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DOES anyone out there feel the need for a wellearned rest as we shake off the claws of winter and head into spring?
Whereas FT proudly enters its 15th year today in the Daily Star, having missed one single week thanks to Christmas Day falling on a Thursday a couple of years back, WWE Universal champ Brock Lesnar once more had his feet up on the sofa on Monday night.
The Lennon pen certainly isn’t mightier than the formidable “Beast Incarnate” but it’s worth making the point!
RAW went on without his presence as advertised this week, with Roman Reigns getting hot under the collar and earning himself a storyline suspension in advance of their clash at Wrestlemania.
Nothing in particular untoward here just yet, we’re all supposed to lick our lips with anticipation at their eventual confrontation, so it’s old school booking to ramp up the tension and to generate a groundswell of support for the much-maligned Floridian. Marquee signing Ronda Rousey was given the night off too, it should be pointed out in the interests of fairness. Elsewhere, a few more pieces fell into place this week with AJ Styles winning at Fastlane to set up his title clash with Shinsuke Nakamura. Charlotte Flair will defend against Asuka and it looks like Shane McMahon will be dusting off the trainers and baseball shirt to tackle Owens and Zayn in some capacity in New Orleans. Daniel Bryan’s involvement is the key here – he remains not medically cleared to wrestle by WWE medical staff. John Cena, by contrast to Lesnar, has been working like a trojan to earn his spot on the card and having seemingly exhausted his options in the ring in recent weeks, was forced to call out Undertaker to set up a legends clash. It all seems rather odd given Taker left his iconic gear in the ring last year after losing to Reigns – perhaps he should simply emerge up through the ring under his hat come bell time?
Braun Strowman, arguably the hottest performer on the card at present, bullied his way to a tag title shot on RAW with the big question mark over who will partner him in the Big Easy. Rey Mysterio, anyone?
Looking in the other direction to the Land of the Rising Sun, meanwhile, British hero Zack Sabre Jr is going great guns in his quest to win the New Japan Cup.
His match with Tetsuya Naito was particularly impressive and something of an upset win – he wrestles Kota Ibushi today in the quarter-final in what should be a thriller.
Also, best of luck to Rev Pro standout Josh Bodom as he looks forward to his first trip to All Japan Pro Wrestling. A young man on the rise.
In closing, it seems CM Punk has his eyes on a return to the Octagon for June in his home city of Chicago.
Despite his multi-fight contract, that’s got to be a make-or-break outing for him.
Although wrestling fans will wish him all the best, a second defeat would make a return to the squared circle more likely, but there’s a way to go before that’s likely to happen.