This week’s Stars in Progress comes off the heels of a terrible episode of Monday Night Raw, and last week’s phenomenal NXT Takeover two-hour live special. On these five pages, you’ll hear my thoughts about John Cena and Paul Heyman, two stand-out NXT champions, Chris Jericho’s swan song, the dismal state of the Divas title picture, and a rather harsh rant aimed at my least favorite person in all of pro wrestling…for now.
STEP UP: John Cena & Paul Heyman
I really liked all the segments involving John Cena this week on Monday Night Raw, and not a whole lot else the show had to offer.
Paul Heyman has set the bar at an all-time high, but somehow manages to improve from one week to the next. With how contrived WWE programming has become, it’s refreshing to see a manager (or advocate) actually pull one over on the fans. I’ll admit it – Paul Heyman got me this week.
The story was that John Cena locked him in his dressing room, and threatened to inflict a lot of pain if Heyman didn’t produce Brock Lesnar by “halftime”. But when it came time for Paul-E to receive his beating, he pulled a 180 on John and the fans. Heyman trying to bring out the inner Paul Heyman Guy in John Cena was compelling television. The scene was straight out of Return of the Jedi, with the creepy old Emperor seeking to turn the white knight to the dark side; Darth Lesnar showing Cena what he could become if only he gave in to the hate. Sadly for the Cenation, I don’t think their Jedi Master is going to see the same fate as Luke Sywalker this Sunday.
I don’t know that Lesnar gained any ground this week, but it’s enough that I’m more excited for the main match at Night of Champions than I was 48 hours ago.
