I’d like to begin this late entry of the WWE-Ek column with a heartfelt sadness, the passing of Japanese Wrestling Legend, Hayabusa, who passed on March 3rd. Born Eiji Ezaki, trained in FMW, competing in New Japan before making his way to Mexico, where the Hayabusa name was taken. His one match in ECW featured a team-up with Jinsei Shinzaki went up against Rob Van Dam and Sabu at ECW Heatwave 1998. In 2001, Hayabusa suffered a career-ending injury when a moonsault landing went wrong, landing on his head, breaking two vertebrae, and was paralyzed.
Hayabusa was a hero in the United States with a cult following, his exploits in Japan and Mexico made him legendary.
Over in TNA/Impact-land, Kurt Angle is having is last match against Bobby Lashley, Matt Hardy is a great heel champion, and Eric Young is defending a championship against five guys I have never heard of. If Impact was on a station I could watch, I would watch.
Over in WWE-land, a shocker to me, maybe not to others. WWE is offering WrestleMania for FREE to new subscribers to the WWE Network. I would figure April would be the only month they would not give away, but lo’ and behold. It is. WWE is willing to let fans subscribe for the month, watch free, including WrestleMania 32. Damn. WWE is pulling out everything for new subscribers.
Speaking of the WWE Network, we are getting a supercard of sorts, called WWE Roadblock, featuring championship matches and some possible storyline-altering consequences. So far we know Triple H will defend the WWE Championship against Dean Ambrose. First off, this will be a great match, and I would have rather seen this as the WrestleMania main event. Secondly, does this mean there is a chance of Dean Ambrose defending against Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar at WM32? It is possible.
Some of you might be shaking your heads, thinking, “Oh Hell No.” Which might very well be true. But WWE has surprised us before. What if he somehow wins, and we get a Fatal-Four between Brock Lesnar, Triple H, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns. Or what if it is Dean Ambrose vs. Brock? Or Ambrose vs. Reigns?
Or, this is all one big tease, Ambrose is the guy who WWE will tease us to hell with, like Mick Foley. His match with Lesnar will not be a wrestling match, it will be a match of how many suplexes can Dean-o take before his spine snaps. Triple H vs. Reigns will bore us all to death.
One this to consider for Roadblock, is the NXT Tag Team Championships. This leads me to believe NXT may have a bigger presence at WrestleMania.
Shane McMahon. Stephanie McMahon. Vince McMahon. The Undertaker.
I do not know what to think or feel on this. Is Undertaker somehow in Vince’s pocket? Or was this simply a “booked match” and the Deadman goes along because Vince is boss and ‘Taker is employee? Will Undertaker suddenly eat another loss? Perhaps a swerve of unknown proportions will take place.
As of right now, all I can consider is the undercard of WM32 will grossly outshine the “main attractions.” I will not call them main events, because it is about the “attraction” of having the novelty of Triple H and Brock Lesnar competing. The Rock will be there. I am sure “Stone Cold” Steve Austin might show up. Another surprise, Seth Rollins maybe?
I wait and see. Am I writing off WrestleMania 32 completely? No. There is potential for great undercards, and despite whatever the outcome will be the main event, I will not allow it to ruin any possible enjoyment from the rest of the show.
