It was truly a marquee week for WWE, its New Era delivering a stunning Extreme Rules pay-per-view that has captured the imagination of the WWE Universe.
That the battle for the Intercontinental title stole the show was no great surprise, its combatants four of the best in the business right now.
But with an Asylum Match that defied the now PG-13 friendly audience by delivering streaming blood, thumbtacks, a 2×4 wrapped in barbed wire and a thrilling conclusion – the WWE’s new direction has taken flight.
Add to that a stellar main event between Roman Reigns and AJ Styles for the Heavyweight title and there is a fine product taking shape.
The true icing on the cake came in one of the biggest pops in recent history as the much-rumoured return of Seth Rollins came about post Reigns’ retention.
The Architect hit Reigns with a pedigree and held aloft the title to see out the PPV, sending the fans inside Newark’s Prudential Centre into sheer delirium.
Finally, the Universe had its hero back in the ring, months after vacating the title due to injury.
Not only that, he delivered an undeniable message of intent to a champion who they cannot stand.
Reigns has been consistently berated by the WWE Universe and even during his incredible match with Styles the crowd were directing chants of “you still suck” at the eventual winner.
It is a sad state of affairs, borne out of a mixture of Reigns’ lack of charisma, a feeling that he has been forced on fans and the Universe’s ignorance toward the immense talent in front of them.
But regardless of each of these factors, the WWE has once again missed a huge trick.
Instead of allowing Rollins to return face, already with a huge swell of fans behind him, they quickly set about trying to make him turn on them with his appearance on RAW.
Rollins opened up Monday night’s show to a euphoric welcome, while Reigns was booed to the ring when he interrupted.
Surely common sense suggests that this was the ideal opportunity to finally give Reigns a clear heel role and allow Rollins a run at leading its New Era?
Without a doubt Rollins is a superb heel but he is equally adept at any role put in front of him, such is his talent both in the ring and on the mic.
As for Reigns, his best moments in the WWE have come first as part of the anti-heroes of The Shield (alongside Rollins) and then in “snapping” against Triple H and handing out an almighty beating on The Game that showed his true potential as a physical, unhinged and unpredictable force.
Having watched it all unfold in just as predictable manner as before, this latest move comes as little surprise but it is possibly the most frustrating witnessed.
Here was a golden opportunity laid before WWE Creative to capture the imagination of the Universe and bring out real, strong feeling from the audience that it has instead cheated by going down the same old, laboured path.
It seems it’s a New Era done by halves.
