Kinda surprised no one is talking about Neville. Dude is the most underrated guy on the roster, but it feels like he's Dolph-ing; too good for the midcard, yet WWE is afraid of pushing this guy to the moon.
He's been around not 6 months. Why rush it with the talent they have, I like where's he at on the card and he's going to get an IC/US title run any time now. He's got to improve his promos and get a character across, before he's World champ worthy, if Daniel Bryan did all that so can Neville. The build is what make those moments memorable.
I have a feeling Dean is going to take the belt at roadblock... They can save the main event with a Dean vs. Roman match. Have Roman turn heel win the belt back and you have all the ingredients for a classic WM match. I remember when Vince was on the Stone Cold podcast and he said not to many guys were really going after the "brass ring", but he made a point to mention Ambrose as a guy that did have that in him. And that was like a year ago when Dean wasn't really even in the main event picture. So I think Vince sees something in Ambrose. Hell he probably sees some stone cold in him so i dont think they are afraid to give him the spotlight. And it's not like we havent seen them change coarse before to save WM so I am optimistic about the show. Also I think a fatal 4 way could possibly be in play. With Ambrose-Dean-Roman-HHH all being linked so close together right now. Also the stare down between bray and HHH might mean something. Bray could use a win at mania. So If they go Roman vs Dean a HHH and Wyatt match would be fun and hunter could put on of his NXT guys over. It's all speculation but it all sounds more fun than HHH vs Roman.
They can really use a title change on Roadblock as a huge selling point on the Network. Really hope it happens. I think Reigns/HHH would be put together well and be very entertaining but also impossible to follow a Ambrose/Lesnar street fight and Shane O/Taker HIAC but Ambrose-Lesnar-Reigns-HHH-maybe Bray seems better suited. I think they've realized this.
KO got a shot at Cena on his debut match. And though wrestling fans that follow the indies may know him, Neville has the same "coming from NXT" tag that KO did. Yet Neville hasn't held a single non-NXT title yet. He made his debut in March 2015, so it's been a year. What's he done in that year? Lost in the KotR tournament. Lost to Cena. Lost to Barrett. Lost to KO. Lost to Jericho. Lost to Rollins. Positives? Teamed up with Arrow against Stardust. Somehow won breakout star of the year at the Slammys, despite doing literally nothing of note since his Raw debut. He was even recalled to NXT recently. I'm not sure if WWE brass dislikes him because he's not as big as the average wrestler (like you said, Bryan), but the guy is insanely talented in the ring. He needs to have some sort of title on him soon.
Also, the WWE has been dealing with a rash of injuries; Cesaro, Cena, Bryan, Rollins. There's no reason to not push Neville. Kalisto being the US champ is laughable. They only put that title on him because Sin Cara was injured and ADR had to join the LoN. There's been absolutely no build for Neville.
Yes!! I was so excited when I saw it was going to be Kofi vs AJ cause I knew we were in for a treat. Kofi has always been good in the ring but since he has joined new day he has this mean streak in him which took him to a whole other level imo.
I think the problem is Neville hasn't really done much with the time he has been given... Sure he puts on good matches and he is probably the best high flyer in the world today but his character is non existent. He has never once cut a promo that intrigued me or shown any type of diversity in his character. He just comes out in his stupid little cape, hits the red arrow and leaves. His matches just seem like a 5 minute side show.
I too, wouldn't mind having Dean win the belt Sat. night at Roadblock; however, it would present a few issues as well: 1. I wouldn't want Dean to lose to Roman twice for the title (Survivor Series and WM, in your hypothetical). 2. If Dean wins, what would happen with Lesnar? Would there be a Fastlane triple-threat main event rematch like last month; or get a 2nd match with Wyatt in less than a month? He has too much "star power" to be left off the card completely, and time is ticking. 3. If Dean does win the title Sat. night, Wyatt would be the true Wild Card. He (as of right now) has no WM opponent, needs a WM win badly and the only legit way that happens would be vs. HHH (as opposed to Roman or Lesnar). In that case, my way to set it up is to have Wyatt interfere with an already knocked out ref so HHH has motive to face Bray. HHH, as a part-timer (as you already mentioned), wouldn't mind putting one of "his own" NXT guys over, especially one who needs the momentum boost as much as Bray.
Isn't Roadblock just a house show? I don't think they would have Dean win the title there - especially not over HHH. Point 2 - the card would need to be drastically changed. I don't think WWE would be willing to do that, unless they can get Lesnar v Wyatt happening, ASAP. But it's a fair point of contention. After Lesnar beat up Ambrose in the parking lot, all of Ambrose's character has been geared towards HHH, and I don't think one ounce of advertisement for Wrestlemania this past Raw had the Dean/Lesnar match.
I dont think Dean losing would hurt him... If anything it will just get more people behind him. The only way to have Roman and Dean fight at WM and both come out of it red hot is to have Roman turn and screw Dean out of the belt.
For those hoping, there is going to be no title change at Roadblock. There is no way they use a glorified house show only shown on the Network, to switch titles just 3 weeks before Wrestlemania. The only storyline development will be a run in, or a promo here or there, to add fuel to the fire for the current WM card. Sorry to break it to you.
I'm hoping to the wrestling gods that Roadblock is somehow someway used so they can do a Fatal Four Way no holds barred at Mania. Like the match ends in a DQ but there is a clause in the contract that Dean gets a rematch at Mania and because Brock is supposed to fight Dean at Mania he automatically gets entered into the match as well. Lol, no way this happens...but it should
Yes, Roadblock is a house show. Those things I pointed out would be the changes that would have to be considered if Dean were to win the belt Sat. night. Unfortunately, I don't realistically expect Dean to walk out as champ Sat night, but it would be sweet if he did. I don't think it will hurt Dean either, but I just don't want to see him lose to Reigns twice for the title in that scenario, for any reason.
The best reason not too: he can't cut a promo and he hasn't developed a character. Saying he's not being pushed when he's had matches with Rollins, Cena, KO, etc is laughable. He's doesn't need to be rushed and I wouldn't buy him beating Lesnar, Ambrose, Rollins, Reigns, Cena, KO are any main event guy right now.
Being put in matches against top guys =/= being pushed. It means nothing when you aren't scripted to win. Big Show beat KO (by countout, but still) on Raw 2 weeks ago. And obviously Neville can't beat Lesnar / Rollins / Reigns / Cena - those guys are protected. At some point, the WWE has to write better storylines that involve Neville. Cesaro couldn't really cut a promo post-Heyman, but they still made him try, pre-injury.
