Welcome back to another Monday Morning Q&A where I toss out some questions to get a feel of how you guys and gals are feeling about certain topics.
So here are 5 questions I’d like to toss out for this week. I’ll give my answers, too, but the key here is that I want to know what YOU think! So make sure you chime in!
1) Sting announced he will be retiring at AEW Revolution 2024. What would you book for him in the meantime and who do you think should be his final opponent?
I would try to check off at least a match against Adam Copeland, if not a true mini-feud. We’re not dealing with a lot of time, so it’s not like he has a full year to mess around with. And while there are others I’d like to see him work with, that would be the only true priority I would put above the rest.
Then, come Revolution, I think the only real answer at this point is to have Sting vs. Darby Allin. He puts Allin over, maybe passes on the Scorpion Death Drop and Scorpion Deathlock to him so he can use those along with the Coffin Drop as his three finishers, and we call it a career—outside of how he can potentially still make appearances like The Undertaker does.
2) Speaking of retirements, John Cena teased one, but said he’s not done yet. If you had to choose a final opponent for him right now, who would it be?
It’s a shame they already did the Austin Theory thing and it went over like a lead balloon. That was certainly an option, but they can’t revisit it. Assuming I’m working with just the current active WWE roster and nobody else from outside the company, there aren’t too many options that spring to mind. However, a few I’d consider would be:
- Cody Rhodes – Somewhat of a “passing of the torch” situation. Both babyfaces.
- Roman Reigns – If this were a “retirement match” in true form, where we could give that extra heat to Reigns for putting him away for good.
- Randy Orton – He’s one of Cena’s biggest rivals, and revisiting that feud one last time would certainly draw.
- Bron Breakker or Carmelo Hayes – If you’re looking for an NXT star to put over, it has to be one of these two guys.
3) Rhea Ripley topped the PWI Women’s 250 list for 2023. Are there any standout adjustments you’d make to that list, be it the top spot or others?
In typical fashion, I don’t know anything about most of the names that are outside of WWE and AEW. I’ve heard of Giulia, for instance, and Tam Nakano, but I couldn’t tell you much about them, let alone rate their skill levels. Even those like KAIRI that I know full well, I haven’t seen her work in the past year, so I wouldn’t be a fair judge of that, either.
But what did stand out to me, though, was how low Becky Lynch is. #29, below even names like Taya Valkyrie, surprised me. I’d bump Lynch up a few notches, for sure.
I’m also surprised Raquel Rodriguez is as low as she is. And for Cora Jade to be 10 spots up above Zoey Stark is crazy, too, as Jade hasn’t accomplished much, while Stark was moved up to the main roster and featured prominently in her feud with Becky alongside Trish Stratus.
It’s just a list, though. Your mileage may vary with your own personal opinions. That’s why people should create their own in response.
4) NWA Powerrr and a reality show are coming to The CW network. Does that make you any more inclined to watch either of them, or does it impact you (positively or negatively) in no way whatsoever?
Speaking for myself, I still don’t plan on watching it. I gave NWA a few episodes, but it just wasn’t my style. There’s too much wrestling out there as it is, and I don’t even watch Main Event, NXT Level Up, ROH, Rampage or sometimes Collision since I’m overloaded. The last thing I want to do is check out Impact or NWA and add even more to my plate unless I hear good enough things to justify investing that time.
On top of that, I don’t like reality shows. The only way I’d be interested in them is if they were true reality, which doesn’t appeal to mass audiences, so they tend to script situations to happen and it loses all of its actual reality and becomes just a poorly written “scripted reality” show. When you toss in there that most of the people in NWA aren’t wrestlers I feel like following the career of, it makes it an even bigger hurdle to overcome.
However, I do think this is great for them. CW is a much bigger platform than YouTube. There will likely be a lot more people watching them than ever before.
5) What are your predictions for night 1 of NXT Halloween Havoc?
- Lexis King beats whoever he debuts against. Probably someone like Tank Ledger or Malik Blade they serve to him on a platter.
- The Family retains the tag titles over Chase University, probably because of some distraction going around ringside with Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne that leads to Tony D’Angelo and Stacks being able to capitalize on the confusion.
- Blair Davenport beats Gigi Dolin in the Lights Out match, but I’m only 50/50 on that one.
- Roxanne Perez beats Kiana James in the Devil’s Playground match
- Kelani Jordan beats Arianna Grace, and Lola Vice beats Karmen Petrovic in the semifinals of the Women’s Breakout Tournament
- Mr. Stone obviously loses to Bron Breakker
- Becky Lynch retains the NXT Women’s Championship over Lyra Valkyria. It wouldn’t shock me if Valkyria turns heel after.
Let us know your thoughts about these questions by answering them in the comments!
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The wrestling world is buzzing with excitement as NXT Halloween Havoc approaches. With a stacked card and intriguing storylines, fans are eagerly anticipating the event. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the key questions surrounding the upcoming show and share our predictions for the night.
1) Sting announced his retirement at AEW Revolution 2024. While we wait for that momentous event, what matches would you book for him? And who should be his final opponent? One suggestion would be a match against Adam Copeland, also known as Edge. This dream match would be a fitting way for Sting to end his career. Additionally, it would be interesting to see Sting face off against Darby Allin at Revolution. This match could serve as a passing of the torch moment, with Sting putting over the younger talent.
2) John Cena recently teased retirement but clarified that he’s not done yet. If you had to choose his final opponent from the current WWE roster, who would it be? There are several intriguing options. Cody Rhodes could be a suitable opponent for Cena, representing a passing of the torch between two beloved babyfaces. Another option is Roman Reigns, who could gain extra heat by putting Cena away for good in a retirement match. Randy Orton, one of Cena’s biggest rivals, could also provide a compelling final opponent. Finally, if WWE wants to put over an NXT star, Bron Breakker or Carmelo Hayes would be excellent choices.
3) Rhea Ripley topped the PWI Women’s 250 list for 2023. Are there any adjustments you would make to the list? While it’s challenging to evaluate talent outside of WWE and AEW, some notable adjustments could be made within the list itself. Becky Lynch’s ranking at #29 seems surprisingly low, considering her past accomplishments. She deserves to be higher on the list. Additionally, Raquel Rodriguez’s placement could be reconsidered, as she has proven herself to be a formidable competitor. Cora Jade’s ranking above Zoey Stark is also questionable, given Stark’s prominent role in her feud with Becky Lynch.
4) NWA Powerrr and a reality show are coming to The CW network. Does this make you more inclined to watch them? This development may not impact everyone, but it is undoubtedly a positive move for NWA. The CW network provides a much larger platform than YouTube, potentially attracting a broader audience. However, personal preferences still play a significant role in determining whether viewers will tune in. If you enjoy NWA’s style of wrestling and are interested in reality shows, this news may pique your interest. For others, the abundance of wrestling content and disinterest in reality shows may deter them from watching.
5) Finally, let’s discuss predictions for night 1 of NXT Halloween Havoc. Lexis King is expected to win his debut match against an opponent like Tank Ledger or Malik Blade. The Family is likely to retain the tag titles against Chase University, possibly due to distractions involving Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne. Blair Davenport should come out on top in the Lights Out match against Gigi Dolin, although the outcome is uncertain. Roxanne Perez is favored to win the Devil’s Playground match against Kiana James. In the Women’s Breakout Tournament, Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice are predicted to emerge victorious in their respective matches. Bron Breakker is expected to defeat Mr. Stone convincingly. Finally, Becky Lynch should retain the NXT Women’s Championship against Lyra Valkyria, with the possibility of Valkyria turning heel afterward.
These are just our predictions, and the actual outcomes may surprise us. We’d love to hear your thoughts on these questions and your own predictions for NXT Halloween Havoc. Let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to stay updated with all your wrestling news on eWrestlingNews.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.