tnwr-blog

[tnwr-blog]

Apologies on the massive delay on the review of Great balls of fire, I was in an accident the Monday after the show and have been really mentally frazzled since then. I will get it out sometime this week

[tnwr-blog]

Great Balls of Fire Predictions and Thoughts

Hello! Lets just get this out of the way, this ppv/network special’s name is fucking dumb. Now that that is out of the way this show has a potential for going one of two ways. This show is either going to be fantastic or a massive letdown. Between the Rollins v Wyatt, Strowman v Reigns, Neville v Tozawa and the main event there are potential for some fantastic matches BUT there is also a great chance for this to fall right on it’s face with some very underwhelming match ups on the card. So lets do a rundown on my thoughts on the matches and my predicted results and quality of the matches. 

PRESHOW: Neville vs Akira Tozawa for the Cruiserweight Championship

This match’s buildup has been lackluster at best, to what essentially equates down to Titus O’Neil tweeting how Tozawa is the next big thing and Neville going “Guuurl not in my 205 live, I’mma make you humble”. That said, this match has the most potential to be the best on the show. I love Tozawa’s work and Neville has been a man on fire since joining the Cruiserweight division. I expect a good contrast in styles and Neville retaining with the Rings of Saturn Prediction Neville retains via submission 8/10

Enzo Amore Vs Big Cass

I feel this has had the second best buildup on the entire show. The who was attacking Enzo mystery along with the turn of Cass was well done. I do not think this will be a pretty match but there will be important story telling. Cass should win this while Enzo goes to 205 live to fill in the face void left by Austin Ares leaving. Prediction Big Cass 5/10

Seth Rollins vs Bray Wyatt

There is a strange dichotomy between this match and the Enzo and Cass one. Where as that one has a fantastic buildup and less than stellar in ring work, this one has had the worst build of any of them on the card but two of the best in ring workers. I know it isn’t much but I find it interesting. If I was going with just my heart, Bray would win this match and be headed towards a feud with The Miz for the IC title but that isn’t going to happen. Besides a few blips of irregularity Bray loses PPVs and WWE has a video game to be selling and cover stars losing does not push sales.  Prediction Seth Rollins 7/10

Braun Strowman vs Roman Reigns in an Ambulance Match

To address the elephant in the rumors, I do not think the Undertaker vs Roman at summer slam rumors are true, that was the right way to retire him sort of Cena doing so but that is a different point for a different time. This match is going to be fun. I am not a Roman fan but his matches with Strowman have been enjoyable and boy do I love me some Brawny Strawman. There will be lots of strikes, power moves and power spots. Not a big technical marvel but it will live up to the level of excitement of the last few times these two have met. Prediction Braun Strowman 6.5/10

The Miz vs Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Title

Didn’t we just see this same feud on smackdown in November and December? The Miz has been doing too well to be feuding with Dean who has been on a slow and steady decline since winning the WWE championship last June. Besides that the “Wacky Dean” character always works best when chasing something. I expect this to be an over booked mess with potential to be enjoyable at best Prediction The Miz retains 5/10

Cesaro and Sheamus vs The Hardy Boyz for the Raw Tag Team Championship 30 minute Iron Man

I am very intrigued by the prospect of a 30 minute iron tag team match as odd as it sounds. I am expecting this match to be the first match of the card proper just because both of these teams are exciting to watch and it’ll be a good way to get the crowd excited in theory. With all the Impact v Matt over the broken gimmick I think the idea of this match breaking the Hardy’s up is not going to happen quite yet but I do expect that to happen by years end. The gimmick of the match seems to favor the champions already and I think Cesaro and Sheamus need the belts more than the Hardys do. Prediction Cesaro and Sheamus retain 3 falls to 2. 6/10

Alexa Bliss vs Sasha Banks for the Raw Woman’s Title 

It may just be me but this seems like a throw away defense for Alexa while she is on a collision course for Nia Jax. Nia is primed for being the monster champion that someone will eventually topple, probably Asuka if I had my choice. Sasha needs a heel turn because I do not think she is enjoyable as a face and her beating Alexa does nothing in the long run unless they really want Sasha vs Bayley on the main roster witch I think is not happening at this point Prediction Alexa Bliss Retains 3.5/10

Brock Lesnar vs Samoa Joe for the WWE Universal Title

The quality of this match will depend highly on what Brock Lesnar shows up. If Brock wants to wrestle this is going to be a match of the year candidate, the talent level is too high. If he does not however this will be just another by the books Lesnar match. This has been some of the best match build work outside of a mania match I’ve seen from WWE in a long time. Joe looks like a legitimate threat to Lesnar, the Coquina Clutch looks deadly and best of all, Joe has been impressing people in the back. WWE likes to throw surprises out at least once or twice in a PPV and with this being the last PPV for Raw going in to their second biggest show of the year I would not be surprised to see Joe win or a Heyman turn, he’s done it before. I could really see this go either way though

Prediction Samoa Joe wins via Submission 7.5/10

Final Thoughts

I have fairly high expectations for this show but am also expecting something screwy to happens as it has been the MO of the E to do on Network Specials/PPVs lately. I would not be surprised to see Finn vs Elias Sampson show up somewhere on the card or even Goldust vs R-Truth to be thrown on to add time. Sunday should be an entertaining watch