Following last night’s intense RAW, we will break down all the matches this week leading up to WrestleMania 31.
Kicking off our week-long hype of the annual spectacular, we take a look at two interesting matches, the Divas Tag Team Match and the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
AJ Lee & Paige vs. The Bella Twins
The Divas match features no championships, but the culmination of an interesting feud which has flip-flopped and been twisted in various directions, you either did not know, or did not care, but one thing is for sure, you were scratching your head as to what to expect next. Paige and AJ Lee at one time, but then again, so was Brie and Nikki until the latter feud was COMPLETELY DROPPED as if it NEVER HAPPENED. The reconciliation between Paige and AJ is believable as they share a common goal. Except it appears on RAW the two no longer see eye-to-eye on matters.
However, the whole business with the Bellas seem to remain a sore spot to many who suffer through the memory of it. So we have two angles which went south, but yet somehow seem to provide us with a measure of good women’s wrestling. I said good. Okay?
I would have preferred to see some sort of multi-Diva championship match. Fatal-Four-Way perhaps? This would have forced Nikki and Brie to enter into conflict, teasing the rift we largely forgot about, and would have allowed Paige and AJ to take the spotlight of the match since we last saw them tear into each other after the Divas Title Match on RAW. Nikki and Brie seem to be the ultimate evil right now, with the Bellas appearing to have successfully caused Paige and AJ to distrust each other.
As for this one, winners and losers are irrelevant until WWE can figure out what direction the Divas division is heading in. Strangely, WWE makes it easy for us to forget who is even in the Divas division, while on the upside, causes most fans to wonder when the NXT Divas will just invade and demolish the current roster.
For this one, it does not matter who wins, it matters how much money the concession stands can rake in.
The Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
This match excites me. Yes, it is filled with mid-carders and borderline jobbers. However, this is what makes it exciting. Last year there were a lot of guys who were labeled as potential breakout stars, while this year we do not see anyone standing out from the crowd. So far, we have:
The Miz, Damien Sandow, Curtis Axel, Ryback, Erick Rowan, Zack Ryder, Titus O’Neal, Darren Young, Jack Swagger, Big Show, Kane, Mark Henry, Sin Cara, Goldust, Heath Slater, Adam Rose, Fandango, The Ascension, and the winner of the NXT Tournament taking place at WWE WrestleMania Axxess
So, here is the fun part. Anyone could win this. Since there is no single standout from this lineup, this match becomes exciting with the mere notion of there being no way to predict a winner. Everyone in this match has been or recently been a recipient of a quirky gimmick. To be quite honest, if I had to pick, my money is on Damien Sandow last eliminating The Miz.
One could see a scenario where Big Show, Kane, and Mark Henry are the last three. What do they have in common besides being the three “biggest men” in the ring? They all have been around since the mid-90’s. Goldust does share that same distinction, but does not seem to fit in this scenario.
Although, there is always the possibility of an unannounced participant making a last-minute entry. We know who that may very well be.
Sheamus.
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Michael Dworkis is a man of vast talent and industry. A former writer and corporate assistant of World Wrestling Entertainment, “MSD” is the Wrestling Columnist for Pop-Break, as well as contributing columns related to comics, movies, pop-culture, and of course, anything Transformers. He recently completed and obtained his Masters degree in Mental Health in Counseling, and recently became licensed to practice as an LAC by the National Board of Certified Counselors. If you need either a therapist or your wrestling fix, come to this man. Michael also is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Media, and previously managed an internet retail company. He blames Bill for having so much wrestling on the site and pleads with his superiors to create a feature on his very own Transformer Collection and to subdue Michael Bay for a serious talk. Michael is still searching for a Japanese Grand Maximus or any Japanese Generation 1 exclusives. See more of Michael at MichaelDworkis.com and follow on Twitter @Omegax80.
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