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 WWE Backlash 2020.
Participants for this round = Anthony Mango, Brandon Ewing, Ethan Absler, Sarah Hirsch and Richard Staple.
1) “How ridiculous is it WWE is advertising Edge vs Randy Orton as being possibly the greatest wrestling match ever? Is there any chance they actually pull that off?”
MANGO: It just comes off so over the top that I can’t help but scoff at it. Edge and Orton are great. Why do you feel like you need to promote it like this? It’s only drawn criticism. If it boosts the hype and they don’t live up to it, they fail. The people who laugh at it won’t give it the proper expectations, either. What a dumb idea. There’s no chance they pull this off, despite how awesome they are as performers. WWE will just look foolish in the end, like when a kid says their dad works at Nintendo or something.
EWING: Is there a chance? Yes, but very slim. No disrespect to Orton or Edge, but to have the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” is definitely a stretch of the imagination.
ABSLER: I feel really strongly about WWE not promoting things in such grandiose ways. Booking a match as “the greatest wrestling match ever” or “the best in the world” tournament or the “greatest Royal Rumble” sets fans’ expectations unrealistically high. If you are promised the greatest wrestling match ever and it’s anything but that, then most fans will be disappointed. In addition, many fans will just scoff at the idea and not even entertain it and think of the great talent and matches they’ve seen elsewhere.
HIRSCH: Yeah, I think this is a little much and that is NO discredit to either guy. I think the match will be excellent no doubt. If anything else, it will be the best bout the two has together.
STAPLE: Let’s face it. It is ridiculous. But considering that WWE may now conquer SEO when people want to google what the greatest match ever was, it makes perfect sense. We all know nothing can make this match the greatest match ever, especially if the rumors that this match (which has already been taped) is over half an hour long. But I’ll be curious to see them try.
