Joseph Staszewski of The Post takes you thru the world of wrestling every Tuesday in his weekly Post Match Angle column.(*39*)
It’s pretty clear which match should be the main event of WrestleMania 39 Night 1, even when WWE might think otherwise.(*39*)
The web wrestling community had a heated debate last week’s report from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer that, no less than for now, WWE is planning a SmackDown Women’s Championship match between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley for the Night 1 main event. This may mean Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. The Usos for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships could be moved elsewhere.(*39*)
I can understand all the the reason why WWE would want Flair and Ripley to be here, seeing as the latter should earn a spot in the “main event” by winning the Royal Rumble, the history of those two goes back to their WrestleMania 36 match and the women are instead of the main event is great for promoting the division.(*39*)
That being said, Flair has only been back since December, and the two have only had significant televised contact on two occasions since, although last week’s brawl on SmackDown and Rhea’s intense Raw promotion made a transparent story and evened things out somewhat. I even have little doubt that Ripley and Flair may have a improbable match, nevertheless it doesn’t need to be a main event. Despite the narrative WWE is attempting to push, Ripley is already a star and doesn’t need a main event win to anoint her like Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch did at WrestleMania 35 two years ago. (*39*)
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If it was Ripley vs. Belair for the first time on Mania and WWE would have a probability to advertise their recent young stars, possibly you’ll persuade me. But the case of Zayn and Owens vs. The Usos is so overwhelming.(*39*)
It is a story that is been in the making for nearly a full yr when Zayn first approached Roman Reigns for The Bloodline’s assistance on April 22, 2022, with Owens warning him of the consequences from the start. Zayn is arguably the hottest babyface in the WWE, and he and Owens created magic on SmackDown, reuniting as brothers and culminating in a handshake that received a nuclear blast. Based on Wrestle Ops, the video of that moment was viewed roughly 10 million times in lower than 24 hours on WWE’s social media. A victory for Owens and Zayn would end the longest reign in WWE history. (*39*)
![WWE](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/EC_02182023RF_31423.jpg?w=1024)
Placing this match anywhere aside from in the main event means someone – or multiple matches – may have to follow it, which is a tough place. If WWE really cares about women’s main event matches, move the tag match to Sunday and tell that story on Night 2.(*39*)
Because by bringing Cody Rhodes into Zayn-Owens’ story as a mediator of friendship, you’ve got combined their two missions and created the overwhelming narrative of this WrestleMania about stripping the Bloodline of all gold and ending their dominance. It’s a superb thing Zayn spooked Jey Uso by telling him deep down that he’d slightly him than Zayn take the chair at Reigns – potentially setting the WrestleMania turn. By placing a match tag in the main slot of the Night 1 event, you could have the probability to inform the first two-day story since the format change of WrestleMania. (*39*)
Imagine Zayn and Owens standing upright in the title tag ring as Rhodes comes out to have fun with them while Reigns rages backstage – reminding the audience that Tribal Chief might be next on Night 2. Then, if Rhodes defeats Reigns, you will end the event with a shot at three recent champions and the retired Bloodline to establish a six-man tag at Backlash – where Bloodline also teamed up last yr.(*39*)
The Bloodline is the story that captured everyone’s attention in 2022, and as Rhodes would say, it is time for WWE to “finish the story.” WWE’s priority should be to maintain the landing and present it fully as main events.(*39*)
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It’s pillar time
Seeing MJF, Darby Allin, “Jungle Boy” Jack Perrry and Sammy Guevara – the 4 Pillars of AEW – standing in the corners of the ring in the first Dynamite segment was a little bit of a page-turning moment for the company. It was a formidable reminder of the young talent his roster has, and it seems to signal that they’re finally ready to essentially take them to a possible four-way MJF AEW World Championship match after they interrupted a brief but fun rematch of the champion. bar mitzvah on his birthday.(*39*)
Jungle Boy is prepared after coping with Christian Cage and has given some promotion bashing MJF for delivering the same “hokey bulls – t” he has had for years. Jungle Boy also points out that these three – unlike MJF – honed Dark, Dark Elevation and even Rampage, there’s an enormous difference between them. (*39*)
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Allin was ready for a very long time after winning the TNT Championship twice. He dumped his love for AEW there and slapped MJF and others in the back crying over their contracts while he never wants to depart(*39*)
Guevara, as a heel, was rather more difficult to persuade the crowd to his list of grievances and the way he overcame obstacles. He can have had two best one-liners, calling it a re-circumcision and debunking MJF’s line about him proposing to 2 women, mentioning Friedman’s fiancée leaving.(*39*)
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MJF rightly replied that all of them must be paired with legends like Chris Jericho, Sting and Christian Cage to assist them and that he’s a proven star – unlike them.(*39*)
The entire segment oozed passion from all of them, a lot of biting dives into reality, and was an ideal showcase of just how talented all of them are. The four-way match itself is a breath of fresh air for the world title, so this whole Dynamite opening segment had rather a lot to say about it.(*39*)
Number 10
While Taya Valkyrie hasn’t exactly answered Jade Cargill’s challenge in Canada, the addition of a talented multi-time Women’s Champion across promotions is a plus for AEW. He is strictly what Cargill, the TBS champion, needs each as a personality and in the ring. Valkyrie will surely be a plausible end to Cargill’s undefeated streak, and would help shift the TBS title more to the TNT belt by way of in-ring motion so the current champion can move on to greater things. Telling the story of them having the same finisher should be easy and effective.(*39*)
![AEW](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/03_jade_cargill_vs_nicole_matthews_2023_03_15_dynamite_9.jpg?w=1024)
The more we see Grayson Waller, the clearer it becomes that he’s already higher than many heels from the main roster of many wrestling corporations. His segment at Johnny Gargano’s house last week takes him to the next level as his overall meanness and intensity soar.(*39*)
The scene where Roman Reigns once more questions Jey Uso’s allegiance backstage on Raw is three years of storytelling in a single shot as we head to the crescendo of this a part of Bloodline’s story. Afterwards, Reigns continued to hit Cody Rhodes with some biting verbal body shots, but Solo Sikoa’s save in The American Nightmare seemed significant. Reigns hasn’t made it to Rhodes yet, similar to he has everyone but Seth Rollins. (*39*)
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There’s far an excessive amount of television coverage of this Roxanne Perez injury for me to imagine she won’t be showing as much as defend the NXT Women’s Championship in a ladder match at Stand & Deliver. At the very least, it will hopefully allow NXT to once more lay the deck at the top of the division around it. (*39*)
If CM Punk doesn’t return to AEW soon, paying off “Hangman” Adam Page’s hints that he desires to reconcile with The Elite might be the next smartest thing. It was considered one of Dynamite’s best finishes shortly after an awesome triple-match for the Trios Championship. Then, to go off the air with Kenny Omega, Matt and Nick Jackson coming to support The Hanged Man against Blackpool Combat Club, the audience should be desperate to see which way it goes now. In “Being the Elite”, Matt Jackson launched an old Elite group chat, only to see Kenny Omega leave him. It’s an enormous story and a dispute in the making.(*39*)
![AEW](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/06_house_of_black_vs_the_elite_vs_jas_2023_03_15_dynamite_40.jpg?w=1024)
Seriously, what’s going to it take for Rey Mysterio to finally fight his son Dominik? Possibly bringing his mom to this week’s SmackDown will do the trick. If I’m Dominik I tell my dad if you happen to beat me I’ll quit The Judgment Day but when I beat you you will have to retire. Is that enough? (*39*)
The look of fear on Gunther’s face when he thought Sheamus and Drew McIntyre weren’t going to reply the 10 was gorgeous. While the Empire interfered with DQ under the circumstances, it made no sense – other than defending Gunther – it was the only logical approach to force a triple threat match as punishment for his or her actions.(*39*)
It looks like MLW has some issues to take care of. Alex Hammerstone defends his world title in a long-awaited rematch with Jacob Fatu Tuesday at “MLW Underground”. It is also value maintaining a tally of what they did with Raven, who stepped into their Battle Riott and led a bunch of Calling Card Attackers that features Rickey Shane Page and Akira.(*39*)
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Has anyone come near winning the championship more times in the previous few months – without actually winning – than Jeff Jarrett? If AEW is not going to place the belt on him, it is time to remove him from the title photos.(*39*)
Impact made a improbable film about Gisele Shaw’s journey in business as a transgender wrestler. I might highly recommend.(*39*)
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Extra: I had a while to play WWE 2K23 and overall I used to be impressed with the small sample size. The character models look improbable, the wrestlers’ movesets and styles feel unique and authentic even against the CPUs, and removing a top star can take two finishers. Besides, WarGames are barrels of fun. I played my first nWo vs. Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold, The Rock and Undertaker. The Invasion match we never had.(*39*)
![WWE](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/20230317_030102.jpg?w=1024)
Wrestler of the Week
Masha Slamowicz, Game Changer Wrestling (*39*)
The Impact star became the first woman to win the GCW World Championship by submitting Death Match King Nick Gage at the “Eye for and Eye” pay-per-view on Friday night. The 24-year-old Russian, whose toughness and unique style make her considered one of the fastest-growing talents in women’s wrestling, was capable of have fun along with her parents in the ring at the Melrose Ballroom.(*39*)
Match along with your watch
Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo, AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, 8pm, TBS)(*39*)
What constitutes a dream match is subjective, but this one is match TV – even when it looks as if AEW is attempting to get a superb rating. Del Vikingo, 25, is considered one of the best luchadores without delay with a job that any of And1’s old mixtapes would envy. This match needed to be canceled in 2021 as a result of Omega’s injury and shall be the first Best Bout Machine televised singles match since the same yr. (*39*)
Around the Ring
Friday Night SmackDown takes place on July 7 at Madison Square Garden.(*39*)
AEW has announced that “Forbidden Door” will happen on July 25 at the Scotiabank Center in Toronto.(*39*)