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An analysis from the cheap seats...breaking down Lesnar/Reigns and AJ/Nakamura

An analysis from the cheap seats...breaking down Lesnar/Reigns and AJ/Nakamura

Posted: Apr 14th 2018 By: Chris Bernes

I believe it was the film “The Godfather”, or maybe it was one of my old columns, where the famous quote was uttered:

“Every time I think I’ve gotten out, they pull me back in!”

Or something to that effect….

But first, some backstory.

Sometime about three years ago, I started a podcast with my non-blood brother, my best friend Mike Smith, called “The Loki And Jabroni Show” (available on iTunes, GooglePlay Music, Spotify, and iHeartRadio)…. he wanted our first episode to cover the WrestleMania event that was due to
happen the next day. The big match was Triple H vs. Sting. I had not been firmly entrenched in the business since the horrific weekend that Chris Benoit heinously murdered his wife and son then killed himself. (NOTE: conspiracy theorists need not apply…. I’m done schooling people.) So after that WrestleMania episode, Mike implored me to get back into the product.

“It’s not the same,” Mike said. “You’ll love it!”

I bought it. On The Loki And Jabroni Show, we’ve interviewed Road Warrior Animal. We’ve interviewed Gary “Pitbull #1” Wolfe. We’ve interviewed Bob Backlund. We’ve done shows with Gangrel, Adam Rose, Shane Douglas, Tito Santana and others….

3 years and 151 podcasts later, I am a semi-regular viewer of the WWE product, and as of last week, I am a subscriber to the WWE network (which you can get for just $9.99 a month if you go to www.lokiandjabroni.com/wrestling. Help a brother out!!)

But enough about me…. let’s talk about the good and the bad of the two World Championship matches at WrestleMania 34 from this past Sunday in New Orleans. First, I’ll break down the Universal Championship match between the reigning, defending, undisputed Universal champion Brock Lesnar and his opponent, the Big Dog, one Roman Reigns.

First, the good: I really thought that Brock Lesnar came off as an indestructible monster. There were not many times during this match that I seriously thought the Universal title reign was in jeopardy. Honestly, the few flurries of dominant offense shown by Reigns were not enough to sway me from my stone cold lock of Lesnar as winner *.

(* Stone cold lock is property of my second podcast, the C&J Speedway review, a NASCAR podcast, which is only available on our YouTube channel…please check us out!)

Reigns, to be honest, did look strong. His offense was believable, his attacks were crisp, and he showed a fire I don’t recall seeing from Roman in three years of watching the show again.

The bad points are simple: Too many finishes. FIVE F5’s?? 4 Superman Punches?? Remember when I was a kid (no, you don’t) when a wrestler hit his finish it was OVER?!?!?! Now, you have to hit 6 freakin’ finishes to kill off your opponent! Reigns SHOULD have been finished after ONE F5, not five!
That said, Lesnar should have been tattooed after ONE Superman punch!

Hate to tell you young bucks, but a finisher means the match is FINISHED!!!!

Finito.

Over.

Done.

By allowing the two combatants to throw 11 finishes, the WWE succeeded in diluting the strength of both Reigns and Lesnar. And in the end, that can only diminish both men….Unless they pull a proverbial rabbit out of their hat and find a way to make Brock or Roman superhuman again. See also: Hulk Hogan.

Now, onto the exciting match between challenger Shinsuke Nakamura and WWE Champion A. J. Styles.

I’ll start with the bad: I, in my infinite wisdom, expected WWE to allow AJ and Nakamura to employ the same fast paced, true strong style that their Wrestle Kingdom 10 match had just a few years ago. Knowing what these two fantastic wrestlers are capable of versus what we got Sunday night wasn’t exactly a disappointment, but it was a small let down.

AJ and Nakamura could have had the chains removed from the stereotypical WWE formula match, and been told to just go out there and kill it. Tear the house down. Show the world why you’re here!

That didn’t happen.

The good side is that we were treated to the second best match on the show. A classic match that will stand the test of time. The sharp moves, the flawless reversals, the amazing near falls that had the crowd in New Orleans, as well as the folks at home, on the edge of their seats!

Nakamura looked hungry in the match, as if his entire life was on the line.

AJ looked angry, as if defending and retaining said title was paramount to life and death.

What made this match my second favorite of the night was that it featured two amazing performers, two of my favorites, and two entertainers that, together or separate, are the cream of the crop.

The finish came out of nowhere, which in itself was exciting. Catching Nakamura and converting and executing the Styles Clash was not what any of us were expecting!

And the eventual heel turn after the match just added further drama going forward!

AJ vs Nakamura certainly has more legs in the coming months over Brock vs Roman. On one hand you have two superb, fluid, amazing, innovative performers who aren’t afraid to take risks.

On the other side, you have Brock and Roman.

Thanks for letting me vent. I’ll pop in again if the Exhalted Ruler and Editor allows it!

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

  • 09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
  • 09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
  • 09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
  • 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
  • 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
  • 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
  • 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
  • 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
  • 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
09-18
  • Titan Yin Sep 18th Today!
  • Mr. Nabors Sep 18th Today!
  • Angel Reed Sep 18th Today!
  • Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th Today!
  • Billy Robinson Sep 18th Today!
  • Adam Asher Sep 19th
  • Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
  • Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th
  • Bishop Simon Sep 20th
  • Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
  • Ethan Page Sep 20th
  • Boz Sep 20th
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Satine Sep 22nd
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
  • Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
  • Joe Jones Sep 24th
  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
  • Connor Crunk Sep 24th
  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
  • Ka$haNova Sep 26th
  • Lone Eagle Sep 26th
  • Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
  • Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
  • Chris Matthews Sep 26th
  • Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
  • BB Sep 26th
  • Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
  • Ben Miller Sep 27th
  • Angel Camacho Sep 27th
  • Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
  • Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
  • Scott Lee Sep 28th
  • Trey Count Sep 28th
  • Rip Tyler Sep 28th
  • Tommy Prince Sep 28th
  • Kamille Sep 28th
  • Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
  • Ann Casey Sep 29th
  • David Sammartino Sep 29th
  • Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
  • Raymon Downey Sep 30th
  • Lady Starwind Sep 30th
  • Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
  • Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
  • Fred Urban Sep 30th
  • Seth Coburn Sep 30th
  • Hector Guerrero Oct 1st

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