WWE Wrap-Up
This week in WWE: Owens and Zayn “welcome” Bryan back to the ring
Mar 21, 2018, 1:29 pm
The two thorns in the lives of McMahon and Bryan did not take getting fired very well. Photo by WWE.com
This is a weekly look at the action in the WWE:
Raw
Kurt Angle gave fans an update on the Universal Championship Match. Roman Reigns, then appeared from the crowd, despite being suspended, demanding to face off against Brock Lesnar. Reigns was then handcuffed by “US Marshals” in attempts to be removed from the arena. Of Course, Lesnar finally made his arrival on Raw and attacked a defenseless Reigns. The first match of the night, Asuka vs Alexa Bliss, ended in a count-out when Bliss “hurt her ankle.” She seemed fine, though, when she ran away from Nia Jax after she rushed to the ring to surprise the champion. Backstage, Angle ran into Bliss and informed her that she will, in fact, be defending her championship against Jax at ‘Mania.
Braun Strowman explained how management informed him that he needs a partner in order to challenge The Bar in New Orleans. The Bar antagonized Strowman and his mystery partner. Strowman, then, defeated Cesaro with a Power Slam as his ‘Mania partner continues to be a mystery. The Revival defeated Titus Worldwide. After the match, they announced they will be the first Tag Team to win the Andre The Giant Battle Royal. Mark Henry was announced as the final inductee into the WWE HOF class of 2018. Sasha and Bayley aired out their dirty laundry before their match against Absolution. The misunderstandings between the two friends ended up costing them the match after Deville pinned Bayley, who was busy arguing with Sasha.
John Cena explained how insulted he felt to not get a response from Undertaker. “You are not a God, you’re a Coward,” vented Cena. This prompted Kane, Undertaker’s Brother, to come to the ring and hit Cena with a Chokeslam. The Miz went on a long rant about being left off of the cover of the official WrestleMania Magazine. Balor Club defeated Miz and the Mizterouge in a Six Man Tag match. They did not take kindly to their loss and began a three on one attack on Balor causing Seth Rollins to save one of his ‘Mania opponents. Raw closed with its theatrical “The Ultimate Deletion” match between Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt. Hardy won the match thanks to some assistance from his brother and his father-in-law.
SmackDown Live
Daniel Bryan opened the show discussing the story that broke earlier that day, he has been cleared to wrestle again. “Fight for your dreams, and your dreams will fight for you,” explained Bryan. Nakamura defeated Rusev in the first match of the night. Aiden English ambushed Nakamura and the two began to attack him. Styles, who was ring-side to watch the match, got up to help Nakamura, but the Artist was able to handle his attackers himself. Baron Corbin defeated Tye Dillinger with an End of Days. Natalya instigated a fight with Charlotte, and she got it. Their match was a rough one, which motivated Carmella to try to cash in her briefcase. Charlotte took care of her, but Natalya used the distraction to roll her up and win the match.
Jimmy Uso took on Luke Harper after explaining that no matter how many times they try to bring down The Usos they will not stop. Luke Harper defeated Jimmy despite Jai’s best efforts to help his brother. A Triple Threat match for the United States Championship was announced for WrestleMania, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode and Jinder Mahal will clash in New Orleans. Becky Lynch and Naomi defeated Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan. Daniel Bryan finally got a chance to grill Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn after their attack on Shane McMahon. Bryan, eventually, fired the pair, and opened the door to a vicious attack from them. As much as Bryan tried to fight back, it was simply not enough to contain Owens and Zayn from destroying him.
We took a big step towards WrestleMania this week
As far as Raw is concerned, we finally got to see the maineventers clash. Lesnar’s assault on Reigns was a brutal one, and it should hopefully do some favors for Reigns. In a huge announcement, it was revealed that Jax will be the one to challenge Bliss for her championship. Without a doubt, this will be the biggest match of Jax’s career.
SmackDown was where it was at this week, though. As something that everyone thought would never happen, happened. Daniel Bryan took some brutal bumps after announcing his return to the WWE ring. I am not going to lie, seeing him dish out those kicks to Owens was so gratifying. Bryan will definitely be stuck in a tag match with McMahon against Owens and Zayn, but just having him back is what we need right now. After all, the WrestleMania card looks that much more impressive with him on the card as a competitor.
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So where does one turn now in Houston for mediocre, overpriced salsa? I kid, I kid. While wondering if Breggy Baked Beans are on the horizon. Congrats to Alex Bregman and agent Scott Boras for landing an on its face outlandish three-year 120-million dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. With deferred money part of the deal the contract will be valuated in the neighborhood of “only” three years 90 million. Would Bregman have taken that from the Astros if offered? The Astros’ six-year 156-million dollar proposal was 26 mil per season. Bregman has the right to opt out after each of the first two seasons of his BoSox deal. If his decline (while still a very good player) of the last two seasons continues, or even if he holds steady, there is near zero chance of Bregman opting out unless he hates life in New England. At the end of the three years, will Bregman be able to land a three-year 66 million-dollar deal when he’s about to turn 34 years old? That plus the 90 mil with deferrals accounted for in his new deal would total 156 million. Massachusetts taxes personal income of just over a million dollars and upward at a nine percent rate. Playing half his games in the Bay State, Bregman will pay Massachusetts tax on half his salary.
Reminders...
Bregman obviously had an excellent Astros’ career, among non-pitchers he is top 10 all-time, but the excellence was frontloaded. Over Bregman’s first three big seasons he compiled a .289 batting average and .924 OPS. Elite numbers. Over the five seasons since: .261 and .795. Good, nothing legendary. After his monster MVP runner-up 2019 season (stats aided by the juiced balls of that season) Bregman was on a strong early Hall of Fame track. Now not so much, without some offensive resurgence. Fenway Park should suit Bregman well. He’ll bang singles and doubles off of the Green Monster, though the much higher than Crawford Boxes wall will not goose his home run numbers. In his time with the Astros Bregman mashed at Fenway with a .375 batting average and 1.240 OPS. That’s in a statistically not very significant 98 regular season plate appearances.
It is myth that Bregman in the postseason was some relentless hitting machine. He posted phenomenal numbers over seven Division Series batting .333 with an OPS over 1.000. Over 68 American League Championship Series and World Series games: batting average .196, OPS sub-.700.
For his career, Bregman’s worst month of performance by far has been April (plus any days in March, .737 OPS). In 2024 Bregman was baseball garbage into mid-May. Should a typical slow start happen again, we’ll see what the Fenway faithful patience level is. By far, Bregman’s best batting month has been August (.992 OPS). As it works out, both Astros-Red Sox series are in August this year. First in Boston August 1-3 then in Houston August 11-13.
Who's on third?
Over the last two seasons combined, new Astros’ third baseman Isaac Paredes has been as good offensively as Bregman. That includes Paredes pretty much stinking for two months in Chicago after being dealt from the Rays to the Cubs. Paredes, who turns 26 years old on Tuesday, was an AL All-Star last season. Bregman, who turns 31 March 30, was last an All-Star in 2019. The defensive drop-off from Bregman to Paredes is a fairly steep one.
There is no question that Bregman’s official departure weakens the Astros via a domino effect. Had Bregman wound up staying here, Paredes would have shifted to second base with Jose Altuve primarily in left field. Now, 600-plus plate appearances that Bregman would have taken project to be divided among Mauricio Dubon, Ben Gamel, Zach Dezenzo, and others. That projects as a substantial offensive downgrade. The lineup net result of the Astros’ offseason is negative. Christian Walker and Paredes joining the infield in lieu of Jon Singleton and Bregman is fine. Kyle Tucker out, hodge-podge in in the outfield, oh boy.
Alex Bregman is an unquestioned gamer, leader, and would seem to have the temperament to take well to the more intense baseball environment of Boston relative to that in Houston. Yankee fans should reeeeally love him now!
New beginnings
Considering baseball wasn’t invented until more than a century later, the poet Alexander Pope did not have baseball in mind when in 1732 he wrote “Hope springs eternal (in the human breast).” It works though. Other than the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies, Major League teams have convened in Florida or Arizona thinking if things break right this could be their year! I’d probably put the Miami Marlins in with the ChiSox and Rockies. Many Astros’ fans are strongly disgruntled over the departures of Bregman and Kyle Tucker. This team still has “gruntlement” potential. The batting order appears Morganna-level (Google as necessary) top heavy, but one through five stacks well versus most other lineups. In the American League only the Mariners, Yankees, and maybe Royals have starting pitching rotations that should rate above the Astros’ rotation. Let the countdown to Opening Day begin!
Spring training is up and running. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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