CM Punk’s Legal Battle Against WWE Costing Tons of Money
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Darren Young is set to make his return to the company really soon. You all remember Darren Young right? He was one half of The Prime Time Players with Titus O’Neil, which I thought was one great tag team. Although he isn’t the greatest wrestler, he isn’t half bad either. We last saw him as a student of Bob Backlund, working hard and doing things the right way. He injured his elbow back in January and has been off our television screens ever since.
With a return nearing, one has to wonder how Young should be booked and portrayed in his return. It doesn’t make sense to pair him back with Backlund, but he could be used in another form.
Young is on the Raw brand, which is loaded with star studded talent. To get television time there, you have to do something impressive and shocking at the same time. Do something that draws ratings and garners attention for yourself. For Young to do that, he must turn on and destroy Bob Backlund.
It sounds harsh and inhumane in a way, but it makes perfect sense. Backlund is a sixty-seven year old man who isn’t physically the same as he was back in his prime. He may can defend himself, but not like a thirty-three year old Darren Young could. Young turning on Backlund would make the crowd feel uncomfortable, sad, and even disgusted at the sight before their eyes. So how should he do it?
Start out with Young making a surprise return to Monday Night Raw with Backlund by his side. They can do the skit where Backlund proclaims he’s going to make Darren Young great again. This is when Young turns on Backlund, hitting him with heavy shots and kicks. Young grabs a chair and hits Backlund across the back. As the crowd stares at the motionless body of Backlund, they will also see the sinister grin on Young’s face. A new heel is born, one with nothing to lose.
Young’s success after that moment determines how he performs in the ring and cut promos. Start him off against a Heath Slater or a Rhyno, a low-card babyface that can help put someone over. Eventually this will lead up to him getting a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. It may be puzzling, but if Young can put in the work then he definitely deserves a shot at the Intercontinental Championship.
Jinder Mahal winning the WWE Championship has opened the door for so many others. Mahal went from jobber to champ in a blink of an eye. If he can do it, then Young has the chance to do it too. Just put in the time and the work, then anything is possible.
Darren Young has had his fair share of success within the company. He is a former Tag Team Champion and knows what it’s like to perform in big time matches. The ability is there, he just needs the opportunity. Attacking his mentor could create just the perfect opportunity. Young as a heel will be a little fresh thing to help keep the fans interested and may get the notice of the powers that be. I wish Young all the best during his return to the WWE.
Naomi’s on-going feud with Lana has shifted from SmackDown Live to Twitter. The two had an exchange after Naomi took a shot at Naomi for her work ethic.
Working out in my @GoldSheepWear @goldsheeptweets? @LanaWWE get on my level pic.twitter.com/rvUPW0KhmH
— Trinity Fatu (@NaomiWWE) July 2, 2017
Congratulations you are a better athlete than me ! Tell us all something that we don’t know ! https://t.co/oHtyZRARF2
— CJ (Lana) Perry (@LanaWWE) July 3, 2017
I didn’t say anything about my athleticism thanks for the compliment when u actually work as hard as you portray on social media it’ll show? https://t.co/dUYAgqtEjB
— Trinity Fatu (@NaomiWWE) July 3, 2017
Don’t ever diss my work ethic again you insecure brat. Unlike you I’m not afraid to admit when other people are good at something. https://t.co/LxxAv1wjln
— CJ (Lana) Perry (@LanaWWE) July 3, 2017
Triple H is reportedly frustrated with Vince McMahon and the recent booking of NXT Superstars on the main roster.
According to Wade Keller of Pro Wrestling Torch, Triple H hasn’t been very impressed with how Vince McMahon has used some of the NXT call-ups. Keller claims that Triple H is frustrated because he feels that his hard work is being wasted once a Superstar from NXT is called up to work the main roster.
A listener calls into the show and points out that the promo graphic for Great Balls of Fire somewhat resembles a penis and two testicles. Taz says that this has been brought up online already and it’s hard to deny the resemblance. He says that WWE has a graphic design team that does all the work for PPV graphics, but Vince McMahon has to approve everything.
Taz says that he just chooses to look at that logo and see a literal ball of fire, but some people might choose to see other things. Either way, it’s an interesting piece of graphic design work without a doubt.
Another listener calls into the show and says that WWE should change the Cruiserweight division to a Light Heavyweight division. Taz says that if they did that they’d still have all the same issues that the Cruiserweight division has, because more than the name needs to change. Taz says that the specific Cruiserweight branding with purple ropes and aprons simply isn’t working.
In addition, filming 205 Live after Smackdown Live isn’t working either. Taz says that WWE needs to change their approach to the Cruiserweights and start filming 205 Live at Full Sail University. He also doesn’t mind the idea of WWE merging the Cruiserweights into the main roster, where they can also challenge for WWE Titles such as the United States Title and Intercontinental Title.
Jinder Mahal recently spoke with GQ. Here are highlights from the interview:
His go-to fast food restaurant: “You can actually eat very clean at Chipotle. They have white rice, they have brown rice, and they have chicken. I stay away from the guac and the sour cream. I just get lettuce, double-meat chicken, and a white or brown rice. Sometimes you don’t realize how bad you feel from just eating out all the time at fast food places. I haven’t eaten McDonald’s or any other fast food in I don’t know how long. Not even pizza.”
Which supplements he takes: “I actually take quite a few supplements. I have protein with me all the time. I always have branched-chain amino acids. I take those with water before my morning cardio. They prevent muscle breakdown. I take a magnesium supplement before my workout because it prevents cramping. You know, I have to wrestle every night and I have to train so hard—sometimes I’ll work out and then later on I feel my back starting to cramp up. So magnesium helps a lot with that. I take multivitamin packs. There’s like 10 different multivitamins and digestive enzymes all in one little packet. I take one packet of those every morning. I take creatine and a pre-workout before I work out. And I always switch my pre-workout. Every bottle I finish, I get a different one so my body never gets used to it.”
Instagram post responding to fans thinking he’s on PEDs: “I don’t think people realize the hard work that goes into it. Nobody sees the work I’m putting in the gym. Nobody sees me doing cardio first thing in the morning. Nobody sees me lugging around that suitcase. And just generally, people don’t have that much knowledge about diet and the effects that diet alone can have on your body. If you see a bodybuilder before they’re in competition shape to when they get into competition shape, that’s all dieting, carb cutting, and macronutrients. I mean, you can totally transform yourself just by cutting carbs and even something as simple as drinking a gallon of water a day. The average person—like, 90 percent of the average population—is dehydrated. That’s another thing that I do now, which has been a huge key.”
Lawler opens today’s show speaking about this past weekend’s tweets from Rip Rogers and Randy Orton. First off, he says that he’s obviously a fan of Randy Orton and his work, and he’s been a fan of Rip Rogers for years. He thinks both of those men have a point in their concerns regarding the state of indie wrestling.
He believes that the issues lie in the fact that a lot of young indie performers are trying to get their foot in the door in the wrestling business. When they have an opportunity at an indie show, they try to do whatever they can to show the promoter that they’re worth hiring again for a future show.
Lawler agrees with Rogers in the sense that there’s no ‘kayfabe’ anymore. Performers work their match, shake each other’s hands and then go on social media and thank each other for the match. Lawler’s not sure that the performers are even to blame, because it’s the way the business has developed over the last number of years.
He also points out that competitors in all other sports often shake each other’s hand after their match or game, so perhaps it’s not the most ridiculous concept for wrestlers to congratulate each other and put each other over at the end of a match or a feud.