Welcome to another edition of eWN Round Table, where we gather some of the most active writers here on eWrestlingNews and share the platform to answer some questions surrounding a centralized topic, upcoming event, etc.
This is meant to showcase the potential for both a wide range of perspectives as well as how sometimes, there can be a group consensus no matter what your viewpoint is, so we also invite all of you to join in on the discussion by answering these questions yourself in the comments section below.
For this particular volume, we’ll be focusing on both Worlds Collide: NXT vs. NXT UK and Royal Rumble 2020.
Participants for this round = Anthony Mango, David Varnes, Kyle Dunning, Richard Staple, John Scafide, Ethan Absler and Dashon Love.
1) “Which matches are you most excited to see on these two shows?”
MANGO: As much as I’m nervous about the Royal Rumble being corrupted by Brock Lesnar’s role, that match takes the cake for me. With Worlds Collide, I’d lean toward DIY against Moustache Mountain.
VARNES: You always gotta be fired up for the Royal Rumble itself. It’s sort of tradition, and even though this year doesn’t seem to have that fired up story to go with it that has everyone hoping a particular person wins, a lot of people will be cheering for Brock Lesnar to lose. Also in the Worlds Collide I’d like to see UE vs. Imperium. While most of Imperium has jobbed out whenever they’ve crossed the pond, WALTER is on a different level. It’ll be interesting to see what they do with this one.
DUNNING: I think DIY vs. Moustache Mountain is likely to steal the weekend, and should be a 5-star classic if given time. Ilja Dragunov will turn a few heads in his match with Finn Balor, and Asuka will prove she belongs full-time in the women’s title scene against Becky Lynch. Of course, the Royal Rumbles will be what fans are most looking forward to.
STAPLE: Imperium and Undisputed Era should tear it down, but I’m also highly looking forward to Asuka and Becky Lynch’s rematch. Should be an impassioned battle.
SCAFIDE: If 2019 showed us anything, it’s that Imperium and Undisputed Era each can put on one hell of a show. I can’t see this match taking any less than 25 minutes and will be a jaw dropper from the start. While the entire card seems enjoyable to watch straight through for Worlds Collide, I can’t say the same for the next night. I am only excited for the Rumble matchup. Bring on Lesnar!
ABSLER: I am most excited for the men’s Royal Rumble match and DIY vs Mustache Mountain. The rumble match of course, has an unparalleled history, and the intrigue of Brock Lesnar entering at #1 makes this match a must watch. In addition, the reunion of DIY is a long time coming and there is no better tag team for them to face than Bate and Severn.
LOVE: Finn Balor vs Ilja Dragunov, Moustache Mountain vs DIY and the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
2) “With the remaining wrestlers available, pick 5 men and 5 women for both sides of a Survivor Series style elimination match between Team NXT and Team NXT UK.”
MANGO: NXT Men would be Damian Priest, Dominik Dijakovic, Keith Lee, Matt Riddle and maybe Austin Theory. NXT UK Men would be Dave Mastiff, Joe Coffey, Kassius Ohno, Noam Dar and, in a swerve of sorts, Pete Dunne. NXT Women would be Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Io Shirai, Mercedes Martinez and Mia Yim. NXT UK Women would be Isla Dawn, Jazzy (if she’s still in the company and medically cleared), Jinny, Piper Niven and Xia Brookside. If you can’t get Jazzy in the match, put Killer Kelly (or Nina Samuels) in there and I don’t think it will make that much of a difference as they can be the quick first elimination, even though I think KK is underutilized and better than that.
VARNES: NXT v NXT UK. For NXT have Keith Lee, Dijakovic, Lio Rush & The Time Splitters vs. Gallus, Noam Dar & Dave Mastiff. Speed vs. Power, and both teams would have both people at their peak and those who could be portrayed as having a chip on their shoulders and wanting to put on a show.
For the woman, it’s a lot tighter (but easier) decision because there just aren’t that many, especially on the NXT UK side. So let’s go with Baszler, Shafir & Duke, Chelsea Green and Dakota Kai for a total ‘heel’ team vs. Piper, Xia Brookside, Nina Samuels, and then a borrowed pair of Tegan Nox and Candice LeRae. Nox and LeRae have plenty of reasons to want to tear into Kai, and Nox has NXT UK cred, so it works. Honestly though, I’d probably go 4 on 4 to not have nearly every warm body on the NXT UK roster in this match.
DUNNING: Ok, that’s a tough question which will require some research. As an avid NXT UK fan, I’ve seen every episode since its inception, so I believe I’ve got a good gauge of who should represent. The NXT UK Women’s division is sorely lacking in options (Jazzy Gabert would’ve made it over Samuels). Although I’m a big fan of Pete Dunne, I wouldn’t put him on NXT’s side against NXT UK as it would be a conflict of interest. Assuming Velveteen Dream is cleared to return? I’d book the following participants:
- Velveteen Dream, Kushida, Matt Riddle, Keith Lee and Dominick Dijakovic vs. Joe Coffey, Dave Mastiff, Zack Gibson, James Drake and Eddie Dennis
- Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair, Xia Li and Candice LeRae vs. Piper Niven, Xia Brookside, Isla Dawn, Killer Kelly and Nina Samuels
STAPLE: Hmmmm….I suppose I’ll go with Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne, Dominick Dijakovic and Damian Priest vs. Joe Coffey, Zack Gibson, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang and Eddie Dennis for the men. For the women, Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Bianca BeLair, Candice LeRae and Dakota Kai vs. Jinny, Piper Niven, Xia Brookside, Nina Samuels and Isla Dawn.
SCAFIDE: NXT Mens (Velveteen Dream if he’s healthy, Lee, Priest, Breeze, Fandango) vs NXT UK Mens (Devlin, Dunne ,Dar, Coffey, Andrews). NXT Womens (LeRae, Belair, Purrazzo, Nox, Baszler) vs NXT UK Womens (Niven, Brookside, Jinny, Dawn, Samuels)
ABSLER: Men’s Team NXT (Cameron Grimes, Damien Priest, Donovan Dijakovic, Matt Riddle, and Velveteen Dream) vs. Men’s Team NXT UK (Dave Mastiff, Fabian Aichner, Eddie Dennis, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang).
Women’s Team NXT (Bianca Belair, Shayna Baszler, Io Sharai, Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai) vs. Women’s Team NXT UK (Jinny, Kay Lee Ray, Killer Kelly, Piper Niven, Xia Brookside)
LOVE: Team NXT (Cameron Grimes, KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley, Isaiah Scott, and Lio Rush) vs. Team NXT UK (A Kid, The Grizzled Young Vets, Eddie Denise, and Mark Andrews)
3) “Are you rooting for NXT or NXT UK at Worlds Collide?”
MANGO: NXT all the way. It’s the superior show in all facets.
VARNES: NXT UK. Not that I think they’ll ‘win,’ but this brand needs SOMETHING to hang their hat on. And at this point it’s getting a little tiring seeing NXT UK job out to NXT in most of their clashes.
DUNNING: As a British fan I’m always gonna’ root for NXT UK over NXT, but I know that NXT naturally has more star power and it’s difficult to see them losing. So long as they give us a good show? That’s all that matters.
STAPLE: NXT, although this is a good chance for UK to establish itself and not get lost in the shuffle.
SCAFIDE: NXT. No doubt about it.
ABSLER: I am definitely rooting for NXT. I follow NXT more closely and they are my favorite roster in all of wrestling right now. They have somehow managed to feel fresh for years.
LOVE: Jordan Devlin he truly deserves the platform
4) “Ignoring who you THINK will win, who do you WANT to win both Royal Rumbles?”
MANGO: If I could change who the champions are, that would be a much better scenario for me. If I’m stuck with Brock Lesnar and Bray Wyatt going into Mania as champions, though, as well as Bayley (Becky Lynch I’m fine with), then I’m in a pickle. I’d probably say I want Kevin Owens or Drew McIntyre to win to fight Lesnar and beat him, leaving Reigns available to win the Elimination Chamber to fight Wyatt. Then, I’d give the Royal Rumble win for the women to Shayna Baszler to set up her match against Lynch, while the Bayley situation is probably going to be a dud for me no matter what.
VARNES: For the men, I’d like to see someone young and explosive. Imagine if Velveteen Dream came back from his back injury and WINS the Rumble? Velveteen Dream versus either Lesnar or The Fiend could be awesome if it was built right. Imagine, Fiend comes out, red lights and all, and suddenly Dream just reaches up and snaps his fingers, and all the red lights go purple and his music starts. The mind games on both sides could be epic, and watching Dream athletically versus Lesnar would be awesome. And either of those men dropping their belts to Dream would be a major generational shift in the WWE that I think it desperately needs.
On the women’s side… PLEASE anyone but Charlotte. If I had to pick one, I’d say Sonya Deville. She’s talented and is poised for a breakout, and something like the Rumble could push her to the top. If Asuka gets the Raw belt from Becky Lynch, and Sonya picks her, just the intensity of those two squaring up for a shoot-style fight could be built for 3 months and create 10-15 minutes of epic intensity that might be a sprint, but a breathless one.
DUNNING: Much like CM Punk said, Keith Lee. He’s a serious dark horse though, so if I have to pick anyone from Raw or SmackDown? It would be Drew McIntyre as it’s time he finally won something we can remember for years. AJ Styles would be my safe third pick.
STAPLE: Shayna Baszler or Ronda Rousey for the women and for the men, I’d have to say a returning Edge (pipe dream, I know).
SCAFIDE: Mens: Give me the BRO as a final 4 combatant with Lesnar, that’s a show in itself. Give him the win after tossing Lesnar over, bro, that’s my Rumble Miracle. Matt Riddle. Womens: Lacey Evans, I see a lot of untapped potential in her. I know she’s in a match already, and unfortunately, if she’s in it, she’ll end up being the 1.9 second afterthought.
ABSLER: I’d love to see Kevin Owens or Drew McIntyre win for the men, and Alexa Bliss win for the women.
LOVE: Shanna Bazler and Drew McIntyre
5) “If any, who do you think will be surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble matches?”
MANGO: I know most people will go with CM Punk or Edge, but I’m not getting my hopes up. I actually think there’s a good chance no surprise entrants will appear, unless your definition of a surprise differs from mine. I don’t think Cain Velasquez would be a surprise, for instance. I don’t think NXT talent will be a surprise. In general, I’m not anticipating some legend to return for one night or anything like that.
VARNES: I don’t think there’s going to be any. Okay, pulling a name out that just popped up because she just dropped her title… Taya Valkyrie. La Wera Loca getting a premiere to the WWE Universe in the Royal Rumble would be a great nod to her, and allow her to have a quick launch for a Wrestlemania moment. She gets in, eliminates Sasha or Charlotte, or even Lacey Evans, and the match practically writes itself. Doesn’t have to be for a belt, but a great debut for a hell of a women’s wrestler.
DUNNING: Velveteen Dream could show up, which would be interesting. 25 names have already been chosen for the men’s Rumble, and adding Cain Velasquez will mean there’s only four remaining for NXT talents.. or perhaps a legend? The Undertaker would be another great pick. The women’s rumble is wide open as there’s only five announced participants as of this writing.
STAPLE: Probably Baszler or Rousey for the women. I think Nia Jax and Naomi will return as well. For the men, we’ve heard on the rumor mill that Edge will be there, although he’s denied that emphatically. CM Punk looks like a long shot. I think we probably see Cain Velasquez, if anything else.
SCAFIDE: Matt Riddle. Goldberg (Man, what if Riddle and Goldberg were back to back entrants… Let’s BOOK IT!). Eva Marie.
ABSLER: I’d love to buy into the rumors of Edge returning for the rumble. Rather or not it will actually happen, I have no idea, but I’d love to see it.
LOVE: Edge, Miko Sotomara, a few NXT guys, Dio Madden
6) “If you could personally pick one legend or former star to return per battle royal, which man and woman would you pick?”
MANGO: Ignoring the fantasy booking of bringing people back into the fold that would be impossible, even when it is someone like Wade Barrett who isn’t retired or deceased or anything, I’m still left wondering who I’d go with. I’m worried Edge returning could be problematic. I don’t think CM Punk would be my pick. It would be cool if John Cena could show up, but I don’t expect it. The same for The Rock, of course. Keeping things realistic, for the men, I guess I’d have to say Hardcore Holly just for the pure WTF of the moment. For the women’s match, let’s go with Victoria.
VARNES: The Sarahs (Amato or Stock). Both are legends in the women’s wrestling world who’ve earned at least a moment to step into a WWE PPV ring and have the fans cheer for them. Even if it’s just the hardcore fans, giving these two legends who are now coaching the next generation at the Performance Center a single nod is more than deserving.
DUNNING: Oh damn.. I already answered this somewhat in the previous question. The Undertaker, Kane, Big Show, Booker T, John Cena, Triple H, Ronda Rousey. There’s so many choices but not much room in the men’s, while the women’s will likely feature many from NXT and NXT UK. John Cena and Ronda Rousey seem the most logical choices.
STAPLE: Only because you said if, Paige and Edge.
SCAFIDE: Ted DiBiase and Sable.
ABSLER: As I said before, I’d love to see Edge return for the men. For the women, I’d like to see Kelly Kelly. Both stars, especially Edge, would enhance their perspective matches with their star power and nostalgia factor.
LOVE: Jazz and CM Punk
7) “If you could add one more match to each or either card, what would it be?”
MANGO: I would have had the elimination match concept for Worlds Collide that was brought up above. The Royal Rumble doesn’t need any more matches. In fact, I’d rather them take away the United States title match and Shorty G vs Sheamus and just cut the pre-show to one hour.
VARNES: Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler. You don’t step on a man’s mama’s fruitcake and expect to not face repercussions.
DUNNING: Killer Kross (w/ Scarlett Bordeaux) vs. Kassius Ohno? Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Braun Strowman for the Intercontinental Championship? Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley for the last time? Difficult to pick just one match, but there’s already plenty for us to enjoy on both cards.
STAPLE: I’d have Braun Strowman get his shot at the Intercontinental Title. He’s already beaten him. How does Humberto Carrillo get a title match by attacking Andrade after a match but Braun doesn’t get his shot even though he’s already defeated him? I call BS.
SCAFIDE: Add in a special NXT vs 205 Live Royal Rumble kickoff show matchup: Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) vs. Isaiah Scott and Lio Rush. I also like super original gimmick matches… Let’s do a R-Truth vs Rojo Rawley “3-hour iron man falls count anywhere” match for the 24/7 title. And just cut away to each pinfall/submission throughout the show. But in the end, after being tied 12-12, R-Truth wins for the final time after the main event (which is now inside the ring), have Lars Sullivan return, win against R-Truth and elevate the title as they fade to black.
ABSLER: I would have Shinsuke Nakamura defend his title. As the Intercontinental champion, a title known as the “workhorse‘s championship”, he should be defending more often. In addition, Nakamura is one of WWE’s best performers and hasn’t had the chance to have a standout match in awhile.
LOVE: Dave Mastiff vs Keith Lee
Big thanks to everyone who took part in this edition!
Those are our thoughts, but what do you have to say about these issues? Keep the discussion going by chiming in via the comments section below!
