My tempers have tempered towards the WWE. After a solid Raw, optimism flows through my veins heading into tonight’s Fast Lane PPV. Even before the excellent build, the main event of Daniel Bryan versus Roman Reigns was a big match that’s been building long before it was ever booked. That, coupled with the stipulation that the winner headlines Wrestlemania, this is a gargantuan event that cannot be missed.
Reigns and Bryan have been on a collision course for two years. Ever since The Shield and Team Hell No were duelling, the seeds were planted. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who envisioned this moment of Bryan vs. Reigns headlining a monster show and relished the thought. I always believed these two would be one day lighting up a marquee and today is that day. It was only a matter of time before Reigns got the green light for glory as a single, but – and probably unbeknownst to Vince McMahon – Roman always would have to go through Bryan on the final push to the peak of the pyramid. Daniel Bryan’s popularity is undeniable and unsurpassed, so naturally he would be very close the end game.
The build makes me feel like it’s a Mania main event. The bout has that unique dynamic where the audience are split. It creates a unique atmosphere like Hogan vs. Warrior, Rock vs. Austin, Rock vs. Hogan, Angle vs. Michaels, or Rock vs. Cena, and in a way it’s Cena vs. Orton for the pesky Millenial generation. But however you want to slice it, it’ll be hot.
So let’s get to the elephant in the room: Will Roman Reigns be accepted if he wins and more importantly should he win? Ultimately, those questions can only be answered by time and the Gods. But you don’t need to be Tiny Lister to work out that Reigns will be booed. Obviously I’m just speculating, but I doubt the revolt will be as strong as Philadelphia. Although, you never know. The finality of the tale might leave a sour taste. Whether he knows it or not, Vince McMahon has been making Daniel Bryan into a star since day one. So when McMahon decides that’s enough for him and switches scripts, it leaves fans cold. It’s like having your plate taken away before you’ve finished.
But, you never know, Bryan will more than likely carry Reigns to a great match, make him look like a star, turn some of the naysayers, then they shake hands, leaving the Memphis crowd politely applauding over the symbolic endorsement and show of respect. Although, that sounds like wishful thinking to me. It’s a bad roll of the dice with better bets on the table.
Reigns beating Bryan then going on to beat Lesnar for the championship will be like the dark days when Cena was punching above his weight. We’ll have to watch a guy have clunky matches and get booed out of buildings while we’re being force fed tripe that he’s supposedly great. So instead of closing the gap, the disparity between the words and the images will become greater. Not only will we have to force ourselves to suspend our disbelief about the legitimacy of the action, but we’ll also have to pretend that the World Heavyweight champion is better than he actually is.
Plus, they’ll be the ugly matter of Lesnar vs. Reigns in the main event of Wrestlemania. Lesnar has a very unique style that’s hard to mesh with and Reigns is too inexperienced to be expected to perform in such a high profile match. If Reigns beats Bryan he’ll be a lamb to the slaughter, and once again, it’ll be a huge gamble with a better option easily available. Daniel Bryan is a no-brainer and it’s too perfect. Him and Lesnar are antipodean in practically every single way and their polarities will make for a great spectacle. It’s the kind of match you’d pay to see and can only witness in sports entertainment. Not to mention that Daniel Bryan would guarantee a classic.
There’s a real romance to the pairing. Lesnar’s a powerhouse blue chipper with a glittering career in the amateurs, the pros and MMA; and it’s safe to say after ending The Undertaker’s streak that Brock is truly the real phenom. The F-5 as his finisher suits him to perfection, he’s a destructive force of nature. And I don’t subscribe to any farming newsletters, but I bet he’s damn good at that as well.
I just love the stories of them both. You’ve got a major league talent who’s been destined for greatness all his life and a guy who came from the bottom and rose through the ranks to succeed in spite of so many factors holding him back. Lesnar and Bryan are completely different and have had two extraordinarily different paths, but both ended up in the same position with decorated careers. Whether they’re hall of fame or not, history will tell their story.
With Roman Reigns there’s nothing that screams that a match between him and Lesnar will be interesting. Reigns is a blank canvas with no background and frankly is on the same level as guys like Rowan and Harper, if not behind them. At least those two guys have well established characters and personalities.
Although, I can imagine Vince McMahon has a hard time seeing things like that. He sees what he wants to see, when he wants to see it, and ignores the glaringly obvious whenever it suits him. Like he’ll probably be saying that Lesnar is too big and will destroy Bryan, which he’s more than likely right about. But if believability is all of a sudden a pressing concern then he’s got some nerve considering the nonsense he’s subjected onto the audience over the years. And it’s also an antiquated notion. If he wasn’t stuck in the eighties he’d know that jiu jitsu has changed everything. Giants can be brought down to size using staples of scientific wrestling: Leverage and balance.
However, even though Lesnar-Bryan will be a better match with a better story, taking Reigns out of the picture could be disastrous. You never know, a heel turn could be sufficient damage control and give him a strong position to learn his trade, but it would also be a little unfair. His fans would be very disappointed and there’s no natural plan B for him regarding Wrestlemania. And winning the Andre the Giant battle royal would certainly be a cruel irony.
So that leaves WWE one option: A triple threat. But that isn’t without its perils either. Firstly, having an indecisive finish wouldn’t send fans home happy and it would cheapen the value of the PPV, because if we’re just going to find out the decision on Monday, what’s the point in watching Fast Lane? But then again, it’s a necessary evil and if TV is the main revenue stream, why not put the big stuff on Raw.
So, with the intrigue of the main event alongside the showdown of HHH and Sting and a decent undercard of Barrett-Ambrose and The Uso’s vs. Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, it’s a pretty very interesting show. In some ways Bryan and Reigns remind me of the two favorites in tonight’s Academy Awards. Daniel Bryan is like Boyhood: A technical masterpiece which was forged over a long time. And there’s Reigns who is like Birdman: An accomplished movie that’s without the rich background of Boyhood but well respected by industry types. Frankly, in both cases I know who should win. And the only way I could possibly root for Birdman or Roman is if I embrace the unexpected virtue of ignorance.
@ifeellikeamark
