MR. TITO: WWE Bad Blood 2024 Aftermath: Crown Jewel Title, Bill Goldberg, Jimmy Uso, and the Rock

Saturday’s WWE Bad Blood 2024 proved why WWE is the #1 wrestling promotion, by a mile, and why they don’t need 5+ star matches from biased commentators for any show to be great. Make no mistake, though, WWE put on great matches at Bad Blood, however… But what separates WWE from AEW is (a) legitimate star power and (b) stories told that make you anticipate the next event.

Briefly, what happened at WWE Bad Blood?

– The Rock returns

– Jimmy Uso returns

– Bill Goldberg returns

– Triple H introduces new title belt for WWE Crown Jewel event

The latter point is something I don’t care about, whatsoever. Sorry, but the events that occur in Saudi Arabia are non-existent and non-factors to me. I’m not saying that as a political statement, but more of a monetary one. The shows don’t exist in Saudi Arabia for their fans, it’s because their top heavy government is issuing $20-30 million checks for the WWE to host events there for public relations. Same reason why I wouldn’t trust any Golf Tours excessively paying players and why I’d be suspicious of any ex-President’s son-in-law receiving $2 billion to play with. This country has been price gouging other countries for years as being the primary participant in the OPEC cartel and that’s the source of their overpayments to many places right now.

These shows in Saudi Arabia lack any fan connection. They are just glorified house shows because 1 country is willing to cut large checks to the WWE and WWE likes money to pad their revenues to please their shareholders. The shows lack atmosphere and emotions that North American fans can bring or even other countries, like the energy we’ve seen in France or England recently.

I don’t care about World Champions squaring off against each other for the possibility of winning the Crown Jewel title. Big whoop, as that title is useless to me as an accomplishment and could do more harm than good by diminishing one of the brand’s champions and making any future match-up feel less special. This Crown Jewel Title is likely a special request of someone within their government, such as having a “greatest” Royal Rumble match or bringing in older stars from the Attitude Era. For one night to please one country, Triple H and TKO are willing to tarnish their brand’s champion. Yes, I’m well aware of Bragging Rights and Survivor Series PPVs/PLEs doing it in the past and for the record, I was critical of it them too.

The Crown Jewel titles look ugly, as well. I’d be embarrassed to wear that big bought & paid for fake title that means literally nothing.

And women wrestling in that country should be able to wear what they want and not what is required of them performing there.

So let’s get into what REALLY matters from WWE Bad Blood 2024.

First, let’s talk about the one for the RAW brand and that is the return of Bill Goldberg. I know that much of the Internet Wrestling Community hates him due to his age, salary, and many great opportunities given to him since 2016, but I root on Bill Goldberg. Sorry, I enjoyed WCW and Bill Goldberg was a big part of that. As I said in another column, if Bill Goldberg wasn’t “talented” as many in the IWC claim, then why can’t you replicate him? Ryback certainly couldn’t do it, along with any other muscle bound hosses WWE has had throughout the years. Funny how everyone is doing the Spear these days and that’s a finishing move, too.

It’s very likely that Bill Goldberg has some kind of role in costing Gunther the infamous and overpaid Crown Jewel Title during the “battle of the belts” and that will set up Gunther vs. Goldberg. Will this be the retirement match that Bill Goldberg wants? Why not?

And for Gunther, if you’re such a great World Champion, then go show it to me by carrying older Bill Goldberg to a great match. If you can do that, then I’m 100% behind you as a champion. You were fine as a dominant Intercontinental Champion, but I’m just not as impressed with you as World Champion… Yet. Carry Bill to a reasonable match, and I’ll respect you. Being the BEST wrestler in the company means that you can carry anyone to a strong match.

What really matters is that we’re FINALLY seeing some real action on the Bloodline. Christ… Can the WWE just describe May through October as “WWE Offseason”? Particularly the space between Wrestlemania and SummerSlam which was a struggle trying to convince us that Solo was suddenly a main eventer, which he was not, while trying to convince us that Haku’s sons were major debuts, which they were not. Happy for Jacob Fatu being there, but him being loyal to Solo puts his great in-ring talents and intensity on the shelf. HE should be leading the group, not Solo.

Jimmy Uso coming back is great because it gives Roman an ally against the “new” Bloodline. I suspect that Jey Uso will come home, too, and maybe Sami Zayn since Gunther just dispatched him. So there you go for Survivor Series, Roman/Usos/Zayn vs. Solo/Jacob/Haku brothers.

But the Rock came back, too… Stared down Roman and Cody inside the ring, and then he left.

What does that mean? And what is his opinion about the newer Bloodline as it relates to Roman Reigns? What does he still want from Cody Rhodes?

THIS is what makes recent WWE great… It makes you think of all of the wild possibilities they could try and most of those possibilities are great.

I suspect that the Rock doesn’t want to wrestle for a long period of time. I think he’ll challenge Cody for the WWE Title at Royal Rumble and he’ll defeat Cody. Roman wins the 2025 Rumble match and that sets up a HUGE match-up for Wrestlemania 41.

BUT, I’m fully trusting in the Triple H-led Creative Team to handle it well, no matter what the outcome is. Wrestlemania 40 is still lingering in my head as a major creative achievement and I want more slices of THAT pie. Granted, much of what we’ve seen since Wrestlemania 40 has been DULL, but I believe WWE is in a Rumble to Wrestlemania mode while the rest is just gravy. Why else would Rock take almost 6 months off while Roman took 4? They’re not trying during months that are NOT building up to Wrestlemania.

You just now have to accept that as a WWE fan that only Rumble to Wrestlemania matters, while nothing else matters. Simple as that.

In just one show, the WWE flips the switch on, actually tries, and BOOM, we’re hyped for what is coming up next between now and Wrestlemania 41.

That is what AEW lacks… They lack the ability to tell good stories, while also lacking in major stars to tell them. WWE fans are relieved that Rock and Roman have returned, and in some ways, happy to see Jimmy Uso back as well. Many oldschool WCW fans are hyped to see Bill Goldberg return. We’re also grateful to see CM Punk healthy and back in action.

You don’t have any of this capability, AEW… If Kenny Omega returns today, how excited would fans be? We’d be very happy that he’s fully recovered, but from a hype standpoint, AEW wasn’t using him well to begin with to create a spectacular return. When Adam Copeland comes back, it’s a 50+ year old Adam returning… You could call me hypocritical for being excited about Goldberg’s return and not his, but at least we’ve seen LESS of Goldberg throughout the years to over-expose him. And again, I’d argue that Goldberg has always been a bigger star than everybody on the AEW roster. They should have seriously considered having him for at least 1 match.

I’d rather have great storytelling and captivating superstars than excessive workrate. Star ratings don’t always equate to full arenas, higher gates, and so much merchandise sold.

Good to have the WWE caring again and actually showcasing their top stars. Maybe I’ll just hibernate after Wrestlemania 41 next year?

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