WWE TLC: A ground-breaking SummerSlam weekend

Barny 17:58 24/08/2016
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  • The WWE is breaking new ground.

    From the NXT Takeover of Brooklyn and the WWE’s sustained three-night presence with SummerSlam and RAW, through to Smackdown LIVE, it was a landmark weekend for the company.

    Brooklyn’s Barclays Center has become the spiritual home of NXT Takeover and SummerSlam with two raucous events in successive years. And while 2015 saw history made, it was in 2016 that history was cemented.

    Last year, Bayley and Sasha Banks stole the NXT show; this year they formed the women’s title picture.

    Twelve months ago Finn Balor successfully defended his NXT title in a ladder match against Kevin Owens; in 2016, he walked out of SummerSlam as the first ever Universal title holder and the new face of RAW.

    Fast forward another 24 hours and we were left reeling at the sight of Balor handing over his title after dislocating his shoulder in that championship match against another former NXT graduate turned headliner who knows a thing or two about injury spoiling a championship reign – Seth Rollins.

    It was a cruel blow for Balor and WWE who now must rejig things at the top incredibly prematurely and after they showed such an encouraging sign of faith in an up-and-comer such as the Irishman.

    But not all is lost and this weekend of wrestling should serve as a memorable one for the WWE and its New Era.

    So often their brand extensions (think original drafts, ECW and the old people’s parade of WCW) have fallen flat.

    They have relied on old faces to hook fans back in, hoping they find themselves so influenced by nostalgia that they can’t help but rekindle their WWE addiction.

    Sure, it has worked initially.

    But after the excitement of seeing Hulk Hogan rip open his shirt and call on the Hulkamaniacs, the hangover soon fades and you are left with the dreary realisation that you’re staring at a very old man unable to do the same things that made you fall in love with wrestling.

    Things are different this time, and the past few days have proven that.

    The roster has had to be expanded but the rumours of old Superstars returning have been wide of the mark.

    Instead, the constant proving ground of NXT is forming the backbone of the revolution.

    And a key component of this has been the incredible women who have forged such an impressive division, flooded by talent richly deserving of being placed higher and higher up on the cards of shows.

    This was highlighted by the unveiling of the new women’s championship belt on Smackdown this week, but in amongst it there must be caution.

    Balor and Bayley perfectly embody both the call for patience and how this pivotal generation are shaping the WWE’s future to the delight of its fans.

    There are currently a host of old and new titles to be decided and the WWE must avoid overdoing it with so many championship pictures to be painted.

    Burnout is a thing they can ill afford with such a bright future lying in the palm of their hands.

    But for now, sell-outs spread across those three nights in New York City and into Connecticut for Smackdown will be their primary driving force.

    Fans are returning and if, as expected, pay-per-view sales were on the rise for SummerSlam then last year’s revenue records will surely be broken again this time around.

    Obviously it reads well on paper for the WWE, but even better is that the fans are reaping the rewards.

    The company’s ambition and desire to be so forward-thinking should be applauded and right now, the fans are doing just that.

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