Batson's Blog

It's that time of year again. Yes, it's almost time to point at the Wrestlemania sign ad nauseam. Unfortunately that is actually a fact, but what I'm looking forward to is the usually exciting, sometimes career-making Royal Rumble match ... hopefully with some jaw-dropping surprises. It's those surprises that I really look forward to. After two decades of booking the Rumble, WWE producers and matchmakers now realize the importance of surprise returns and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the match. However, they don't always live up to my expectations. Granted, my expectations can sometimes be too high, but usually WWE just falls short on things that they should've and could've booked. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I have a full list of expectations this year. I, like some of the Internet Wrestling Community, am a little upset that WWE ruined some of the surprise entrants in the women's rumble this year. Summer Rae isn't someone I was an...

The new year means a few things: new year's resolutions.  Award shows.  The Super Bowl. For wrestling fans it also means a few things: the Royal Rumble, the road to Wrestlemania and ... Hall of Fame inductions. One of the best nights of the year has become the night of the Hall of Fame ceremony.  Colorful speeches, fun road stories and seeing wrestlers of yesteryear are all part of the night that kicks off Wrestlemania weekend. Here are a few of my ideal Hall of Fame classes The years aren't exact, but a rough timeline of what I think would work out well 2020 (in Tampa): The Rock (headlining, obviously) Christian (he's from Tampa) Jushin Thunder Liger (he's retiring this month) Vader Taz Molly Holly 2021: The Undertaker Rob Van Dam The British Bulldog Jim Cornette Victoria 2022: The Big Show The Steiner Brothers Cyndi Lauper (Celebrity Wing) Eric Bischoff Goldust Luna Vachon 2023: Batista Rob Van Dam Paul Heyman (I assume he'll...

Wrestlemania is just a few weeks away and it seems like it's going to be a lengthy show. After the Royal Rumble's main show was approximately 5 hours, there's no way that Wrestlemania won't be just as long. I'd like to see them place several matches on the pre-show (and start early so that the East Coast doesn't get done watching it at Midnight) so that it's not such a chore to sit through. Anything over 5 hours and it's bordering leg cramps, people going home from viewing parties so they can get up for work the next day and losing interest. So how would you book Wrestlemania? To be honest there aren't a lot of matches I'm really looking forward to seeing.  There are some matches I'd like to see happen but I know they're not going to. I have a dream card, but, realistically, it probably won't happen.  For example, I think this year would've been a great time to do The Undertaker vs. Shinsuke Nakamura .  I can say with ...

I have a bit of an unusual way to end WWE's Evolution event. I'm still not happy about the Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella match, but it's obviously happening, so may as well make the most of it right? I also mentioned the fact that Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch may not have been the best route to go, simply because they've faced each other so many times in the past couple of months. But that match is also happening. Again, I may as well accept it. The question becomes: how do you end Evolution? Many people suggest that Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair is the way to go. Others point to Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella being the most logical choice to close the show due to their name value. I agree on both points. Becky and Charlotte deserve to close the show more so than Rousey and Bella, but they don't have the name value to the casual fans. I think there's a way to have the best of both worlds, though. Becky and Charlotte will compete in the first (ac...

WWE's Evolution pay-per-view / WWE Network live event is this Sunday. It's the first ever all-women WWE event, so it's been hyped up for several weeks. Considering the hype, you'd think that WWE would've done a better job shaping the card. Take a look at what it is right now:  -    Last Woman Standing match for the SmackDown women's championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs.        Charlotte Flair  -    Raw women's championship match: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella  -    NXT women's championship match: Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler  -    2018 Mae Young Classic finals: Toni Storm vs. Io Shiari  -    NXT U.K. women's championship match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Isla Dawn  -    Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Mickie James and Alexa Bliss  -    Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad  -    Women's battle royal fea...

So, what did everyone think of this year's Rumble? I was curious to see a few things: how the pay-per-view would feel with two Royal Rumble matches on the same night, if Ronda Rousey would show up, who the women's Rumble surprise entrants would be, if they would put the Universal Title on Strowman and if they'd give Roman Reigns another Royal Rumble victory. Pre-show match: Bobby Roode vs. Mojo Rawley I came in halfway on this match, so I didn't see much of it.  Seemed like a throw away match to get Roode on the card (surprised he wasn't in the Rumble, itself).  Mojo is as good an initial opponent as any I guess. Handicap match for the WWE Heavyweight Title: A.J. Styles (champion) vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens What can you say?  It was a good match.  Styles always delivers.  Sami and Kevin are both good workers themselves.  Great match.  Great athletic showing -- if not a bit of a spot fest.  Good match though. 2 out of 3 falls match...