5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (May 4)
3. Slide Away
Last and most definitely least, discussion of arguably the most insane event in wrestling history couldn't be concluded without touching on the only real takeaway from the show itself.
Only, it could, actually, had WWE left it alone.
Not to draw intentionally critical comparisons between NJPW and WWE, but an incident of potential similar embarrassment occurred during a recent contest featuring The Golden Lovers. The duo's simpatico synergy is a vital component of the act, with exhilarating double team moves key to their gimmick. When firing off their 'Cross Slash' stereo Asai Moonsaults against The Young Bucks, the camera showed Kenny Omega's graceful assault and completely missed (and disguised) Kota Ibushi's embarrassing botch.
Kenny and Kota are babyfaces - skilled ones at that - and don't benefit from such mistakes making air. They later wove it into the narrative of their relatively new reunion, but that character decision was in their power. Titus O'Neil had his taken away the second Michael Cole referred to his stumble as the "greatest thing [he'd] ever witnessed" and Kevin Dunn and Vince McMahon beat it into the ground quicker than Titus did his own face.
Wrestlers - nay, WWE Superstars - were once people to aspire to be like. There's not a fan in the world who would have swapped places with O'Neil at that moment, later that night, or even the following week when he slipped again on Raw. The same show in which abject nonentity Mike Kanellis celebrated not being a record Royal Rumble loser with interviewee and sudden figure of worship Mike Rome. Two more geeks on WWE's television treadmill that may in actual fact be one giant race to the bottom.
Stone Cold Steve Austin probably wouldn't have tolerated any of this sh*t. No wait, he definitely wouldn't have.