As soon as once more, WWE introduced viewers one other gripping episode of Uncooked on the Highway to WrestleMania, one worthy of a field of Kleenex, as one man brazenly wept and one other gave viewers one thing to cry about.
However first, after I initially advised that Seth Rollins may betray Cody Rhodes, which some deemed a stretch, Michael Cole touched on that subject, asking Rhodes if he trusts Rollins. Whereas this may very well be a misdirection to create doubt in regards to the evening two WrestleMania major occasion between Rhodes and Roman Reigns, there’s a sensible risk that Rollins may spoil the result and affect a number of storylines. Subsequently, the results of Rhodes-Reigns II remains to be unsure.
Rhodes then talked about his story and the way ending it now meant way more. He spoke of eager to win the large win for his followers who remained loyal to him and the way he seemed to honor his father, Dusty Rhodes, by presenting the title to his mom. He additionally talked about his spouse, Brandi, who stood by him by way of a lame gimmick as he commonly ate RKO’s.
That every one seemingly introduced Rhodes to tears as his voice cracked and trembled.
I might need been moved if this wasn’t among the many numerous instances Rhodes shed a tear on nationwide tv as he went from blithering all over to speaking about Reigns’ title run being within the backside of the ninth inning within the blink of a dry eye. And it appeared to me that the followers in Houston have been lower than impressed when it was over, maybe the primary crack in Cody’s basis.
It grew extra absurd when Rhodes made Cole a part of his schtick, saying Cole would get to announce for the primary time {that a} Rhodes is the WWE Champion earlier than hugging the announcer.
I can’t think about “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin or Dusty Rhodes turning right into a weeping mess earlier than their huge World title contest towards Shawn Michaels or Ric Aptitude whereas embracing Jim Ross or Gordon Solie. From his WrestleMania indecision to Drew McIntyre calling him out for reneging on his take care of The Rock, the latest presentation of The American Nightmare has made him much less interesting.
However at the very least Rhodes has a chance to complete his story, which is greater than we are able to say for Chad Gable.
The actual heartbreak of Uncooked this week goes to the Alpha Academy chief, who fell to Sami Zayn within the finals of a gauntlet match to find out a challenger for Gunther and his Intercontinental title at WrestleMania. Gable’s defeat comes after he started to realize momentum with a powerful marketing campaign for a rematch with the I.C. Champ.
I perceive why Zayn bought the nod over Gable. Zayn is a celebrity who has headlined a number of premium occasions, together with WrestleMania. As a performer, Zayn excels at enjoying a babyface in peril, which can go a protracted option to including pleasure for his upcoming rematch with the Ring Basic.
However the issue I’ve with Zayn is identical subject I had with everybody else who competed within the gauntlet match, not named Chad Gable, and that’s this. Nobody has a extra compelling, ready-to-go storyline with Gunther than Gable.
Final yr, Gable surprised viewers when he outlasted Gunther in a five-minute problem laid out by the Austrian Oak. He took Gunther to the restrict weeks later, beating him by countout on Uncooked. Of their third encounter, Gunther defeated Gable in entrance of his household, which introduced Gable’s daughter cry in one of the emotional scenes in Uncooked’s historical past.
However as Gable racked up spectacular wins, he additionally stepped up his campaign for a rematch, this time on wrestling’s grandest stage, by way of social media. Gable gave followers not one however two stirring movies that spoke to the guts of the matter, which was that, for Gable, a rematch with Gunther “simply means extra.”
Nevertheless, there’s a silver lining for Gable. It appears his shoulders have been off the mat because the referee, who was out of place, counted him out. That might result in WWE including Gable to the Intercontinental title match. Nevertheless, this tactic seems like a participation trophy given after the very fact, which may water down the championship match at WrestleMania and reduce the affect of a Gunther title loss if he have been to lose with out being overwhelmed.
As one Cagesider advised, there appears to be an odd pattern this season of giving a WrestleMania match to anybody besides the one that is sensible within the story. It started with Rhodes following the Royal Rumble. It continues now with Chad Gable.
It’s simply too dangerous WWE solely made issues proper by one man as a substitute of each.