For Bronson Reed and Jacob Fatu, WarGames provides stage for breakout moment
A look at WarGames, Randy Orton on CM Punk, and more
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The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Roman Reigns and CM Punk are the two biggest stars, but WarGames should be all about elevating Bronson Reed and Jacob Fatu
Multiple stories are connecting at Survivor Series this Saturday in the men’s WarGames match.
The biggest of those surround Roman Reigns and CM Punk. But if this match is executed properly, then the spotlight at the end of the night should be on Bronson Reed or Jacob Fatu.
In my estimation, there is no better choice than “Big” Bronson Reed.
A throwback, Reed is a versatile, agile heavyweight. He is exactly what is missing in the main event picture–a hulking, legitimate force with a phenomenal look. If positioned correctly, there is every reason to believe he could contend with the likes of Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Randy Orton.
Fatu is another interesting candidate for a breakout moment. But Reed has been part of the WWE system longer, enjoyed a successful run under the guidance of Paul Levesque and Shawn Michaels in NXT, and excelled in his first major feud as a heel with Seth Rollins.
Rollins will also find himself involved in this match. Since Punk has joined forces with Reigns, The Usos, and Sami Zayn, it is Rollins who is the odd man out–and this is exactly the spark needed to reignite the Punk/Rollins feud, which is expected to run through WrestleMania.
Is it possible that any of the babyfaces turn on their opponents? Could Zayn ultimately be looking out for himself and Kevin Owens? If Owens appears, does that mean we’ll also see Cody Rhodes? And where do Paul Heyman’s loyalties lie?
We’re also overdue for a Drew McIntyre sighting. But WWE cannot ignore the future. Reigns, Punk, Zayn, and Jey Uso–plus Rollins and whoever else makes a cameo in this match–are all secure in their spots. This is a chance to create a new star in the main event.
Jacob Fatu’s time will come. But this Saturday’s WarGames should serve as a launchpad for Bronson Reed.
This past week…
… Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens had an outstanding exchange on SmackDown. Does anyone else get the sense that Owens will exit next month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event as WWE champion? Perhaps the tuxedo t-shirt is a tell…
… The Young Bucks are headed back to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and there is a goal in mind: recapturing the IWGP tag team titles.
… PWInsider reported that Adam Copeland isn’t expected back full-time in AEW until January. He’ll help add some vigor to the weekly broadcasts, but I still think the answer to a missing babyface in the main event is Bobby Lashley. Sign me up for the Hurt Syndicate vs. the Death Riders.
… Clearly against the wishes of Vince McMahon, who had ample opportunity to make this decision and chose against it, WWE is adding a women’s Intercontinental title.
… With Jade Cargill written off TV, Bayley is taking her place at WarGames, which should cause problems with Bianca Belair. But when Cargill returns, will she turn on Belair?
… The New Day will celebrate their 10-year anniversary on next week’s Raw. It will take place only a week after Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods had a massive, tense on-screen altercation, and it feels like the right time for Big E to reappear and bring the group back together.
Randy Orton’s moment with CM Punk contained more than a dose of reality
Yesterday, WWE released unseen backstage footage of CM Punk’s shocking return to the company last year at Survivor Series.
One of the most compelling moments occurred in the aftermath of Punk’s return as he was greeted by various members of the WWE roster. One was Randy Orton, who jokingly expressed his discontent over Punk overshadowing Orton’s return, which was a significant moment in its own right.
Originally, the plan for last year’s Survivor Series was for Orton to be the surprise return.
After a grueling 18 months away from wrestling, with debilitating back pain increasing the odds of a premature retirement, Orton was thrilled to unveil himself as the fifth and final member of Cody Rhodes’ WarGames team.
But that wasn’t how it played out.
Rhodes cut a promo on the Raw before Survivor Series, effectively announcing Orton as the fifth member. Since the event took place in Chicago, the belief was that keeping it a surprise was not a wise decision as people could be misled into thinking Punk would be making his long-awaited return.
Nine months ago, I spoke with Orton about his return.
“I was supposed to be a surprise in WarGames at Survivor Series,” said Orton. “All these CM Punk rumors started a month prior, and everyone thought–since we were in Chicago for Survivor Series–that CM Punk would be the surprise. So they had Cody a week before WarGames say that he had a friend–me–that was going to come. The surprise was spoiled all because Punk was rumored to be there, and WWE didn’t want people to be pissed.”
Punk had been away from WWE for nine years, and when he left, the relationship was fractured to the point that it appeared it could never be mended. Yet Punk was a free agent following his controversial departure only months prior from AEW, and the unthinkable happened at Survivor Series when he made his return.
“The day of Survivor Series, I’m about to get my boots on,” said Orton. “I’m feeling the nerves, it had been a year-and-a-half. Triple H is like, ‘Hey Randy, I’ve got to talk to you for a second.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, what’s up, man?’ So he told me a couple things. And then he went, ‘One more thing–Punk’s returning tonight.’ I thought he was f------ with me. I said, ‘You’re joking,’ and he was like, ‘No, I’m not. This is something that just happened in the last few days, yada yada yada.’”
After 18 months away from the ring, Orton envisioned a different return for himself–one where he wasn’t overshadowed by Punk.
“I was so excited for this surprise return,” said Orton. “That’s never really been the case. They’ve always kind of stooged off the fact I was returning; they wanted those views. So I’d never had that surprise return.
“I could have been really pissed, and old Randy would have been pissed. It was a defining moment for me. I went out there, we had a great WarGames match, everybody was excited that I returned, everybody was excited that Punk returned, and neither return stepped on each other. It was a testament to how much I’d grown. It would have been an issue only if I made it one, so I was proud of the way I handled it.”
All signs point to Orton, who has yet to feud with either Punk or Rhodes since his return, having a big year lined up for 2025.
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