Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice preview WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2022.

Question 1: How underwhelming is Ronda Rousey vs Shotzi going to be? Is this proof of the important need for SmackDown to refresh it’s women’s division?

ALLSOPP: Shotzi often autocorrects on my phone to 'Shitzi' which is an apt descriptor. She is undoubtedly one of the worst talents in WWE at the moment, and she is endemic of how poor SmackDown's women's division is in comparison to Raw. Ronda Rousey doesn't exactly inspire confidence in me, but having her face off against Shotzi is a sure fire way for me to use the match as a comfort break.

COLEMAN: I can’t prove this but the way this question was written, Tony Mango had a hand in writing it (LOL). I don’t think Ronda Rousey vs Shotzi will be the match of the night but I also don’t believe it will be the worst match ever either. I believe that the match will be solid, even though we all know Rousey is winning. The women’s rosters of SmackDown and Raw are ridiculously lopsided, and I am shocked that Triple H actually allowed this to happen. In addition to a lack of women’s wrestlers overall on SmackDown, there also is a dearth of baby face women’s wrestlers on SmackDown. I don’t know how they do it, but when Becky Lynch returns and when/if Naomi returns, they gotta head to SmackDown.

DeFELICE: They tried their best but I think it’s so weird that they have Ronda doing a full schedule when the roster is so late and not at all a challenge for her. Unlike the first time she was in WWE, her being full-time really makes her feel far above this roster and even devalues her star power a bit, in my opinion. She’s going to run through Shotzi and hopefully we start sewing seeds for a Becky Lynch rivalry soon. As I’ve said many times on the podcasts, it’s not that I am desperately looking forward to this match but it’s one they have to do, even if it’s five years too late.

Question 2: Who should win the women’s WarGames match? How much are you looking forward to it?

COLEMAN: Team Bianca should win and finally end this whole storyline between Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Bianca Belair, and Damage CTRL. I am looking forward to this match because you have a collection of the best women’s wrestlers currently working in WWE. As Becky Lynch ended up being the fifth member of Team Bianca, you now have an extremely loaded match for the first women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series.

DeFELICE: Realistically, The heels need to win badly. Rhea Ripley should probably pin Bianca Belair to set up a rivalry for them but with the new addition of Becky Lynch, I think she needs to win by tapping out a member of the other side, likely Dakota Kai or Nikki Cross.

ALLSOPP: I will firmly plant my flag in the camp of the heels - I love Damage CTRL. Not only that, but Damage CTRL really need to highlight they are a viable threat in the women's division. Despite Becky Lynch returning, I do not feel the face team is strong enough on paper. Saying that, Lynch and Bianca Belair are beloved by fans, so I can WWE deciding to go with them for the victory. I am looking forward to this match, although this is not as much as I am looking forward to the men's iteration.

Question 3: Who should win the men’s WarGames match? How much are you looking forward to it?

DeFELICE: In many ways, this is far better than I could’ve ever imagined but also, if you said to me that you’re completely let down by this, I would understand. I’ve said for months that Sami Zayn needed to lose WarGames for the Samoans and then they should leave him a bloody mess. I still want to see that, but I’m more intrigued by the idea of Sami actually getting the jump on them first and helping Kevin Owens defeat Roman Reigns.

In any case, I have a feeling that this matches the beginning of the end for Sami Uso.

ALLSOPP: The Bloodline. Simply put, Roman Reigns is the King of WWE in 2022, therefore he needs to reign supreme in order to create the impression that it will take something herculean to defeat him. This would be The Rock. In terms of the match, I think this will be a certified banger, and I am adamant it will surpass the high quality of WarGames matches previously offered by NXT.

COLEMAN: Brawlin' Brutes, Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens should defeat The Bloodline in the men’s WarGames match and begin to build towards Sami Zayn being kicked out of The Bloodline. Like the women’s WarGames match, the men’s WarGames has a great collection of talent and I love the fact that there are multiple stories and feuds interwoven into this match. I’m looking forward to a fun, physical match to close the show at Survivor Series.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice preview AEW Full Gear 2022.

Question 1: Which undercard match are you most looking forward to?

ALLSOPP: I'm not if I'm being honest. This show feels very top heavy, and whilst there are no outright bad matches, I'm not exactly looking forward to any in particular. If forced to suggest one, I'd say Jade Cargill vs Nyla Rose, because I absolutely love 'That Bitch'!

COLEMAN: I’m going to set my Sting fandom to the side for a bit and say it’s The Acclaimed vs Swerve in Our Glory III match. I am curious to see how this match is booked and who wins because there is A LOT that can happen given everything that has been surrounding these two teams. I also believe this will possibly be the best match of their trilogy.

DeFELICE: I will be the only person watching the Jeff Jarrett match with starry eyes. Outside of that, Saraya and Baker has the most intrigue as I am looking forward to seeing what they do together.

Question 2: Britt Baker takes on Saraya in an intriguing matchup. How do you think Saraya will fare against arguably the most popular woman in AEW?

COLEMAN: I believe Saraya will do fine for someone who hasn’t competed in years. I hope she is able to put forth a performance she is happy with and that she can build on.

DeFELICE: I’ve openly spoken about this a couple of times now. For me, the last major match that Saraya had on a major stage was Survivor Series 2015 against a very young Charlotte Flair. I’m worried if this is going to be a case of “leave the memories alone” and maybe she’s not as good in the ring as I remember. That being said, this is the right way to do her comeback story and she has to win in order to pull it off.

ALLSOPP: I have this need to highlight how I don't agree with Saraya wrestling again. Unlike Edge, I don't feel she has the right frame of mind or experience to be as careful as she needs to be. This match should be Britt Baker kicking the living shit out of Saraya, but I daresay we will get a safe match with barely any fire. Baker can survive that, but Saraya will be dead in the water unless she puts on a show. A show I don't think she's capable of.

Question 3: Jon Moxley vs MJF - who walks out of Full Gear as AEW World Champion? How do you see the match finish playing out?

DeFELICE: I feel like Maxwell Jacob Friedman has to win but I’m ultimately not convinced that he does. I do think, however, if he does win it’s going to be with the help of The Firm and the use of brass knuckles. Max, for as much as he is showing hints of being a good guy, is the perfect villain and that’s the way he needs to be used. I think he wins here and goes on to face Ricky Starks at Winter is Coming.

ALLSOPP: I need, need, NEED MJF to win here and capture the AEW World Championship. He is the franchise player that AEW can use to evidence their support of home grown heroes. MJF has the groundswell of support, even despite the fact Jon Moxley is super popular. I can't see past an MJF win, but I feel the narrative has been set for William Regal to turn heel, which would be a fantastic way to end the show.

COLEMAN: I can actually see either man winning this match. I’ve had this sinking feeling since this whole thing started with Moxley vs MJF, that Moxley would retain because MJF winning the AEW World Title is what a majority of fans believe is going to happen. After the MJF & William Regal promo, I feel the seeds were planted for a William Regal heel turn to help MJF win and dissolve the Blackpool Combat Club by aligning with MJF. And then there is The Firm side of it all. Since Dallas asked us to make a pick and Moxley has to take a vacation at some point, give me MJF winning with an assist from William Regal to become AEW Champion.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice discuss the WWE 24/7 Championship being deactivated this week.

Question 1: What are your thoughts on WWE deactivating the WWE 24/7 Championship?

ALLSOPP: I hated how it appeared initially to be a pale imitation of the WWE Hardcore Championship. But oh my days how bad has it been?!? The title was an out and out joke, even when used as a Social Media tool or when held by someone competent. A solid and intimidating wrestler akin to Braun Strowman, Omos, or even Kevin Owens could have used the title as a vehicle to keep themselves relevant, whilst making the title mean something. But alas, it was a joke, and I will absolutely not miss anything about it's so called 'legacy'.

COLEMAN: I’m all for it. The 24/7 Title was a fun gimmick while it lasted but it jumped the shark years ago when everybody started winning it.

DeFELICE: "Alexa, play 'About Damn Time' by Lizzo."

When the WWE 24/7 Championship was first introduced, I was actually very excited about it. I'm always up for anything that gets more talent on the roster utilized and featured positions. However, through the years, they really did their best to make that title feel like it was meant to be less than the gum on your shoe. Over the months since Vince McMahon retired, there was a direct and evident lack of focus on the championship and I think that Nikki Cross trashing it in order to establish a more serious side of her personality was a perfect way to end the legacy of a title that never really knew what it wanted to be to begin with.

Question 2: Do you think anyone was truly elevated by the title?

COLEMAN: R-Truth for sure! Truth did some of the best work of his career as the 24/7 Champion and cemented himself as one of the most entertaining pro wrestlers in wrestling history. The 24/7 Title took Truth from Hall of Fame worthy to Hall of Fame.

DeFELICE: I actually think plenty of people were elevated by the championship. This title will forever be tied to the legacy of R-Truth. I think that it gave the quartet of Dana Brooke, Reggie, Tamina Snuka, and Akira Tozawa featured positions that they ran with for several months. Sometimes, that's all wrestling is about. Maximize your minutes and make the most of whatever opportunity is handed to you. I think several Superstars did that when it comes to the 24/7 Championship. In addition to that, it also gave several legends, referees, and celebrities something to have fun with during House shows, one-off appearances, and legacy shows.

ALLSOPP: R-Truth earns a Hall of Fame spot for his reigns alone, but really, Dana Brooke was both made and broken by the title. She had the first ounce of attention to her character in years, which is a plus. However, she did nothing with the belt, so it's not a true elevation. But she is the closest for me.

Question 3: Is there room in modern day WWE for a wacky style of Championship?

DeFELICE: Yes. There is room for something less traditional, but it also needs to be taken seriously it can't be 100% a goof. There is room for an alternate-style championship. Something more akin to a Hardcore Championship even though I think you will need to come up with something more clever as opposed to using that terminology in 2022. I would even be open to a straight-up intergender championship or something that would allow for a unique flavor of ice cream in the Baskin-Robbins that is WWE. However, the WWE 24/7 Championship was never meant to be it and it was meant to be taken as a joke from day one.

ALLSOPP: I am going to side with Rob over Greg here - there is 110% a place for a WWE Gimmick Championship that stays from the norm. WWE would be foolish to chase the days of the WWE Hardcore Championship, but they would be well suited to implement something along the lines of a Pure Wrestling Championship, an Iron Man Championship contested in 15 / 20 minute contests, or even a Battle Royal Championship. Something that gives lower card wrestlers airtime and opportunities to progress up the card. Just stay the hell away from Brawl for All!!!

COLEMAN: Absolutely not! With realistic presentation in pro wrestling becoming the standard in more promotions, having a title dedicated purely to comedic and entertainment value makes you look a little less than in your presentation even if you are the industry leader. The 24/7 Title was fun while it lasted but it’s been time to move on from it.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice preview WWE Crown Jewel 2022.

Question 1: How excited are you for the WWE Raw Women's Championship being defended in a Last Woman Standing match? Who should walk away the victor?

ALLSOPP: I’m fairly excited, as both women should be able to put on a show here. It is clear this is a stage for both Damage CTRL and the team of Alexa Bliss and Asuka to involve themselves. It is true that the feud has fizzled out somewhat, but I do believe it will still be a fun romp nonetheless. In my eyes, Bianca Belair will retain her WWE Raw Women’s Championship, which is also the correct result I feel.

COLEMAN: I am not very excited for the Bianca Belair vs Bayley match at Crown Jewel because it feels like this feud needs to be over. The issue is Belair doesn’t have a viable challenger that is next in line for her. Belair should not lose this match and I believe she leaves Crown Jewel with her WWE Raw Women’s Title.

DeFELICE: As I said last month, Bayley needs to win. Bianca Belair needs to show vulnerability and Damage CTRL needs some actual leverage. As for the quality of match itself, it is good that WWE is now hosting regular women’s matches in Saudi Arabia, and I think that this match will be a spectacle that the people in the arena will never forget. I’m very excited to see what they do here, but they need to give it to Bayley.

Question 2: Who comes out on top between Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley?

COLEMAN: Bobby Lashley needs to win this match and he needs to win it clean. Lashley has been on a nice run over the past couple of months and really helped re-establish the WWE United States Title during his reign. Lashley needs to keep the momentum going by beating Brock Lesnar clean in the middle at Crown Jewel.

DeFELICE: I’m not against Bobby Lashley winning, but I think it’ll be Brock Lesnar. If Brock Lesnar wins, they will be 1-1, and I’ve got my little delusional heart set on a Fight Pit at WrestleMania. These two men have done a great job building this match and I am looking forward to seeing what they pull off.

ALLSOPP: I’d love for Bobby Lashley to come out on top here, but I cannot see Brock Lesnar losing in Saudi Arabia in a non-title match. It should be a glorious hoss battle, but as legitimate as both men are, Lesnar holds the distinction of being the better Sports Entertainer, therefore the ‘W’ goes his way.

Question 3: Is there any chance that Logan Paul defeats Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship? How would you like the match to play out?

DeFELICE: This match will be built around Logan Paul getting one shot and that one shot resulting in a near fall. Honestly, I kind of hope Roman Roman doesn’t smash him and they give him a good match. You might as well give the people a show since it’s such a foregone conclusion. With Jake Paul being in Logan‘s corner, I wonder if this will start to build to a potential Tag Team Championship run for the brothers. Reigns wins in less than 10 minutes is the way I think this goes.

ALLSOPP: If Logan Paul wins, I dress up as Doink the Clown for work! There is no way in hell that Logan Paul wins the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Crown Jewel. Note I said he won’t win the title, as I feel WWE would love to contrive the result to present Paul as the winner, but not the Champion.

COLEMAN: There is ZERO chance that Logan Paul leaves Crown Jewel as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Z-E-R-O CHANCE! If I were booking this match, I would have Logan Paul go for this Lex Luger Bionic Forearm-adjacent punch and have Roman Reigns duck it. Roman then hits his Superman Punch to floor Logan. Reigns hits the Spear, 1-2-3, cue the fireworks display that would put 4th of July fireworks shows to shame and goodnight.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice discuss the current issues of concussions in professional wrestling.

Question 1: With concussions in wrestling seemingly at an all time high, is there anything the major wrestling promotions can do to mitigate them? Are concussions ultimately unavoidable despite taking precautions in professional wrestling?

ALLSOPP: I seriously believe there needs to be an industry wide training programme implemented sooner, rather than later. This would need to be a series of training events and education on the dangers of concussions. Think about it this way - Christopher Nowinski has been working hard to highlight the issues of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy for many years. Yes, Steel Chair shots to the head are pretty much outlawed these days, and wrestlers are perhaps competing in the safest era of the industry, but further education is required to truly mitigate the risk of concussions. I will admit that part of the danger of being a professional wrestler is injuries, especially head and neck injuries due to the manner of tucking your head. Still, more things can be done to prevent concussions, with the current spike in incidents suggesting that such a training programme would help address some of the issues.

COLEMAN: I believe the biggest thing that pro wrestling promotions can do to mitigate concussions is to train referees extensively to spot the early warning signs of potential concussions, and appoint medical personnel to watch matches to also look for signs of potential concussions. Pro wrestling is similar to boxing, MMA, and Football in that participating in the sport inherently brings a risk of concussions. Limiting moves that are considered high risk could help, but a wrestler could get a concussion from taking a bad flat back bump or a clothesline.

DeFELICE: I don't feel comfortable saying that concussions are unavoidable, and I don't think that is a factor of concussions being at an all-time high, I think it's a case of concussion awareness being at an all-time high. This is a good thing because this means that proper precautions are being taken, as seen with Adam Page. In another era, the match would have been continued and eventually finished but as we saw on Wednesday, things were quickly stopped and the right steps were taken to look after his health.

As for what can be done to mitigate concussions, I think wrestlers do their best to take calculated risks. Sometimes, as we saw with Page, it's the most routine maneuvers that lead to these unfortunate injuries.

Question 2: Hangman Adam Page is reported to have sustained a concussion against Jon Moxley on Dynamite. What are your thoughts on fans booing this - is it an indication that fans generally aren't fully aware of the dangers of concussions?

COLEMAN: My answer to this question is a bit layered. I think fans that boo any athlete being legitimately hurt is disgusting and disrespectful. However, I believe in the specific space of pro wrestling, fans that boo initially should be granted a bit of grace because of how injuries have been used as an angle in the past. Although I don’t agree, I could see a fan’s initial reaction seeing Hangman Adam Page laid out from the King Kong Lariat by Moxley, and having the match called thinking that this was a way to have a non-finish in a match that in my opinion shouldn’t have happened to begin with. Now, if after you see genuine concern from Moxley and the EMTs come out with a stretcher, you still boo, you are a terrible, disgusting human being who should be banned from attending any performing arts event or sports event in person.

I believe wrestling fans that are fans of other sports especially football and boxing are fully aware of the dangers of concussions and brain trauma. The difference is if you see Tom Brady get a hard hit and he lays motionless on the field, no one watching would believe Brady was selling.

DeFELICE: They weren't booing the precautions taken they were booing the fact that a highly-anticipated main event was cut short. I think that's natural. It comes down to feeling and by the end of the night, they were all chanting his name.

ALLSOPP: To boo despite it being clear that there was a genuine injury is a severely egregious mistake on behalf of the fans who did so. It may have been the main event of a show for the AEW World Championship, but the safety of wrestlers is paramount, trumping the importance of actually finishing a match. I'd like to think it was a case of being invested in the bout, but I'm not convinced. Just as wrestlers could do with further education on the risks of concussions, I feel the smart fans should also educate themselves on those risks to apprecaite the hard work put in by wrestlers to provide them with match after match of enjoyment.

Question 3: Bryan Danielson returned to active wrestling following years in the wilderness due to historical concussion issues. Is his return an outlier, or proof that with the right support and monitoring, multiple concussions don't need to result in retirement?

DeFELICE: Daniel Bryan returning, Edge returning, and even Saraya, I think all of these returns have showing that with the proper care, people can continue to perform and do what they love. There's never going to be a single solitary answer as to how athletes in any sport should approach concussions because every human being is different and all we can do is learn as we go. I hope that Adam Page will be back in due time just as I hope the same for Adam Cole.

ALLSOPP: I have issues with wrestlers (and performers in other sports such as Formula One, Rugby, American Football etc) coming back to a sport they have taken a step back from due to serious injury. This is even moreso the case when they have a family, as further injury could end up in a debilitating outcome. From a fan's point of view, I'm glad Bryan Danielsion has returned to the sport he loves, but as a father myself, I do feel worried that one freak incident could result in tragedy. Adam Cole is also reportedly out with a severe concussion a la Danielson, so I hope he takes all the time he needs to recover and identify what he should do next. Safety should always be the number one priority.

COLEMAN: I don’t believe Daniel Bryan’s situation has to be an outlier. I think the more educated everyone in wrestling becomes about concussions, the better everyone in wrestling will be able to provide care, treatment, and resources to improve both short and long-term recovery from concussions.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice review Extreme Rules 2022.

Question 1: What are your thoughts on the overall quality of the show? Was this the best Extreme Rules event for a while?

ALLSOPP: I enjoyed it, which was the main thing for me at a time when I am really enjoying the offerings from WWE. It wasn't perfect, but it was the most enjoyable iteration for me since Extreme Rules 2012. The matches were solid, with nearly all of them pushing at least 3 stars, whilst the performers rode a wave of interest from fans to continue the high level of interest in Triple H's product. It wasn't perfect, but it sure was fun.

COLEMAN: I would have to go back and rewatch some of the previous Extreme Rules events in order to rank Extreme Rules 2022 amongst them, but overall, it was a really good show. I liked that each match had a different stipulation and every match on the card was an ongoing rivalry that having a stipulation-based match made sense. Now, an argument could be made about some of the stipulations, such as Drew McIntyre and Karrion Kross not having a singles match prior to them having a Strap match. However, this doesn’t take away from what was a well-booked and well-constructed card and show.

DeFELICE: This was a solid B- event. I really enjoyed the fact that all of the matches meant something, and they all had stipulations that catered to the event. I think the comeback of Bray Wyatt will be played for years to come, and in a lot of cases, the right individuals won their matches. Overall, this was a solid show that I think sets the stage well for future events under the new regime.

Question 2: Which match stood out to you most as the most enjoyable contest of the night? Conversely, which was the poorest?

COLEMAN: The Old Fashioned Donnybrook Match between Imperium and The Brawlin' Brutes was extremely fun and the most enjoyable match for me at Extreme Rules. I know there is little to no chance that these two teams will face off against each other in WarGames, but I would love to see these two factions blow off their feud in 'The Match Beyond'! These two groups are made for each other.

The poorest match for me was the I Quit Match between Edge and Finn Balor. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the match, and the right person won. I loved that Judgment Day got a much needed win in a big spot, whilst the group looked sinister in doing so. I just don’t feel the rivalry between Balor and Edge called for an I Quit stipulation. If this match was Falls Count Anywhere or a Cage match, I believe it would’ve been much better. The I Quit stipulation nearly made it a foregone conclusion that Balor was going to win the match. We also knew that the likelihood of Edge legitimately quitting due to the amount of punishment he took was extremely low.

DeFELICE: I think the best match on the card was probably the Donnybrook match, but there's also something to be said for the Fight Pit. Well, I think that whilst Daniel Cormier took away from the match a little bit, Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle did a tremendous job in showcasing the event.

ALLSOPP: I was a sucker for Bianca Belair vs Bayley, as I was quite invested in their ongoing storyline. They hit a home run, underlining just how talented Belair is. This was in stark contrast to Liv Morgan vs Ronda Rousey, which continued their trend of mediocrity to put in easily the worst match of the night.

Question 3: How important was the crowd's reaction to the return of Bray Wyatt? How high is his ceiling in WWE now he has returned?

DeFELICE: As I mentioned above, I think this will be played for years and years and years to come. The crowd added so much to this moment, and I think they will be a huge part of his story going forward. Of course, with Bray Wyatt, it always comes down to one thing: the follow-through. If WWE can stick the landing with this one, maybe Wyatt can finally become the star he was always destined to be.

ALLSOPP: That crowd reaction gave me goosebumps! I proudly wear my heart on my sleeve as a huge fan of Bray Wyatt, so I'm relieved that fans were just as excited as I was to see him return. Could he dethrone Roman Reigns? Potentially, but only if The Tribal Chief is not facing The Rock at WrestleMania. Either way, it is clear he is going to be the rock around which SmackDown is booked, which is perfect as the blue brand needs a real star. Here's hoping Wyatt puts his all into his character, with Triple H supporting him to keep it fresh and exciting.

COLEMAN: For the crowd in Philadelphia to react as positively as they did to the return of Bray Wyatt, that has to be seen as instant validation that Triple H and WWE made the right move in bringing him back. Philly is the same city that booed Roman Reigns when he won the Royal Rumble, before proceeding to boo The Rock when he came out to celebrate with Reigns. For that crowd to pop as big as they did was a major thumbs up for WWE.

The answer to the question of how high Wyatt’s WWE ceiling is the same as it’s always been: the ceiling is as high as WWE allows it to be! The original Wyatt Family version of Wyatt’s character was a hit, but bad booking and a lack of confidence ruined him. The Fiend was the best character in all of pro wrestling / sports entertainment, but bad booking (Hell in a Cell vs Seth Rollins, and also losing to Goldberg) combined with a lack of direction for the character absolutely ruined him. I really hope that the third time for Wyatt will be the charm, and that Triple H has a vision for how the new character will work.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice preview Extreme Rules 2022.

Question 1: Who will come out on top between Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins? Is the Fight Pit the perfect stipulation for their feud?

ALLSOPP: I want Matt Riddle to win. It's clear that management have high hopes for him, although Seth Rollins has been producing some of the best work of his career. The Fight Pit stipulation is solid and intriguing, and outside of Hell in a Cell, this is a match option that actually makes perfect sense to end a blood feud.

COLEMAN: Seth Rollins should win this match and then set his sights on the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Whether he will or not, who knows, but I believe Triple H will get it right and have Rollins go over. My question is where does Matt Riddle go once the feud with Rollins is over? Maybe he will become the new target for The Judgment Day?

I don’t mind the Fight Pit stipulation given Riddle’s background as a MMA fighter, but it’s far from the perfect stipulation. I would’ve preferred Falls Count Anywhere and let Rollins and Riddle fight all over the building in a fun, violent match.

DeFELICE: Realistically, Matt Riddle should win. However, I would love to see Seth Rollins win. The Daniel Cormier factor plays a huge role in what will happen, I think. I can see this may be leading into a match for Cormier, especially as WWE looks to head to Saudi Arabia soon. In any case, I love this match concept and I couldn't be happier to see it here.

Question 2: Will Bayley topple Bianca Belair to win the WWE Raw Women's Championship? Should she achieve the win without the support of Damage CTRL?

COLEMAN: Bianca Belair isn’t losing the WWE Raw Women’s Championship just yet, so I don’t see Bayley winning the Ladder match at Extreme Rules. I expect plenty of interference from Damage CTRL that will be combated by Asuka and Alexa Bliss, which will lead to Believe prevailing in the end.

DeFELICE: Bayley has to win. That's pretty much all I have to say about this. Additionally, it's wild that WWE hasn't ever had a singles Ladder match for the women. They picked the right two women. They're going to tear it up in Philadelphia. Again, Bayley has to win.

ALLSOPP: I'll keep this short and sweet - as much as I love Bianca Belair, Bayley needs to win here so we can have a female version of Evolution running Raw on a weekly basis.

Question 3: Who will be victorious in the I Quit match between Edge and Finn Balor? How vital is it for Judgment Day that Balor wins?

DeFELICE: Finn Balor needs to win this match. Judgment Day is finally getting a groove going, and a loss here would be catastrophic. I'm looking forward to all of this match shenanigans and all. It's surprising to me that Edge has never had an I Quit Match and he's all but telegraphed that he will be surrendering, not due to some physical punishment, but an emotional reason. I fully expect Edge's family to be involved in some way here and I expect to see Balor pick up his first major singles victory in a long time.

ALLSOPP: I can't see past a Finn Balor victory, but only because his victory would give Judgment Day a real sense of purpose. After sinking without a trace, Judgment Day has been revived by Balor, and he only deserves a huge win to give himself and the stable ultimate credibility.

COLEMAN: I can’t see Finn Balor losing this match and then going back to being leader of Judgment Day, so I’ll say Balor wins. Not sure how he wins, but I don’t know what would happen if he loses an I Quit match to Edge.

Judgment Day needs a signature win under their belt, so I would definitely say that Balor winning on Saturday is vital for Judgment Day to look and feel imposing.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice discuss the current state of WWE's women's division.

Question 1: Should Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky have won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship through winning the tournament? Is their victory on Raw a sign that WWE knows they made a mistake?

ALLSOPP: I'll argue all day, every day, that Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky should have won the women's tournament. They are the Class A Team on Raw, and as such, they should have won to hammer home the point that an actual team with a plan should triumph over a mismatched team. Alas, that didnt happen, but correcting their mistake almost instantly says a lot about how WWE made the wrong decision.

COLEMAN: I’m not going to say Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky should’ve won the Women’s Tag Titles in the tournament because I didn’t have a problem with Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez winning the tournament. It was well booked, and WWE went back to the tournament final by acknowledging that Kai wasn’t legal when she was pinned. It’s funny because I’ve seen plenty of tag matches where it feels like legal tags were never made yet falls still occur. The victory on Raw for Damage CTRL was Triple H basically saying 'okay, we did the upset finish, we established Aliyah and Rodriguez as a legitimate tag team, now let’s elevate the titles more'. It wasn’t a mistake. Transitional champions have been a part of pro wrestling since I’ve been a fan. Both matches happened on Raw. It’s not like they gave away a main event of a pay-per-view or something on Raw.

DeFELICE: Yes, they should have won to begin with, but I'm not under the impression that it's an ultimate mistake that they didn't. They corrected course quickly enough, and I believe that the decision was made to simply drag it out so that there would be more to announce for future episodes of Monday Night Raw. To look at things from a positive perspective, Aliyah got a moment on Monday Night Raw that she will never forget, and I'm not sure she'll ever get another one like that, so that was special. Now, the belts are on Dakota Kai and IYO SKY, where they should have been all along. All is well.

Question 2: Will Toxic Attraction achieve success on the main roster? Do they need Mandy Rose's association to be accepted by fans?

COLEMAN: If Toxic Attraction remains a faction, they will be successful. I don’t believe either participant is great enough to break out as a solo or a tag team without the others. Their greatest strength is together.

And yes, Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne need Mandy Rose to be accepted by fans initially. Once they get established, then they wouldn’t need Mandy Rose.

DeFELICE: They should absolutely bring Mandy Rose with them. She already has main roster experience, and it's time for her to get back to that landscape, especially with her newfound confidence. I think that Jacy Jayne and Gigi Dolin will do just fine, but the association with Rose will lead to better things in the future, maybe even a match against Damage CTRL.

ALLSOPP: I absolutely love Toxic Attraction. Not only are they a fierce team, but Gigi Dolin has 'it'! They are seasoned as team, which would translate well on the main roster. In theory. But in order to successfully make the transition, they need to be associated with the legitimacy that Mandy Rose brings to the main roster.

Question 3: Should Sasha Banks and Naomi return to WWE and immediately set their sights on the titles they never lost in the ring? Or would they be better suited to single runs?

DeFELICE: Sasha Banks and Naomi definitely need to come back together because they're now so closely associated with one another. However, I think they're doing great outside of wrestling, and there's no rush to bring them back, especially as they get more eyes on wrestling by doing awesome things such as walking the runway of New York Fashion Week. Could they come back and go for the titles? Sure they can. It's a ready-made story. However, one of them could also come back, win the Royal Rumble, and be in the main event of WrestleMania. The world is their oyster right now, and I think all parties involved should take advantage of the unique situation they've been presented.

ALLSOPP: I'm at the point now where I don't care. Triple H's revolution appears to be working without them, but I will admit they would boost SmackDown, either as a team or competitors. I just wish fans weren't left in limbo.

COLEMAN: Sasha Banks and Naomi should definitely set their sights on the tag titles upon their return to WWE and win them! Don’t overthink it. Both ladies have plenty of time to go back to the singles ranks. Banks and Naomi should have a long tag team title run and have the team who eventually beats them be elevated.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice discuss the return of WarGames to WWE, which will be a part of this year's Survivor Series.

Question 1: Which men's WarGames match would you most like to see at Survivor Series?

ALLSOPP: I'm all for The Bloodline vs anyone else, purely for the simple fact that The Bloodline are the MVP's of WWE in 2022. I will admit that Judgment Day vs The Bloodline sounds fantastic, but heel vs heel doesn't really work. No matter which two teams battle, I expect The Bloodline to end the show tall, highlighting just how much of a vicegrip they have over the company.

COLEMAN: I'm pretty certain we can pencil in The Bloodline as one of the teams in the men’s WarGames match. The only question is will it be 4 man teams or 5 man teams. Considering the match is taking place at Survivor Series, and traditional Survivor Series matches were 5 vs 5, I will make my prediction based on 5 v 5. The Bloodline (consisting of Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa, and Sami Zayn) vs Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch. I feel like this match makes the most sense from a storyline and booking perspective.

To answer the question about the match I would most like to see without taking into account storyline and booking, The Bloodline vs Imperium, Drew McIntyre, and Kevin Owens would be my fantasy booking pick!

DeFELICE: Undoubtedly, the men's WarGames will be built around Roman Reigns and The Bloodline. What we don't know as of yet is how many participants will be in each WarGames match, and whether or not they will allow for cross-brand action. Regardless, I think the build to this match and coming out of it will be built around Sami Zayn and his relationship to the Samoans. If we go with the five-on-five structure, Zayn can lose the match for the team which can lead to them finally turning on him, or he can turn on them mid-match, leading to a victory for the babyfaces.

If a four-on-four structure is preferred, then perhaps Zayn is already on the side of the babyfaces, which could be Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, maybe Johnny Gargano, and himslef. Either way, I see this being a much-needed addition to the show, and I think whatever happens will be must-see.

Question 2: Which women's WarGames match would you most like to see at Survivor Series?

COLEMAN: As certain as I am The Bloodline will be a part of the men’s WarGames Match, I’m equally certain Damage CTRL will be a part of the women’s match. I think we will see Damage CTRL, Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop vs Bianca Belair, Sasha Banks, Naomi, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss.

The women’s WarGames I would like to see would be Damage CTRL, Mandy Rose, and Rhea Ripley vs Belair, Banks, Naomi, Asuka and a returning Becky Lynch (not sure how long her injury will keep her out for).

DeFELICE: Much like I mentioned above, we don't know how many participants will be involved, what the structure will be, and if we are allowing for cross-brand warfare. Damage CTRL seems like an obvious trio that you can slot for this match, but what will they do?

On the one hand, they can an add a member or two and go up against babyfaces like Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Raquel Rodriguez, Aliyah, and Asuka. However, if we take the 2017 WarGames match as a precedent, they could go in there as a trio against the Monday Night Raw team that they have been fighting, and maybe even add Toxic Attraction from NXT.

I'm also not completely sold that this won't factor in the potential returns of Sasha Banks and Naomi. With the two of them, they can easily complete a team of five and it would add even more intrigue to a first time ever match on the main roster, not to mention fill out Banks’ already impressive resume as a trendsetter and groundbreaker. There is also the slight chance that Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler get together and they can be a part of one of these teams, adding star power and an element of danger to a match that desperately needs both in order to properly function and tell the right story in this first voyage.

In short, I'm not comfortable naming a match that I feel could actually happen at this event yet, but I know that the roster WWE has lends itself to a ton of great possible combinations.

ALLSOPP: I'm torn between both Greg and Robert's answers, as they both lend themselves to fantastic arguments. I feel the women's WarGames match needs to feature Damage CTRL teaming up with Toxic Atrraction (sans Mandy Rose) to take on the faces that make up Raw's women's division. This would be Bianca Belair, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, and as much as I hate to predict it... Sasha Banks and Naomi. Either way, no matter which participants are in the match, it promises to be another fantastic step for women's wrestling in WWE.

Question 3: Will the appeal of WarGames lead to a bigger viewership for Survivor Series? Is this a much better option than the usual emphasis on so called 'Brand Warfare'?

DeFELICE: I don't know if it will lead to more viewers as I think that there is a very set number of individuals watching professional wrestling of any kind. I do, however, believe that Survivor Series has needed this kick in the pants for many years now. Over ten years ago, WWE was flirting with the idea of getting rid of the event altogether, and for more than half a decade now, they have relied on the gimmick of Raw vs SmackDown in order to make one of its oldest pay-per-view events seem special once more.

However, the last couple of Survivor Series events made little to no sense in regards to the brand warfare because, most of the time, the teams fighting for brand supremacy were built from individuals that had just been drafted to the shows mere weeks before the event. I think there are more clever ways to utilize the Survivor Series event and the tag team matches the event lends itself to, and bringing WarGames to the main roster is something that arguably could have been done over 20 years ago in order to revitalize the event.

I also do not believe that WarGames being a part of the event means that we can't also have traditional Survivor Series Elimination Matches. While I am not holding my breath, I think this could be one of the most enjoyable Survivor Series events in recent years.

ALLSOPP: I will keep this short but sweet - lapsed fans of WWE who have defected to AEW will be suitably intrigued by WarGames, which can only add to the prestige of one of WWE's longest running pay-per-views.

COLEMAN: I’m not sure if the inclusion of WarGames at Survivor Series will lead to a bigger viewership or not, because most people who watch the WWE product were likely going to watch Survivor Series anyways. I do think that there will be a heightened sense of anticipation for this year’s Survivor Series compared to the previous years under the Raw vs SmackDown format.

In my opinion, the brand warfare format was the worst format in Survivor Series history due to the lack of stakes associated with it. The brand that won the night didn’t receive anything of merit for doing so. Now having WarGames to look forward to will make Survivor Series a lot more interesting.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice discuss The Fallout of All Out. An event that should have been lauded as a success has been tainted by the actions of those who should really know better. But who is really to blame?

Question 1: What did you think of CM Punk's outbursts during the All Out media scrum? Do you support his views?

ALLSOPP: The more I rewatch the media scrum, the more I feel ashamed. Don't get me wrong, I fully understand why he may have felt justified in his rant, but it leaves such a black eye on AEW that any benefit to the company from a decent All Out show has been wasted. AEW feels like a joke, as such unprofessional behaviour would never take place in WWE. I don't support his views, especially when the company looks bad in the process.

COLEMAN: Regardless of how CM Punk feels he had been wronged by The Elite and Hangman Adam Page during his tenure in AEW, what Punk did at that media scrum after All Out was selfish and unprofessional. Punk is dead wrong for how he chose to handle that situation. Now, if The Young Bucks were leaking information about him to defame him and smear him, shame on them! However, according to multiple respected members of pro wrestling media, The Bucks never said anything to them about Punk getting Colt Cabana fired from AEW, so now he looks even worse. And not excusing it but it’s a big difference between airing grievances behind closed doors than airing them for the world to see. The Curtain Call was an issue not because the Kliq were friends, it’s because they displayed their friendship to the public!

The promo in question that Punk feels Page crossed the line occurred before Double or Nothing in May. I repeat: the promo occurred in MAY! The fact that Punk sat for 3 months when he could’ve made a phone call or scheduled a sit down with Hangman Page but chose not and instead chose to go scorched earth after AEW’s biggest show of the year is unacceptable, regardless of what Jim Cornette says. If a person working in sales felt slighted by their boss over something the boss said 3 months ago, and instead of addressing it in private or escalating the complaint to his boss’s boss, decided to wait until he was the lead presenter at a yearly shareholder meeting to air his grievances with his boss, would that person be right? Would that person still have a job? And it doesn’t seem real to me that the man who dropped The Pipe Bomb where he called out The Rock and John Cena for being kiss asses would be that upset about Hangman’s promo, but here we are.

Nevermind the fact that Punk had just won back the AEW World Championship, and MJF finally returned to set up AEW’s next big title program. Instead of starting to build Punk vs MJF III, he chose to use that time and that platform to demean The Elite and Hangman Page. A man who can speak to an audience of millions not being able to speak 4 men is mind boggling. Backstage disputes and issues have happened in every wrestling promotion since pro wrestling was a business. We’ve heard about a lot of them and some we haven’t heard about. The main and biggest difference between those incidents and what Punk did in the media scrum is that I can go pull up video of Punk doing what he did. Video that will live forever. Terrible look for such a great wrestler.

As far as supporting his views, if he feels wronged he’s entitled to express himself but time, place, and manner of expression matter. Punk chose wrong in all three of those areas.

DeFELICE: My position on the comments made by CM Punk at the media scrum, as neutral as they may be, are that they came from a man that is full of hurt and frustration. I'm sure there maybe some regret on his part but I don't feel okay about judging him when it's very clear that his comments came from a very emotional place and who among us hasn't gotten overly personal when talking about a fractured relationship from a place of hurt? I feel as though to suggest I am for, or against, anything he said would that be right as we simply don't know any of the facts regarding the initial situation that set this situation off back in May.

Question 2: Does AEW have a discipline problem backstage? Will the reported backstage fight have long term consequences for current and future sponsors?

COLEMAN: I think AEW has a cultural problem backstage, and a lot of that starts at the very top with Tony Khan. He’s created an environment where everyone can be them and pretty much do as they please in so long as they honor the terms of their contract as it pertains to working in other promotions, Twitch, etc. The issue becomes when you have a person that wants to take even more than what they’re already given. At that point, leadership has to be ready to effectively punish the guilty party to send a message that this kind of behavior won’t be allowed.

I don’t know Khan personally, but he doesn’t really strike me as disciplinarian, which isn’t a bad thing. However, it would be beneficial if he had someone on his team that was. If there is no structure or order there will be chaos and the last thing you can have as a business is an environment where the inmates run the asylum. As bad as Shawn Michaels was in the mid-90s based on several credible witness accounts, even he didn’t do what Punk did on a major public stage. I do wonder how WWE would’ve handled that media scrum. I can’t imagine Vince McMahon or Stephanie McMahon just sitting there like Khan did but I could be wrong.

I don’t believe this one incident will cost AEW long term as far as sponsors go. It didn’t happen on national television, so those outside of the pro wrestling ecosystem are oblivious to it. Now if Punk’s rant kicked off Dynamite, that would be an entirely different situation.

DeFELICE: I don't know if it's a discipline problem. Many individuals involved in this altercation were suspended, including many that we're not even sure what their involvement in the backstage fight was. However, perception is reality end the perception around this company right now is that they are an absolute mess. That is something they need to work on. It appears that even before the situation, they were doing more to restructure the backstage culture of the company and I can only hope that what happened after All Out was just a bump in the road and not a sign of things to come.

There could be an issue down the line with sponsors, but I highly doubt it. This is very much an in-house issue.

ALLSOPP: As Greg says, AEW clearly has a cultural problem. It is clear that Tony Khan has not had a grip of the discipline with certain wrestlers for a while now. That much was evident when he never shut down CM Punk during the media scrum, and almost seemed to sink into his seat. Vince McMahon would never have done that. As too would Triple H be too much of a disciplinarian to allow that shit. If I was a sponsor, I'd be concerned that so called EVP's have contributed to a situation that resulted in their suspension, not to mention the supposed legal ramifications.

Question 3: Should anyone be punished with dismissal as a result of the backstage fight? Can they ever be trusted to work a future programme together?

DeFELICE: The prevailing belief is still that CM Punk’s status with the company is up in the air. He is currently injured and in need of surgery. there is also the matter of a third-party investigation that relates to this incident. I don't think anyone should be fired. I honestly believe that they should find a way to let bygones be bygones and turn this into business. However, if they are beyond that, then I hope that whatever solution comes about, it brings peace to all involved.

ALLSOPP: I'm going to be brief with my opinion here - all involved should have their contracts terminated. In most other industries, this would be an automatic dismissal. In order to set a positive precedent and deter future issues, there needs to be consequences. Especially as I wouldn't trust either party to safely compete against the other. This is a business that relies on trust and safety.

COLEMAN: Everyone involved should at bare minimum be suspended, if for no other reason than to let everyone cool off. If the accounts of the violence are true on CM Punk and Ace Steele’s part and it wasn’t in self-defense, Steele definitely has to go and Punk should be at the bare minimum suspended indefinitely, fined, and stripped of his title with possible termination, especially if Punk refuses to apologize or make amends. If the accounts are true that The Elite kicked in Punk’s door to confront him, they should be suspended, fined, and be removed from the position of EVP. Tony Khan’s biggest concern now is effectively punishing the guilty parties to the point that no other talent or staff tries this again.

Edge worked with Matt Hardy after the whole Lita situation. Bret Hart worked with Shawn Michaels after all of their drama, even though Vince ultimately chose Michaels over Hart, and Hart ended up spitting on him and knocking him silly. Anything is possible, but Punk said it’s past the point of apologies so I’m not sure there is anything left to salvage. Also I believe the benefit of the doubt would be gone if Punk works Kenny Omega and Omega lands V-Trigger a little stiffer than he intended or if Punk hits Omega a little too hard with the GTS. In order to work together well in a wrestling ring trust has to be there between both men/women. I don’t see Punk trusting The Elite and Hangman Adam Page anytime soon and vice versa.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Robert DeFelice preview the first major wrestling pay-per-view in the United Kingdom since SummerSlam 1992. Just how exciting will this overdue event be?

Question 1: Should Riddle vs Seth Rollins have taken place at SummerSlam instead of Clash at the Castle? Who most needs to come.out on top here?

ALLSOPP: I will admit to being very disappointed that we didn't get this match at SummerSlam, especially as Clash at the Castle didn't really need it as a huge draw for the show. Thankfully, we are indeed finally getting this match, and both men have made me care more for this feud than I thought possible. I am going to give the win to Riddle, as I feel this should be a springboard for him to secure a shot at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, this time under more fortuitous circumstances.

COLEMAN: I’ll answer the second question first and say that Seth Rollins should win to continue the feud. The interaction between the two on Monday night was phenomenal, and it definitely has the makings of a long-term feud. I would’ve liked to have seen the first match happen at SummerSlam and have this weekend’s match be the second match in the series.

DeFELICE: No, the match shouldn't have taken place at SummerSlam. I think that they actually did a really good thing by delaying the match. Under Triple H, both men have been thriving in this small rivalry, with the promo segment on the final Monday Night Raw before Clash at the Castle being very special, and a true sign of change underneath this new WWE creative version.

Personally, I believe that Seth Rollins should win and set himself up as the person to next challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. No matter what, the match should be really good, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do in the ring together.

Question 2: Will Judgment Day defeat Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, and Edge? With the event taking place in the UK, should we see a face turn for Bálor?

COLEMAN: Judgment Day gets the win when Dominik Mysterio finally turns heel. I don’t believe Finn Bálor should turn face because that would be yet another change to Judgment Day. Adding Dominik to the fold will be good enough as a surprise for that match.

DeFELICE: Surprisingly, I don’t think we will see any face turn. I believe we will see the heel turn of Dominik Mysterio. Ultimately, I believe that Finn Bálor is doing some of his best work on the main roster, simply because he’s actually being used in a different light. Bálor on the main roster for the last six years has been mostly a bust, and the Judgment Day under his leadership was terrible in the beginning, but I feel like they have finally started to get their feet under them and the turn of Dominik on his father is the next step. I'm actually really looking forward to the match as I am a big fan of what all four men bring to the ring, and I like the story between Dominik and Rhea Ripley on the outside.

ALLSOPP: I will admit to prefering Finn Bálor as a heel, but that is because I experienced the evil bastard version of Prince Devitt in NJPW. This version of Bálor is not one I can fully buy into, therefore I would apprciate a face turn, if only to satiate the UK fans in attendance. As my colleagues have stated, I am going with Judgment Day coming out on top by virtue of Dominik Mysterio turning heel, as this is the storyline narrative they have been building to.

Question 3: Who walks out of the event as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion?

DeFELICE: I believe Drew McIntyre should walk out of the event as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. However, because they spent two years talking about it, I believe that Tyson Fury will cost Drew McIntyre the match, setting up a match between the two at the next Saudi Arabia event. That’s not what I want to see, it’s just where I think that they will go. Personally, I think that McIntyre should absolutely get to have his moment and dethrone Roman Reigns at the first major UK pay-per-view in two decades, and the first stadium show in three.

There is a belief that McIntyre is not on the level of a competitor that could defeat Reigns. I don’t agree with this. I think McIntyre is absolutely at that level and more importantly, WWE has to start sending a message again that championship belts can change hands at any time. Unfortunately, I think that they will ultimately choose to not pull the trigger, but this is a great chance to do something different with Reigns.

ALLSOPP: I cannot see past Drew McIntyre, as it is a UK event that screams the (fairly) local boy wins. If not, Roman Reigns continues to excel as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but fans who are desperate for a change are left feeling rather apathetic towards the whole thing.

COLEMAN: Roman Reigns. Drew McIntyre should win this match and have a great moment in his home country by ending Roman Reigns' reign, which honestly needs to end. However, I don’t believe Reigns loses here, and McIntyre moves on to a feud with Karrion Kross.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Tony Mango discuss how NXT UK will soon make way for NXT Europe, but just how successful will this new brand be, and what purpose will it serve in WWE's grand empire?

Question 1: Has the demise of NXT UK been a surprise to you? Overall, has the brand been a success?

ALLSOPP: It hasn't been a surprise to me, as I feel the inception of NXT UK came at a time when ITV Sport were rebranding World of Sport, therefore the entire brand seemed like a knee jerk reaction to that. However, the brand has put on some fantastic matches, leading to a number of promotions to NXT and the main roster. It served its purpose well, showcasing lesser known stars such as Xia Brookside and Dave Mastiff, but this feels like the right time to shut it down.

COLEMAN: Given how little WWE has done to promote and feature NXT UK compared to when NXT UK first started, I am not surprised at the demise of NXT UK. There were some classic matches in NXT UK if you actually had the bandwidth to watch on a regular basis. The problem for me was I didn’t always have the time, especially at the time the day show aired.

Overall, I would say NXT UK was a success based on the talent that it introduced to the greater WWE audience.

MANGO: It's sad to say I'm not surprised in the slightest. In fact, when NXT India and NXT Japan fell through at the start of the pandemic, I was calling for NXT UK to come to a close, too. The idea is sound and makes sense, but I think the creation of AEW and COVID-19 destroyed the expansion effort and ruined the whole concept. NXT going into other borders only works if there is a block in every corner of the world. Just keeping it to UK is superfluous. That, coupled with how few of the talent transitioned to NXT or the main roster, along with how little the views actually got (because virtually no one seems to watch this show) means I'd rule it mostly a failure, rather than a success, even though there were wins along the way.

Question 2: Should any European wrestler currently signed to WWE be used as the face of NXT Europe from the start?

COLEMAN: Yes, and I actually have two wrestlers who currently signed to WWE who should be the faces of NXT Europe: Finn Balor and Pete Dunne (not Butch!). Both of these men have the star power to make NXT Europe credible and you would have the two men who you can build around as a face and heel respectively.

MANGO: I'm unaware of anyone who wasn't in the WWE system who could be available to make a big splash in the European wrestling scene on their own as an alternative. It pretty much has to be someone within this current roster who gets a rocket strapped to them. Sheamus would be a great option, as he would bring legitimacy to the title, being a former multi-time world champion. Finn Balor would be another great option. Harry Smith, if they were to ever bring him back, could work, too.

ALLSOPP: Pete Dunne would be a fine option if WWE is prepared to loosen his appeal as Butch, but I feel the best option would be Sheamus. He has achieved everything there is to achieve in WWE, so becoming the catalyst for a new upstart brand in WWE seems like his last final hurrah before he retires and enters the Hall of Fame.

Question 3: Will NXT Europe be successful? What should the ultimate purpose of the brand be?

MANGO: Since we don't know how it will differ from NXT UK, its hard to tell. I would hope it would be more than just the same thing, but with more countries available to pick from. NXT UK already had people from New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere. If they try to make it on par with Raw, SmackDown and NXT out of the gate, I don't think it will go well. But if we get some new kind of territory system with less of a mountain to climb, it could work.

ALLSOPP: It all depends on the talent. Europe as a whole has some fantastic independent promotions with some incredible talent, whilst many talented Europeans litter the American independent promotions. And that is without mentioning NJPW, which often signs Gaijins to short term contracts. With Triple H in charge, it has every chance to succeed, but the visibility of the product needs to be better than a few YouTube videos on the official WWE YouTube channel. Ultimately, the brand needs to be a viable alternative to NXT, featuring the stiff and electric style that promotions such as WXW are known for.

COLEMAN: Whether NXT Europe will be successful remains to be seen. It will depend on the model and the talent it gets. The purpose of NXT Europe should be to introduce European wrestlers to the WWE/NXT audience and to increase WWE's presence in Europe. I also think NXT UK talent shouldn’t have to exclusively work for NXT UK. Imagine being able to get Will Ospreay or Zack Sabre, Jr for a Takeover match?!

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Joshua Jones discuss whether or not the Brand Spli should end.

Despite Raw and SmackDown being two different shows, they feel very similar in production and presentation. Would a Draft help, or should the entire endeavour be ended?

Question 1: Should WWE continue with the Raw and SmackDown brand split?

ALLSOPP: Unless there is a plan to keep the brands separated by a stark difference in presentation, then I feel the brand split should come to an end. Raw and SmackDown should carry their own distinct flavour and identity, much like Raw and SmackDown had in 2002 and 2003, but in 2022, all we have is a set of shows that serve the same purpose. Something needs to change.

COLEMAN: The brand split should continue, but only if WWE is prepared to fully commit to it! The brand split would allow WWE to effectively create two different promotions under one company umbrella. You could have all of the “sports entertainers” on one show, and all of the “pro wrestlers” on the other show. If you wanted to have one World Champion and one set of Tag Team Champions that were able to appear and compete on each show, that would be fine. This half-ass brand split they have now ain’t it.

JONES: As long as there are two championships representing both brands, it’ll be difficult to keep the two separate. Being a fan of the Ruthless Aggression Era, I prefer there being separate championships on each brand, but I also enjoyed when Raw and SmackDown had their own unique identities and feel. Hopefully we can go back to that.

Question 2: Would an Autumn Draft be a positive event? Or should a Draft be delayed until after WrestleMania?

COLEMAN: If WWE’s season ends after WrestleMania, then the most appropriate timing for the Draft in my opinion would be in the Summer, perhaps before Money in the Bank. This would be more reflective of how major sports handle their Drafts. If you wanted to do a fall event, I think a supplemental Draft would be awesome. WWE would mandate that each show would have to make a certain number of their talent available to be drafted by another brand, and if that talent is drafted to another show, that is their new home. If the talent isn’t drafted, they would stay on their current show.

JONES: It depends on what storyline the WWE is pushing at the time. If a feud needs to have its proper conclusion at WrestleMania, then by all means put the Draft afterward to keep things fresh. It also kind of depends on how invested the audience is to a particular feud or person on either Raw or SmackDown. When John Cena was drafted to Raw in 2005, a lot of people were invested in him, so it kind of made sense to put him on what was considered the A show.

ALLSOPP: I’m in favour of a post WrestleMania Draft. WWE has a sense of change at the moment with the recent returnees, therefore it can be argued there is less of a need to refresh the product. After WrestleMania, there is always a need to reset, which is why a Draft should take place at that point. To do it now would reek of desperation.

Question 3: Should NXT 2.0 be part of a Draft? Which main roster superstar would most benefit from a Finn Balor-esque return to NXT?

JONES: I think NXT in its current state should remain a developmental brand. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t send NXT stars to the main shows during the Draft if you feel they are ready. A main roster star I’d like to see go back to NXT is Happy Corbin, just because it would be curious to see if he would return to his old lone wolf gimmick.

ALLSOPP: 110% yes! NXT 2.0 starts need to seem like a big deal. As does the brand itself, which is why I would have Kevin Owens return to create some new storylines and freshen up what seems to be a stale character.

COLEMAN: NXT 2.0 should definitely be a part of the Draft! I think it’s a huge missed opportunity that NXT 2.0 doesn’t have a great presence on the main roster when the opportunities present themselves (such as Money in the Bank and Royal Rumble).

There are several main roster superstars that would benefit from a return to NXT, but the one who would benefit the most is Ricochet! He seemingly has never gotten out of second gear in his time on the main roster. Most importantly, Ricochet never became NXT Champion because of how stacked NXT was when he was there. A return to NXT would make Ricochet a bigger star when he finally returned to the main roster, and allow him to do some more character work.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Greg Coleman and Tony Mango discuss who could possibly return to Triple H's new vision of WWE.

Triple H is now on top of WWE in terms of creative and talent relations - so who should he bring back into the warm embrace of the company?

Question 1: Which tag team do you feel WWE should bring back to WWE to compete with The Usos and The Street Profits?

ALLSOPP: I was a mark for NXT’s version of The Authors of Pain, but seeing them squandered on the main roster was pitiful. With Triple H in charge, I could reasonably see them returning and creating a similar presence to the one they enjoyed in NXT. They could even serve Seth Rollins again, and I would still eat that up. WWE could benefit from some extra tag teams to shore up the division, and AOP certainly would benefit the division as a whole.

COLEMAN: A lot of different places you could go here given how many tag teams have come and gone in the past few years with Vince McMahon running things. If I had to pick a tag team that I would like to see come back to compete with The Street Profits and The Usos, it would be DIY. Tommaso Ciampa is already on Raw, and with Triple H now being head of creative, I think WWE has a great chance of re-signing Johnny Gargano to reunite DIY on the main roster. DIY is one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history and they could have amazing matches with both The Usos and The Street Profits as either heels or faces.

MANGO: The only tag team that makes any sense to me, logically, is for Johnny Gargano to return and re-team with Tommaso Ciampa. #DIY is one of my favorite teams of the modern era. While they're individually awesome and I want to see both win world titles in singles action, they also kill it with the tag team action. I'm 100% down for those two against The Usos.

Question 2: Which previously released woman should return to WWE to challenge for either of the Women’s Championships? Can anyone rival the level of surprise and intrigue that Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky have provided so far?

COLEMAN: This question is a little tricky as most of the prominent women that were released by WWE in recent years are currently working at other promotions, and I’m sure they are under contract. If this wasn’t the case my answer would’ve been Deonna Purrazzo as I feel WWE never really gave her a chance to show what she could do, and she’s proven to be one of the best women's wrestlers in the world during her time in Impact Wrestling. If I have to pick a free agent, the answer is Nia Jax to have her challenge Bianca Belair. It would be a fresh matchup for Belair as champion and Nia is a physically imposing opponent that would pose a serious threat to Belair.

A Kairi Sane return would be on the level of the Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky surprise at SummerSlam. Like Purrazzo and a few other women, Sane never really got an opportunity to make a mark on the main roster. If she were to make a surprise return to save Asuka or as an entrant in the Royal Rumble, it would create a high level of excitement and intrigue.

MANGO: Plenty people I'd love to see come back are already signed to other companies, like Toni Storm in AEW or Mia Yim in Impact Wrestling. Taya Valkyrie would have been an option, as well as Mickie James. But as far as I'm aware, one of the only ones who is free enough to return to WWE is Tegan Nox. Put her in the NXT UK women's title hunt immediately. Give her the run she never got a chance to have in WWE. Or, if you've got room for her on the main roster, give her a spot on Raw or SmackDown.

ALLSOPP: I’m 100% behind a Kairi Sane return. She was such an adorable face in the women’s division, but it felt as if she missed out on a true ending to her tenure with the company. Returning would give yet another solid hand a shot at attaining immortality as Women’s Champion. Liv Morgan would also benefit so much to face Sane in an extended feud.

Question 3: Which previously released wrestler should come back to WWE to feature in the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship scene? Is anyone capable of taking the challenge to Roman Reigns through this method?

MANGO: It's a shame Keith Lee is in AEW and probably locked into a contract. He's someone I would imagine Triple H would be far more into actually pushing into a main event spot. But since that's the case, maybe Braun Strowman has a future back in WWE. Control Your Narrative isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. I wouldn't want to see Strowman immediately against Reigns, since we did see that feud the last time he was around, but I've always been an advocate of Strowman in the main event scene.

ALLSOPP: Windham Rotunda. But as Windham, and not Bray Wyatt. No trace of The Fiend, as much as I absolutely loved the dark character. Windham is one of the most intelligent brains in wrestling, and I genuinely believe he is a much better wrestler than fans give him credit for. He could easily become WWE Champion again if the Undisputed WWE Universal Chmpionship is split up, and would carry a significant amount of legitimacy to WWE’s main event scene. And yes, that does mean taking on The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.

COLEMAN: A repackaged Bray Wyatt is my pick. Wyatt has consistently been one of the best talents in WWE from a character perspective. However, it always seemed as if Vince McMahon didn’t believe in him. Wyatt never had long title reigns and lacks signature wins in big matches, so there is room to grow and develop his resume within WWE. A returning Wyatt could definitely challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Wyatt would be even more formidable if he reformed The Wyatt Family with Erik Rowan and Braun Strowman upon his return!

Bonus Question: Which current AEW Superstar do you think is most likely to return to WWE in the very near future?

ALLSOPP: Miro - and he needs to be presented as a real coup by WWE.

COLEMAN: Andrade El Idolo. I’m sure he’s happy to now have RUSH in AEW with him, but the opportunity to work with his wife, Charlotte Flair, again would be something Andrade would welcome I assume. Also Andrade had a pretty good run in NXT under Triple H, so it stands to reason that he would be able to utilize Andrade better than Vince McMahon could.

MANGO: I'd imagine most of the talent has signed long enough contracts that we won't see them available to return for quite some time. Folks like Malakai Black might want to come back, but may not be able to until something like 2026 or so, for all we know. Shawn Spears is one of the few that I think could possibly come back before a lot of others, though, depending on when he last signed a deal and for how long. He isn't doing too much in AEW to justify sticking around there.

Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?

Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!

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