WWE’s Bloodline spinoff story has a chance to be a…
The Post’s Joseph Staszewski brings you world wide of skilled wrestling in his weekly column, Post Match Angle.
So many of the world’s best tv exhibits and flicks have led to profitable spinoffs, whether or not utterly separate items of leisure or exhibits that feed back into the primary franchise.
That seems to be what we’re beginning to see with WWE’s Bloodline story after four-plus years.
For a whereas, characters comparable to Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, CM Punk and Jey Uso have lived in The Bloodline’s prolonged universe. Their tales had some hyperlinks back to their interactions with Roman Reigns and his household and how they wronged them.
What we noticed Monday on Raw may be the beginning of one thing utterly new, like a Marvel or DC tv show on Disney+ or Max that finally performs back into the following film. For now, it’s simply seeds that might sprout in many various instructions.
It began with Zayn’s assured promo — which was sparked by a pep speak from Rollins — about having the ability to win the Royal Rumble and eventually develop into a world champion at WrestleMania 41.
His phrases introduced out Owens, who mainly tried to guilt Zayn into serving to him beat Rhodes on the Royal Rumble so the 2 previous pals may sq. off for the Undisputed WWE championship in Las Vegas.
Seth Rollins took an unintentional Helluva Kick from Sami Zayn on the finish of Raw. WWE
Owens instructed Zayn he didn’t hate him for his historical past with The Bloodline and for returning to the group to help Reigns beat Solo Sikoa’s secure at Survivor Series as a result of they each had achieved related issues to one another already. He bascially instructed Zayn all is forgiven as long as you’ve gotten my back and I’ve yours.
Then there may be McIntyre, who has been in Rollins’ ears for weeks about how he isn’t being true to himself and thus being egocentric. Rollins, who has promised Punk he’d keep him from successful the Royal Rumble, was ready to sneak out a win over McIntyre in the primary occasion of Raw. McIntyre then attacked Rollins out of disgust. While doing so he tells him, “We should be on the same team.”
Zayn got here to Rollins’ rescue, however Helluva Kicked him when McIntyre moved out of the way in which, and The Visionary didn’t look joyful about it.
There is a few fan perception Rollins is heading for a heel flip — particularly after Karrion Kross was seen behind him two weeks in the past on Raw. Kross has develop into the heel-turn harbinger of late.
So you’ve gotten Zayn, Rollins, McIntyre, and Punk all with completely different connections to The Bloodline concerned of their own facet story. This one may have main implications, doubtlessly main to Rollins turning heel and truly becoming a member of forces with McIntyre and Owens and possibly the start of Zayn’s journey to turning into a world champion by having to undergo a bunch of former ones alongside the way in which.
Drew McIntyre yells at Seth Rollins on Raw. WWE
All of this might proceed to play out within the boys’s Royal Rumble match with Reigns back within the image for one evening.
Spinoffs don’t at all times work — assume “Joey” and “Baywatch Nights.” While others — assume “Frazier” and “Better Call Saul” — turned large hits.
WWE’s monitor document ought to have followers assured this lands within the latter class.
Rush Hour?
It’s clear why AEW goes proper back to Toni Storm vs. Mariah May for the AEW Women’s World championship with Grand Slam in Storm’s home nation of Australia. But is it too quickly?
Will AEW blow via Storm’s time as an amnesia rookie and convey her “Timeless” character back in time to win in Brisbane?
Toni Storm AEW/ Ricky Havlik
Will AEW waste the second of having Storm win the title in entrance of the hometown crowd to keep the story going with a loss that might set off a Timeless return?
AEW clearly has a plan and Storm and May’s faceoff on this week’s Dynamite ought to give us additional incite into what that’s.
Let’s see if all of it meets the second.
Rocky begin
Tessa Blanchard’s in-ring return for TNA wasn’t nicely obtained by it’s fan base.
Having “she’s a racist!” chants escape during Blanchard’s win over Jordynne Grace — who obtained the farewell remedy backstage after at Genesis — was all half of the risk TNA took bringing back the controversial star.
Blanchard confronted allegations of racism and bullying by La Rosa Negra and different feminine performers in 2020 earlier than her ugly exit from the company.
“She’s a racist” chants at Tessa pic.twitter.com/vfQD216uKn— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 20, 2025
As I stated in a previous column, I’m OK with Blanchard getting a second chance, but it surely’s your viewers that has to be on board with it. This wasn’t heel heat.
Sunday evening may be the primary signal the audence will reject her and may Blanchard resolve to publicly apologize for the primary time now, it’d appear to be a response to the chants and never a honest one. There’s nonetheless time to win them over, however this was not a good begin.
The 10 Count
The Hurt Syndicate is probably going on the fast monitor to AEW gold. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin take the tag group championships from Private Party after which the All Mighty or Ricochet, if he joins the group, beats Danel Garcia for the TNT championship?
Thought MJF delivered one of his higher current promos within the sense that nothing was off limits going after Jeff Jarrett, from his spouse Karen’s earlier marriage to Kurt Angle and The Last Outlaw’s emotions in regards to the death of best pal Owen Hart. Jarrett’s jabs about MJFs one‐hit-wonder fears hit between the eyes however his “call‐girl” insults fell flat.
If that Texas Death Match with Hangman Adam Page actually is the final of Christopher Daniels’ unimaginable profession then it was one heck of a means to go. Daniels regarded like he hadn’t missed a beat. While, I’m not sure I’d have opened the show with the blood we noticed and unhappy ending, it was a match Daniels can be proud of.
Christopher Daniels AEW/Ricky Havlik
Very curious the place this Max Caster storyline goes with The Acclaimed formally damaged up. Caster ought to be decided to show he’s “the best wrestler alive.” So it seems like there can’t be a center ground or 50/50-type reserving of him. If he flops, Anthony Bowens ought to thrive with out him and make Caster jealous enough to attempt to undercut his former companion’s run earlier than they lastly sq. off.
Max Caster and Anthony Bowens AEW/Ricky Havlik
The tease of Charlotte Flair popping up earlier than Tiffany Stratton’s match doesn’t really feel like a coincidence. She is a large enough star that I can get behind her return being anticipated and never an out-of-the-blue shock.
Feels like Bayley’s transfer to Raw opens the door for Flair to go to Smackdown to begin a program with Stratton when she returns. Didn’t love Nia Jax simply squashing Bayley like that.
Friday sure felt like a passing of the highlight from Solo Sikoa to Jacob Fatu on SmackDown. The former Tribal Chief actually had nothing left to say however Fatu had a entire lot and his presence can command a TV screen.
WWE confirmed simply how severe they’re now with its partnership with TNA that it lastly despatched some of its NXT heavy-hitters over with Cora Jade and tag group champions Fraxiom showing on the Genisis pay-per-view.
PCO went all Madusa-like when he took a sledgehammer to the TNA Digital Media championship at The People vs. GCW show. Tommy Dreamer revealed this was not cleared by TNA as PCO no longer works for the company. Stunts like that aren’t professionally definitely worth the small bit of buzz they might create.
Speaking of Perez, the boos she and Cora Jade get show they possibly have some of the best heel heat ever in NXT, and that’s a credit to the job they’ve achieved. It was additionally great to see Corey Graves back on commentary after no matter mess he created was final week.
Wrestler of the Week
Joe Hendry, TNA
It’s been fairly the 10-plus-year climb for Hendry, whose charisma, catchy songs and ring work put him on a rocket-like rise for over a yr. That culminated in a clean win over Nic Nemeth to develop into the new TNA world champion at Genesis on Sunday. He’s being handed the ball at a vital time with the company forging a partnership with WWE.
Social Media Post of the Week
Match to Watch
Gunther vs. Jey Uso, World Heavyweight championship at Saturday Night’s Main Event (Saturday, 8 p.m., NBC)
The outcome feels inevitable as Gunther isn’t shedding the World Heavyweight championship earlier than WrestleMania 41. But the new Bloodline hasn’t left Jey and Jimmy Uso alone since Reigns received back the Ula Fala and that feels prefer it wants a cause to come to head. The two brothers haven’t teamed since Money within the Bank 2023 towards Reigns and Sikoa. What happens Saturday may make it occur.
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