Two weeks ago on Smackdown Live in one of the most surprising moves since the draft itself, Jinder Mahal was victorious in a number 1 contenders match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
I tend to avoid dirt sheets before WWE shows now, but apparently most of the diseases of the pro wrestling business (Meltzer etc) already knew it, but for someone like me who doesn’t like to know spoilers, what a shock it was!
Then just this past Tuesday night, Smackdown Live would pull yet another shocker out of the bag as Tyler Breeze and Fandango (Breezango), emerged the victors in a beat the clock challenge to determine the number 1 contenders to the Smackdown Tag Team Titles.
What I like about this is the fact that WWE are taking a chance on superstars and giving them an opportunity to rise to the next level.
Let’s go back to Jinder Mahal, and what an opportunity he has. Some argue that Ziggler should have been given that spot, but Dolph is already at that level, he’s one of the most gifted athletes in the industry and WWE knows this so it’s no surprise he has been chosen as Shinsuke Nakamura’s first main roster opponent.Superstars can reach a certain level and unless WWE purposely ‘bury’ them for whatever reason, they won’t go below that level. An example are The Uso’s, who have maintained a degree of respect and reputation where even if they don’t appear for a few months or lose a match here and there, they won’t drop down below their status.
That’s the genius behind Mahal and Breezango being given these opportunities, not only do you have Styles, Corbin, Ziggler, Orton etc at the top level, WWE are trying to elevate other guys up there too so there’s MORE competition, more attractions and a higher level of star power at each show.There was a time where Zack Ryder was given such momentum (mostly generated by his own YouTube channel) that he was one of the highest merchandise sellers at live events!
The problem WWE have had in recent years is that minus the top 10 guys in the company, there aren’t many other guys that have that ‘draw’ power, that people want to go and see.
I went to a live show a few years ago and 3 of the matches were taken up by the likes of Curtis Axel, Justin Gabriel, Brad Maddox, Mark Henry and Santino Marella. All good workers, but not people you would actively buy a ticket to a live show to see.
If booked correctly, Jinder Mahal could be that top-level star fans buy tickets to shows for so they can boo him and show support for his opponent.
Not to be one of those ‘oh the attitude era was so much better’ guys, but if you look at a lot of the matches, the superstars involved weren’t necessarily title contenders, but they were pushed correctly so there were more attractions on each show.
Skeptics could look and argue that the main reason for Mahal’s push is to market WWE more in India, which may be the case, but does it matter? The Bollywood Boys have also been introduced as Jinder’s henchmen as such, and the 3 of them as a stable certainly have longevity if used correctly.
I hope they don’t become another anti-USA act, which if the past is any indication become stale really fast and are very disposable (Muhammad Hassan, Rusev).
Breezango on the other hand, both guys are making the best of their own respective falls from grace. Tyler Breeze was hailed as one of the standout performers on NXT, but after a feud with Dolph Ziggler, followed by a pairing with Summer Rae, Breeze was left lost in the creative shuffle.
Fandango first rose to fame with his entrance music when it went global along with his dancing entrance. He was so highly thought of he even got the nod to defeat Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania, a match Jericho often references.It’s great to see both given the opportunity to become Tag Team Champions, and hopefully the creative team will invest some more time in them and give them more of a stage to showcase their talents.
Do I expect Jinder Mahal to defeat Randy Orton and become WWE Champion? Absolutely not, but if he did, I again would welcome the change and the chance WWE would be willing to take on him. It’d also add some much needed element of surprise should the company pull a huge swerve and put the strap on Jinder, although I’m sure the previously mentioned disease of pro wrestling Dave Meltzer would try his best to spoil for everyone.
Would it even be unrealistic to see Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion and the Bollywood Boys as Tag Team Champions? I’d buy it, I think a lot of fans would also buy into them as credible, dominant heels also.
The fans are always complaining about the same people in the same feuds, and now they’ve brought some new superstars into the title pictures, they’re STILL not happy.
Over on RAW Mahal was going nowhere (so soon after being brought back) and it was a real shame because he’s obviously put a LOT of work into his physique and his in ring ability. It’s great that his hard work is going to be rewarded with a shot at WWE’s top prize, the World Heavyweight Championship.
Even if nothing becomes of this and Jinder is simply just another notch on Orton’s title reign, it’ll show that the company are willing now more than ever to take a chance on new superstars and that has to be encouraging for the state of the WWE and another example of Smackdown Live being ‘the land of opportunity).
Recent Comments