Ronda Rousey
Photo Credit: Bill Pritchard

‘You Know It’s A Fight, Right?’ Can’t Spell Convoluted Without ‘Con’

Ronda Rousey
Photo Credit: Bill Pritchard

The following editorial was written by Dominic DeAngelo and does not reflect the opinions of WrestleZone as a whole. We encourage you all to discuss Dominic’s thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this post and follow him on Twitter @DominicDeAngelo and listen to his Get The Tray Tables podcast exclusively on WrestleZone Radio.

“It’s made up. It’s not real. None of those bitches can f—in’ touch me. The end.” But it’s not the end. Ronda Rousey knew that when cutting that “kayfabe killing” promo on a promo in her YouTube docu-series. A lot of fans and a handful of non-wrestling talent didn’t. Wrestling social media hated her breaking the fourth wall. I personally don’t like that route either, but that was the point (as has been documented). A wave of fans and media are peering this through the prism that Ronda really doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing. It can’t be further from the truth.

Did you happen to hear what she said before that 45-second clip which is getting all that Twitter buzz? It’s a fantastic heel promo. She trashes all the fans, she trashes cities stretching from her hometown of LA to the mall plaza-ridden flatlands known as Ohio and she does it with the type of dismissive inflection (and conviction) that bubbles up feelings of wanting a Holly Holm run-in. Think she can’t talk? Go back and watch the final five minutes of that video. It’s the scripts, the “boo the woo’s” and the shoe-horned buzzwords tripping her up. Give her some bullet points, an idea and she absolutely knows what she’s doing.

The WWE on the other hand doesn’t.

Monday’s closing segment encapsulated that perfectly and so has the last six months with all types of wild angles and inconsistent decision making. Using the art of brevity, let’s run a few signs of the erraticism down:

  • That memorable (yet forgettable) Dean Ambrose heel turn.
  • EC3 being designated to “human statue” role, while a mobile Lacey Evans moves to fill time.
  • The ever-so classic handling of your RAW Tag Champs, The Revival (really, who needs entrances?)
  • Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley turning into the drug cartel version of the  Three Amigos.
  • The second set of NXT call-ups debuting on a notecard.
  • WWE Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist, and bonafied wrestling legend Kurt Angle being trotted out like he’s Barry Horowitz.
  • The on-air admission to poor ratings followed up with a paper-thin apology and follow-up that would cause an abusive spouse to blush.
  • All the Finn Balor smiles.
  • Incorporating real-life issues such as Jim Neidhart’s death, Roman Reigns’ health, and the untimely passing of Reid Flair just to further an angle.

And let’s not forget the fulcrum that all this is pivoted upon, and that’s the McMahon name. Not just the 73-year old godfather pulling all the strings, but the brand association. The desire to make that crest synonymous with “sports entertainment” (whatever the hell that is) is the agenda that Vince has been about ever since he’s been burned one too many times by the talent he’s responsible for promoting. His trust has been broken by so many that he only has his name to lean on, like the Verne Gagnes of yesteryear (and the stubbornness to boot).

Vince is only tightening his hands around the rope in the pull for power as stars begin to regain leverage with All Elite Wrestling’s TV talks likely looming and his “superstars” aren’t as apt to sign a new deal as they once were. His Vulcan nerve pinch is still there, but it’s finding the shoulders of the people he surrounds himself with rather than the talent directly (well, those who aren’t locked in for multi-year deals).

Thus this fear of the unknown is what gave us Monday’s closing segment and Ronda’s “not-so-scripted, but ‘you know it’s scripted, right?’’’ promo. Stephanie’s involvement made as much sense as a Bobby Lashley butt slap and it left the audience wondering “do we boo or cheer Steph?” rather than “this feud is heating up and these two or three gals are gonna beat each other to hell to end WrestleMania 35.”

Ronda absolutely killed it in delivery while getting her hair done, but the script doesn’t deserve the focus. The fight does and so does its participants.

RELATED: Bully Ray Talks ‘The Genius’ Of Ronda Rousey Breaking The Fourth Wall

TRENDING


X