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10/14 Dot Net One Shots: The Dot Net staff give their quick thoughts from the previous week in WWE, TNA, MMA and indie wrestling

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Nov 14, 2013 - 04:18 PM

Welcome to the Dot Net One Shots. Each week, we will present a quick "one shot" thought from each staff member about the previous week in each of the following areas: WWE, TNA and Other (MMA, Indies, etc).

WWE

Will Pruett (Twitter - @itswilltime): Middle management is annoying. Everyone who has ever worked for a company containing middle managers knows this. Even middle managers know their jobs are pretty annoying. Why would I want to see three middle managers fighting for some odd form of control on Raw? Does WWE really think people are fascinated with corporate culture?

Jeff Lutz (Twitter - @JeffreyDLutz): Big E Langston and Antonio Cesaro are WWE's latest hopes for breakout stars, but they both lost on Monday (albeit Cesaro didn't take a pinfall). Cesaro, in particular, looks like a future headliner, but we've seen future headliners derailed too frequently recently for me to take on anything but a "I'll believe it when I see it" mentality.

Jake Barnett (Twitter - @barnettjake): We talked about coked out Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior promos on the Dot Net Countdown this week for a reason. The WWE Product is dreadful right now.

Zack Zimmerman (Twitter - @InVasionZim): There were two real highlights of Raw to me. The first was the closing angle featuring Punk, Bryan, and the tag teams, who feel like the only hot commodities on recent WWE programming. The second was the absence of Stephanie McMahon and Triple H. Despite the fact that they were mentioned multiple times per segment, the show felt more watchable without their dominating presences overshadowing the people they should be promoting.

Darren Gutteridge (Twitter - @Dazatheg): I was so surprised when Axel beat Ziggler to retain his Intercontinental Title, because I had taken it for granted that there would be a title change. The IC title has changed hands a lot overseas - in fact Regal won the title in Manchester in 2008 - and with Heyman seemingly taking a backseat for a while, I had Axel down as a no-hoper. Maybe they intend to push on with him, although I see no reason to do so at this point.

Chris Shore (Twitter - @TheShoreSlant): The final segment of raw had some faces we aren't used to seeing there and that's a good thing. The question remains though, will we see them there again? JR talks about guys making the most of their opportunities, and I think everyone did Monday night, but whether they are rewarded for that or not remains to be seen.

TNA

Will Pruett: The first episode of Impact containing the TNA Championship tournament was really good. I can only hope this whole tournament will be this good. TNA needs to string together 4-5 weeks of consistent and entertaining television for me to have any faith in their product again.

Jeff Lutz: I'm far from an avid TNA viewer, but every time I've watched Bobby Roode, I see a star. Many believed his former tag partner, James Storm, has equal potential, but in my limited viewing it seems that Roode possesses more of the tools that main-eventers need.

Jake Barnett: Impact was a competent show last week. Boring, mind, you, but not cringe worthy as a lot of TNA programming has felt recently. Maybe that's something to build on? I hesitate to guess.

Zack Zimmerman: Apparently, TNA is planning to tape 'One Night Only: Hardcore Justice' in my market. I can't say I'm excited to sit and watch three hours of garbage matches, but if the right talent is advertised, I am willing. I'm not, however, willing to sit through another mock-ECW reunion. Don't do it, TNA.

Chris Shore: I'm interested to see how the taped Impact does this week. TNA threw a ton of stuff at the Cincinnati last week during the live show and I worried then they might be dead for the second show. Even though the ratings last week weren't great, Impact was pretty good and should have encouraged people to tune in tonight. A dead crowd will be the worst thing that could happen to TNA if they are successful in getting more people to tune in.

Other (MMA, Indies, Etc)

Will Pruett (Chris Hero): I think we may have to brace ourselves for more of this. The expansion of WWE developmental does not mean there will be an expansion of the WWE main roster. Many of us may see our favorite indie performers enter the system, stay for a while, and be let go. For Hero, I hope this is a great step in his career. There is a ton of excitement from people wanting to see him on the indies now.

Jeff Lutz (WWE): The final segment of Raw was open to interpretation, but it looked to me like the Wyatts were the babyfaces in their confrontations with The Shield. I couldn't present evidence to argue against the opposing viewpoint, but I may have seen the Wyatts more favorably because, outside of attacking CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, they've not done anything truly heelish during their brief WWE run.

Jake Barnett (WWE): WWE has a serious opportunity to make The Shield and The Wyatt's one of the WrestleMania Main Events. I hope they don't cash out early because they don't have enough ideas. Hold them apart if that is the case.

Zack Zimmerman (Beyond): Beyond Wrestling is running this Sunday in Providence, RI. As if watching top indie stars clash in New England's hottest up-and-coming promotion weren't good enough, Beyond has upped the ante by working with partners to offer gourmet food and give out locally brewed beer samples. Free beer, great food, and world-class wrestling: the bar is being raised.

Darren Gutteridge (NXT): I've said my piece on Kassius Ohno / Chris Hero's NXT run in this week's report and on twitter, but one thing I've never touched on is the name. Who the hell thought Ohno would catch on? Could they not have thought of a normal name to get him the KO initials? I'm glad we're past the "Husky Harris" period of developmental names, but they can still throw out stinkers from time to time.

Chris Shore (ROH): Final Battle continues to take shape and looks to be a good event, but I still think ROH is making a mistake by not at least trying to send this out on iPPV. The gap between ROH and TNA is much bigger in my mind than between TNA and WWE precisely because ROH cannot deliver their big events in a live format. That has to change if they want to continue their growth.

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