hell in a cell highs and lows / where do we go next

 Hell in a cell, which most people expected to be lack luster, was a really good show all around. Nothing on the show was really poor, including the women's matches, and the good at times was really good. As a secondary pay-per-view this show offered some closure, build to the future and an ending that creates intrigue.  I'm going to focus on the three major things that happened, in my opinion, last night that hopefully wwe can build on.
 1. It seemed like last night wwe made the decision to finally give dolph ziggler some credibility! Ziggler defeating Cesaro in 2 straight falls last night was Dolph getting the push ad a bonafide champion and added legitimacy to the intercontinental championship. Not to mention, Dolph ziggler was in an excellent wrestling match against an excellent wrestler where ziggler played the role of vulnerable babyface who wouldn't give up instead of generic hip girator who is lost in the mix. Ziggler can separate himself from the crowd if he utilizes his ability while also becoming the face that is minutes away from death but refuses to lose and give up until the crowd is so behind him that they make him dig down deep and overcome the adversity and pull out victories. This is a time tested formula and ziggler has what it takes to make it work. Hopefully last night was a sign that wwe finally has the confidence to let ziggler live up to his potential.

2. The future is now for Seth Rollins and dean ambrose, from a performance stand point. These two guys are main event ready and they answered the call last night and then some. Rollins and ambrose pull out all the stops at hell in a cell and put on a performance that was at the main event level. I still believe these two guys should be protected a little bit more before they are hoisted to the top tier but Rollins and ambrose has what it takes to be the next major players in the wwe and I believe the fan base can believe them in those roles. Aside from USA, ambrose had the loudest cheers of the night and Seth Rollins had the second most heel heat. The two very capable grapplers walked into hell in a cell with a few question marks mainly being could they carry a show and I believe after all the broken tables chair shots, brawling and psychology the former members of the shield walked out of hell in a cell main eventers.

 3. He's here. Bray Wyatt returned at the ending of the main event of hell in a cell. He had an attention grabbing entrance that created an aura that something important is happening, he had a response that said someone important is returning and he had a "feel" that said the monster heel is here. With all the gimmicks and plunder that was in the ring and after all deal ambrose had gone through it was bray Wyatt's finisher, sister abagail, that put dean ambrose down.

There were slight sounds of people singing "he's got the whole world in his hands" but for the most part it was loud negative boos the type that a top heel should get. The atmosphere at the end of the show was not is he a heel or is he a face, it was not let's get behind this guy because he is cool; the setting was that the most dangerous and unknown heel made his triumphant return and his sights are set on dean ambrose.
No matter the direction of the current feuds or what rivalries begin there will be no more interesting or entertaining than bray Wyatt versus dean ambrose. The promos alone will be electric. The groundwork for the landscape of wwe's future is being laid and hopefully bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins, dean ambrose and Dolph ziggler are major parts of that future.

 Finally, the rusev versus USA battle that is taking place has some serious legs. The crowd is invested and rusev and Lana are holding up their end of the bargain. However, for this battle to truly reach its appex there is only one man that should finally be able to stop rusev and defend the honor of america. If the only Olympic gold medalist in professional wrestling was able to return to the wwe lower the straps and defend our country against the ravishing Russian and the Bulgarian brute the crowd would go bananas and these storyline would be as hot as anything wwe can produce right now! Wwe should be doing their best to make it happen; it's true, it's damn true.

That is just this marks remarks and if you like what I have to say or you would like to tell me what you think please subscribe to this blog, like the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/amarkremarks and follow on twitter @amarkremarks thank you very much and please keep supporting.

Road to Hell in a Cell / What should happen on Raw

 Hell in a Cell is two weeks away and the card for the show is taking shape.  The card features at least two Hell in a Cell cage matches, which is always an attraction, plus matches that will continue to build storylines as wwe heads toward the end of the year.  The Hell in a Cell pay per view is one of many "big shows" that is headlined by a gimmick match before the participants or purpose is known, which leads to many issues with the current product, but the gimmick match in this particular show usually produces some really good matches.  However, the idea of Hell in a Cell the match was created to lead to a finality to a strong rivalry; the first version being The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels with the debut of Kane many many years ago.  WWE has produced a laundry list of memorable moments inside (and outside) the cell including Mankind being throw off and through the cell, Mick Foley's first attempt of retirement at the hands of Triple H, The bloody war between The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar and so many more. 

Hell in a Cell was created so that the simply saying the words Hell in a Cell made the crowd go crazy and the expectation of the match rose higher, now; wwe has a pay-per-view designated to always having that "special" match.  The result of this show is that the cell is no longer "special" at all.  The match was determined before the participants are which makes Hell in a Cell just another match, further emphasizing this point is the second bout held in the cell being John Cena versus Randy Orton.  Sure, Orton and Cena have a long storied history with each other but this match was made last week on Raw on the premise that whomever doesn't get to wrestle Seth Rollins challenges Randy Orton; so there is no score to settle or grudge to finish, just a match that was made to be contended inside the confines of Hell in a Cell.  So what is more important, the match or the feud? 

I would suggest the obvious answer should be the grudge.  The rivalry should be so heated that the only way to settle differences is by locking the hated combatants inside satan's playground; a bitter feud needs Hell in a Cell, it shouldn't be that Hell in a Cell needs participants.  That is why gimmicky pay-per-views, except Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank, should be eliminated.  This would make stipulation matches seem much more important and mean something to a storyline, instead of crow-baring  a special match into a storyline whether needed or not.  So how can Hell in a Cell be made important?

 First, do something to make Seth Rollins versus Dean Ambrose in a cell must see.  Dean Ambrose is a loose cannon not a cartoon character; he must be treated as such to make him reach his potential.  Not pushing a hot dog cart or magically appearing at ringside but Dean Ambrose needs to be the lunatic fringe that Seth Rollins fears being locked into a cell with.  Seth Rollins doesn't have to get beat up or embarrassed or have gak poured over his head; he needs to be the chicken-shit heel that he can be and get chased down by the brash psychotic Ambrose so that you, the fan, can't wait for Ambrose to finally get his hands on Rollins.  This feud which was very hot for awhile fizzled slightly with Ambrose taking time off and Cena being inserted into it but I believe can be re-energized quickly.  The only question is can a Dean Ambrose versus Seth Rollins headline a wwe pay-per-view?
Secondly, how can you inject some excitement into another John Cena versus Randy Orton match that was really thrown together hap-haphazardly? 

I would include the return of Bray Wyatt into this match where Wyatt and his family produces a vignette that says he will be at Hell in a Cell, he will be in the cell and he will bring down the status quo.  Three weeks of Wyatt taped promos has brought the Wyatt Family back to relevance and hopefully wwe won't allow him to falter again.  Best way to catapult Bray Wyatt to the top?  Insert him into the conclusion of John Cena and Randy and have him leave both men laying.  This will create intrigue as to who he wants to take on and allows Bray Wyatt to be what he is best at: chaotic.  There are less than subtle hints that Randy Orton may be turning baby face and perhaps him taking on Bray Wyatt would be a good first feud and allow Bray Wyatt to cement himself as a legit heel, which based on the video packages is where he is headed.  I believe Bray Wyatt is something special and John Cena or Randy Orton would not be hurt being used as his return to the wwe universe.

 Thirdly, make the secondary matches mean something.  This is the first major show where Brock Lesnar is not defending his wwe world heavyweight championship but there will be titles defended.  Why not make Dolph Ziggler versus Cesaro be important?  Why not hype the idea that the intercontinental title is a major title and two incredibly gifted athletes will belt for the championship?  Ziggler and Cesaro give this card the ability to have an excellent high caliber match that should have people on the edge of their seats from a wrestling perspective, which would be different from the two main attractions.  The same can be said for the tag team title match they should have. 

What is the negative of promoting a tag match that is almost certain to entertain the fans?  The tag team division is a missed opportunity at such a high level because tag team wrestling, even simple tag team wrestling, is so fun to watch.  It is wrestling by the numbers almost every time but the tag team formula is a proven winner and leads to exciting well paced action that typically is a crowd pleaser.  Throw in the soap opera of the Bella twins, decent female wrestling with

A.J and Paige, Rusev's next battle and this show should be pretty good, but is it important?
The problem with the current landscape of professional wrestling, not just wwe but all of professional wrestling, is that nothing really seems important.  This is a major issue especially with the advent of the wwe network and how reliant wwe's success is on the network.  WWE needs to create subscribers and their strategy is by reminding you of the cost, at no end, or by pushing the app or this or that to create interest; however, the best way to create subscribers or product interest is by producing "must see" programming.  All of the boom times in pro wrestling as started with high quality programming involving larger than life characters creating entertaining, intelligent and enthralling storyline that leads to dramatic, athletic and action packed matches.  The product creates the interest; the product has always created the interest and the interest and fan base builds based on the quality of the product.

 In closing, Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, Raw, Smackdown, Main Event and all wwe brand shows have to start feeling important again.  The fan base should be made to feel that cannot miss the next show or the one after that and no way are they missing a pay-per-view. 

The product should be so good that a wwe fan doesn't need to be reminded that there is a wwe network, or wwe has an app or they need to log on to wwe.com; the product should be so good that the fan base can't wait to log on to the website, should be viewing the app during the live weekly shows and watching the wwe network whenever time allows and for every pay-per-view. 
The price shouldn't make the wwe network a no-brainer, the content should.  And, it does; the network is awesome and is a dream come true for any wrestling fan but it is great because of the content not because of the stupid banter between michael cole, jbl and jerry lawler on a weekly basis.