the one to finally slay the beast. For me though, I’ll be happy with anyone other than Shane McMahon.
Zak Fellows: It’s difficult to really pick an opponent for Lesnar since his matches and story lines inherently exist in a bubble with no long term,week to week plan. But, it does allow them to be fun on their own merits without having to worry about the next night on Raw or anything like that. I would go with Kevin Owens myself since it can be a natural clash of characters: Brock Lesnar, the wrestling prodigy taken out of college to become the World Champion, handed everything with his Raw Talent vs. Kevin Owens, the man who fought his way into the WWE, scratched and clawed to make a living for his family, even threw away friendships in his pursuit for success. Fans like both guys and it would allow Owens to show more nuisances of his specific heel traits as opposed to the typical bullying brute.
Derek Gifford: Brock SHOULD NOT be in the title picture. But I think he will, after the Royal Rumble, face whoever the WWE Universal Champion is. He should, in my opinion, face Shane McMahon from the actions that transpired at SummerSlam. Busting open his superstar and winning by TKO, then F-5ing Shane himself. That would make the most sense.
Question #4 – Name one NXT talent that should be called up to the main roster immediately.
Jay Alletto: Samoa Joe. I think that Joe should fight Shinsuke Nakamura one final time in an Iron Man Match, putting Shinsuke over again and then heading to the main roster.
Eron Ramadanov: In NXT, the amount of talents ready for the main roster is nearly endless. Talent like Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, Asuka, etc. can be placed on the main roster tomorrow and be completely ready for everything that comes with being on Raw or SmackDown. But the talent(s) that I’d like to see up there right now is The Revival, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder. These two guys, if presented the right way, can come in on Raw or SmackDown and being the top heel tag team on day one and be everything Gallows and Anderson are supposed to be but aren’t. On all aspects, especially Dawson, this team is in a class of their own and are my favorite tag team in the business.
Zak Fellows: I wouldn’t have minded seeing Tye Dillinger come in to start teaming with Heath Slater as opposed to Rhyno. Slater is always fun to watch and I think putting him with the Perfect 10 could produce some entertaining TV as opposed to the assumed team with Rhyno which I’m speculating will last up to Backlash and never be heard from again. Tye Dillinger has started coming into his own as the Perfect 10, we saw his former partner Jason Jordan do the same with Gable in American Alpha and it would give Tye an immediate foot up on the main roster by putting him in a well received storyline alongside Heath Slater. Just my opinion, even if Tye Dillinger does end up as a prop to get Slater more over.
Derek Gifford: I want to see Tye Dillinger on the main roster, of course. I want to see Shinsuke Nakamura or Samoa Joe come up but I don’t think they are ready yet. With Shinsuke Nakamura just becoming the new WWE NXT Champion and Samoa Joe needing his rematch, I wouldn’t bring him up just yet. Plus, with Tye, you get a good crowd reaction for the perfect 10 gimmick and he is a very good wrestler. I would like him in the United States Championship picture or even grab himself a tag partner and challenge for the tag titles, he is just for me one of those guys who will never be WWE Champion or Universal Champion, sadly, but a good hand to have around.
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