***WARNING, YOU ARE NOW ENTERING A WRESTLING NERD DISCUSSION ZONE*** PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS INSIDE OF KAYFABE*** Because of the wild variation in the amount of wrestling people watch, and because everything matters, exposition in wrestling is always problematic. You have to quickly explain what’s going on for people who either don’t watch or recognize what is important and why, but in a way that you don’t make the people who do know want to rip their eyeballs out, or worse, change the channel. This Rhodes feud has been the best example of proper exposition in a long, long time, as they’ve allowed the basic story – The Rhodes vs. The McMahons – to explain the “why” (as in “why’s there animosity to begin with?). As a result, the “what” (the “why” of the moment, as in “why are they arguing right now?”) does not get bogged down with “I DON’T LIKE YOU BECAUSE THINGS”. The “why” explains itself – the McMahons and Rhodes family don’t like each other, period — and the “what” is a function of the “why” – the McMahons are turning this into Sophie’s Choice With Rednecks because they feel like being dicks to the Rhodes family because they do not like each other, period. And in wrestling, that’s the (American) Dream.***YOU ARE NOW EXITING A WRESTLING NERD DISCUSSION ZONE*** PLEASE ENJOY YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SONIC MILKSHAKE ON THE WAY OUT***
There’s a lot that could have went wrong with this segment, but when big-time bits like this are well-executed it makes the rest of the show better. And remember, pictures of Big Show crying = ratings.
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There are a lot of things that could have went wrong with this AJ-and-Nattie on commentary segment. And thank God they did. Remember, Natalya talking about wrestling = not ratings.
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Your weekly reminder that Damien Sandow is cannon fodder for Cody Rhodes’ World Heavyweight Championship push.
