The most exciting time in the WWE is during WrestleMania season and creative has definitely stepped up their game over the last few weeks on RAW. Elimination Chamber had its fun moments, namely the Chamber matches and the Rousey segment (even though it was a bit clunky at first), but it was nothing to write home about.
The Hardy/Wyatt and Tag Title Match happened, and well, good for them. The Women’s Elimination Chamber was really good. I’m looking forward to see where Banks goes from here. Jax/Asuka was entertaining, but I’m worried about Asuka. Creative has done no favors for the talented wrestler.
They exposed her limitations on RAW and she simply hasn’t stood out from the other RAW women on the roster. That and Asuka just isn’t a relatable character. Main roster Asuka is simply a woman with an undefeated streak, who’s very vanilla inside the ring. There are no dimensions to her beyond that.
Asuka should be the badass she was built up to be. I understand the limitation they have to deal with when it comes to Asuka’s language barrier (and please try to hide it by not having her speak long scripted promos), but Asuka needs to give the fans a reason why she’s different and special from the other women on the roster. She also needs traits that the fans can identify with. WWE can always turn her heel (and she was a very good cocky heel in NXT), but if they want the fans to cheer her over Charlotte or Bliss, then they need to do something big with her in the following weeks.
Now for the Men’s Elimination Chamber.
Look, I’ve cried my tears throughout the year in preparation for the result. We all knew that Reigns was winning. In Reality, Reigns is a very good wrestler and I understand what Vince sees in him. In honesty, Reigns comes across as a self-entitled jerk on television, and why would I want to root for a guy like that?
The Reigns character continues to be the biggest problem. Reigns would make an excellent Anti-Hero, which is fine and all, but even Anti-Hero’s have traits that make then likable. Deadpool, is a mercenary who taunts his victims; however, he’s never selfish, sympathetic because of his illness, and generally likes helping other people. Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill, is an assassin looking for revenge on the ones who wronged her; however, she’s a loving mother, a caring person, and actually felt remorse for the people she killed.
Can you name a likable trait that Reigns has? WWE thinks that booking him to win 90% of the time will get the fans on his side, but instead, they’ve taken away characteristics that could define him as a babyface such as brave, courageous, honorable, noble, and many others. If Reigns was crawling and scratching his way to the top, we would truly see who Roman Reigns is. Just look at Daniel Bryan for example.
Reigns hasn’t struggled through the art of storytelling (this goes for Asuka as well, but she has the streak with her) and until he does, the fans (well most) will continue to be against him. Nevertheless, Reigns/Lesnar II should be a strong match regardless.
Do you think I’m full of crap and want to object to what I had to say about Reigns and Asuka? Or do you just want to comment overall about the elimination chamber pay-per-view? Leave a comment below!