10 Things We Learned From WWE WrestleMania Weekend 2022
1. The Call-Up Process Still Needs Work
When Vince McMahon’s chief lieutenants took control of NXT in 2021, it was assumed more about the overall process would change than just the logo. And not just because of the relentless obsession with t*ts and sh*t.
Episode One of 2.0 featured a head-spinning number of debuts by design. Not only was the black and gold brand a thing of the past, but its roster was too. You were to cheer Bron Breakker, be suspicious of Von Wagner, and jack it incessantly to Toxic Attraction. These were Vince’s people producing Vince things for Vince’s show. If absolutely nothing else, they were being primed for Raw and SmackDown in a way “Dusty’s kids” and Triple H’s indie darlings never were.
Or so we all thought, until Gunther rocked up in bright red tights along with his renamed Imperium mate Ludwig Kaiser. The former Walter had already felt cooked since his drastic name and style change on the show, but this was vintage bullsh*t on top of b*llocks from the company that had booked Raquel Gonzalez to win and lose the tag belts in a week, ahead of a call up that switched her surname to Rodriguez.
New developmental show. Same old problems.