12 WWE Survivor Series 2017 Impulse Reactions

3. Getting Over

Triple H Shane McMahon
WWE

In 100% correct predictions piece previewing this show, it was posited that Enzo Amore was a substantially superior star than Kalisto merely because he was actually over. As if to plainly illustrate the gap between himself at the 'Smacktalker Skywalker', the former Lucha Dragon couldn't even literally interpret the criticism in their kickoff Cruiserweight title clash.

Nobody will speak of the match, because nobody should. There was nothing to talk about, write home about, or lament. But, feasting on the misery of others as we're sometimes wont to do, let's just share once more in the calamitous Kalisto entrance.

The mask has been a cursed artifice since WWE cynically attempted to replace Rey Mysterio's merch-shifting mechanism without giving remote thought to the performer under the hood. Mysterio was a rare breed in his ability to emote with children and adults alike. Like most truly exceptional performers, his moves were second place. Like Sin Cara before him, Kalisto is unable to establish the emotional connection from underneath his colourful garb. When flips are elsewhere on the card, more is required to form that bond.

That 'more' is yet to show itself, but not for the first time, Kalisto has shown himself up. If 'good lucha things' won't cut it, bad ones clearly won't help either.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett