Why I’m Cancelling the WWE Network . . . for now.

After this week’s Monday Night Raw I made the decision to cancel the WWE Network. I can usually put my trust in the company with storylines. In the past the road they’ve been on has been shaky but I’ve stuck it out, often with scant reward. But recent events culminated in an ideology I can’t be a party to. WWE doesn’t seem to care about Raw’s pathetic weekly ratings so the only place to make a stand is by removing my payment of 9.99.

The bone of my contention is the deformation of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. We all get that John Cena is the company’s main guy. I acknowledge without any gripes that this has been his year. He’s given the US Title credibility and in the process put over performers such as Cesaro and Kevin Owens. This should have existed while the main title looked strong and its champ – the supreme Seth Rollins – was given legitimacy. Never the twain shall meet.

But they did meet. There could have been other ways to get the belt back to Cena, beforehand they could have afforded Rollins one clean win over Super Cena. Now it is unclear the benefit of the whole Cena/Rollins program. Cena certainly doesn’t need a boost. It’s etched in the fans’ minds that he is the man that runs the place. All it’s done has made the World Champ looking like he’s only good enough to be top of the mid-card.

This is diabolical. Rollins on the mic has no equal right now, and in-ring he’s shown signs he could be not just the greatest of this generation but of all time. His reward for this is a match against Kane going into Hell in a Cell with a belt that’s now worthless.

This poor writing from WWE Creative – the best example of an oxymoron ever – will be masked by the interest in the PPV. Thanks to Undertaker and Brock Lesnar being on duty it’ll appear to be a successful event. In reality it will paper over the cracks.

This is the future of WWE: Poorly managed talent and badly written stories. But as long as the t-shirt sales stay up, kids are buying toys, and the Network bounces around 1.2m subscribers, Vince won’t make a change. Until then I won’t be sending him my ten British pounds each month.

Okay, I’ll probably crack before then. Maybe. Definitely Maybe.

Rollins needs the Rub

Heading into Night of Champions there’s one thing that has been universally agreed upon: Seth Rollins has been poorly booked during his run as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. There have been too many occasions The Authority’s chosen one has lost matches or been made to look weak. At tonight’s PPV the man with two belts deserves – and needs – to get put over.

Another thing that has also been repeatedly expressed is how good Rollins is, as both a performer, and on the mic. It’s part of playing the heel, to look slippery and win by any means possible. Dirty finishes are common place for villains. What’s become unacceptable is the number of times Rollins has been made to absorb an unnecessary loss. That’s what mid-card talent is for. If say, for example, Sting needs a win on Monday Night Raw, let him get that tap-out to someone lower down the card or a bit-part player like Big Show. Don’t make the champ take the hit.

It isn’t quite at the levels The Miz endured when he was champion. That reign did nothing other than damage his top tier card beyond repair. Rollins is too talented in-ring to allow this to happen. When creative have allowed him to shine he’s flourished. The match against John Cena for the US Title demonstrated he can look strong and be a heel. That match deserved a clean finish for the former Shield member.

Tonight it’s inevitable he’ll drop at least one of the belts. Many people in the run-up to the PPV have had their say on which superstar should leave with which title. Most have stated that Sheamus is probably cashing in tonight. There’s a chance that WWE Creative will swerve that angle now because it’s too obvious.

My personal feeling is that Rollins should be compensated by Creative for months of carrying the brand and getting scant reward. Okay, two belts is some reward, but his reputation is taking a hit. To cement his in-ring talent as legitimate they should allow him a clean victory over Cena. These two had great chemistry last time out and it would make sense in keeping with the story. Super Cena has been pushed to his limits and found a new level, it can be said afterward that this made the champion do the same. It’s a rub for both men.

If Rollins keeps the US Title then it stands to reason he’ll drop the main gold. This could be WWE’s thank you payment to Sting. He finally joined WWE to lose at his debut Wrestlemania to Triple H, who, while a strong talent over the years, is no Undertaker. To give him the last world strap he’s never had brings closure on a glittering career. If this does occur the commentary team can play up the war Rollins had been in with Cena and that Sting benefited from a fatigued defending champ.

What WWE cannot do is give anyone a clean win over Rollins, making him appear cowardly or throw him a cheap win. He should be made to look strong and when he loses he deserves to go out on his shield.