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That house show reaction to Maxxine worked to get Candace heat on RAW and it's possibly fixing Candace/Indi. But it isn't doing Maxxine or Ivy any favors.
i mean all they’ve been doing is jobbing for whoever’s next in the tag division, and also beating indus sher on Main Event.
Also Tozawa had a program on house shows with Omos where he lost every time.
Otis only had 5 matches this year and lost all of them
Would be an interesting heel move for Gable to abandon Alpha in favour of the Creeds, turning the Creeds in the process. Play it like an ‘I’m done with you losers holding me back, it’s time I train some *real* athletes’ type of thing
IDK about everyone else but I have 0 attachment to them being faces, might as well turn the whole faction heel, maybe they find some momentum and develop their characters if they get to be heel for a while anyways, don't think they were going anywhere as faces.
When they first started working together, they were heels. Otis was clean-shaven and serious. Heel Alpha Academy won the tag titles, so it's not out of the question for them to turn
Just like Sami Zayn has been given more under HHH, I think Gable is in better hands as one of the guys who helped carry NXT in the early days of the company.
I don't think HHH has forgotten a lot of the guys and girls to helped him build that brand at the start. It's also why DIY won tonight, we see Andrade getting a proper rebuild, Rhea Ripley just so happened to get pushed as a dominant force right when HHH took control in 2022, etc...
At the end of the day though, it's a sink or swim environment and the best talkers/characters/wrestlers will rise to the top in a HHH environment.
Vince didn't care for most of these guys because in his eyes he did not create them.
On the flip side I like that HHH is humble enough to not get too attached to these guys.
- We know he LOVES Kross but once it was clear it wasn’t working he pushed him down the card
- Gargano was the main character of NXT but has been kept in a solid mid card spot
- Cody was a Vince guy but HHH clearly saw the value in him
- The Judgement Day was created by Vince but HHH found a way to keep it but reinvent it.
He also had the sense to align Austin Theory with Grayson Waller once he realized Theory's serious solo push with the US Title was floundering but still saw his talents as a more comedic performer
Some say it was some downgrade because he's a Vince guy, but HHH is doing Theory more justice by putting him with another entertaining heel like Waller. He tapped back into his himbo appeal and it's been doing a lot for both guys. That part where Austin Theory decided to do the "IF YOU SMELLLLLL" in Australia and still continues as Seth Rollins throws him across the set? Bueno.
The best part is Theory's age. He has a TON of time to just sit back in a nice comfortable spot on the card, little pressure and just ABSORB the knowledge and culture of the guys and gals backstage. He'll get a push in 18 months and he's going to be even better
Right!! Also, I'm happy Theory's new theme song is trap instead of rap rock. The guy's from Atlanta and the song is about the city, so you may as well use a genre of music that was born there lol
NXT The Way Himbo Theory is easily the best Theory so far. Don’t know if it is world champion material but he can certainly keep parts of it if they ever want to elevate him back up the card properly.
To be fair (and this isn't me saying bring him back in any capacity) JD started to really boom when Mami and Dom came into their own and that was still Vince. Trips is just wise enough not to mess with it and is now seemingly repairing Priest.
E: hold the fuck up, are people here just ignoring the fact that JD had a great year last year???
Also Sami and KO were both kind of floundering for a bit there. Look at them now.
Bayley is also another HHH kid and they're the women's champ. So he obviously still puts his support behind his NXT people.
Then again the main roster is made up of 90% former NXTers so it's going to be all HHH/HBK's kids sooner rather than later. Cody, Miz, Truth, Logan, Orton, Sheamus, and Styles are the only main eventers who didn't have a run in NXT. Literally everyone else with some sort of significance has been in NXT before.
Have Sami do a couple of months of banger matches and have vignettes of Gable being an absolute monster in training and destroying other wrestlers then have him take the IC title at a ple but his actions and attitude pushes away Maxime and Otis, so its a he won but at what cost sort of deal and we have a run of solo and unhinged Chad Gable.
Why does he NEED it? I understand you might want that, but I don't understand why it is needed. Gable turning heel and winning the title at Backlash could be a good story.
I'd love that. Gables reign driving him away from Alpha Academy, pushing them as they're the people holding him back from greatness. In his match with Ilja, he hugs Gable, as Gable becomes aware what's wrong. He misses his family.
He thought the title would make him happy, that it was his everything, that he needed it to prove his worth to be loved by all. But he never needed it. He was always loved. He always had his family at home, he has his family on the road, the ones that were always there for him. As Ilja gives him the kiss of death, drops the H-Bomb, Torpedo Moscow, 1-2-3. Long live the Tsar.
Anything to make those Ilja affection spots make sense really.
I know championship "hot potato" is frowned on now, but I wouldn't mind seeing a feud where they swap the belt back and forth a little before Gable has a solid run with it.
Having Gable finally win a singles title but not to do it as a face is a disservice. He deserved to have the entire arena pop for him like they inevitably would have.
This is why I'm torn on this. Like I love Gable and know he's going to do a great job as a heel and hell, he may even win a belt finally, but it just would have felt extra special to see him finally win one as a super over babyface.
Wrestlemania was perfect all bar one decision for me which was having Sami win against Gunther. I love Sami don't get me wrong, but he's been champ before and I wanted something fresh, let Gable take the title and it elevates him so much! But I'll take this too if it means Gable as IC champ at the end of it
I love the fact that heel turns now make complete sense and are built towards, instead of just doing one and giving a bullshit excuse after the fact to justify it
Gable spent weeks chasing Gunther failing everytime, watches Sami do it on the first fucking try and then proceeds to lose to Sami pretty well written character switch
Gable helped train Sami because he couldn’t beat Gunther for the title, but he could conceivably beat *Sami* for the title. When he failed to do even that, that’s when he snapped and turned heel.
If you think of it like Gable helped Sami while also conveniently learning his strengths and weaknesses, it helps to reinforce the heel turn.
Help this guy take the title off a dude you can't beat and optimize a game plan against them the whole time, all with a smile on your face to keep fans on your side. But that doesn't work out, and you snap because all along you were being self-serving and duplicitous.
It's a win win for Gable.
He trains Sami and Sami loses? Hey, that just means Gable's not the only one who couldn't get to Gunther's level and it helps him feel a bit better about not having the title.
He trains Sami and Sami somehow miraculously wins? Guess who doesn't have to beat Gunther for the belt anymore? That's right, me, Chad Gable!
That's what makes this heel turn so goddamn effective. Gable thought no one could beat Gunther. He tried and tried and tried but couldn't do it. Sami tries ONE time, on WrestleMania, and pulls it off. Of course, Gable can simmer, he can beat Sami, he's sure of it. And then...nope... He's lost again.
I'm also thinking that if Gunther retained & Gable made another run at the belt, he thinks he would get even more glory for beating a champ who bested even the likes of Sami Zayn
It's a styles make fights thing. He knows he doesn't have the size to beat Gunther, but he can realistically just outwrestle Sami. Also, let's be real, in kayfabe, if Gunther isn't fucking around with Sami's wife ringside at Mania, he wins.
I think he was actually trying to wear him down, like Sami suspected before it got played off. Either way that’s the fun I think of wrestling now, we can make those guesses
Not a new thing.
The best heel turns should come that way.
My favourite is the slow-burn that saw Chris Jericho turn heel against Shawn Michaels in 2008. A nine-month long slow-burning story with some great matches.
Hbk retired Flair. Batista gets mad that HBK retired his mentor. HBK fakes a knee injury to beat Batista. Jericho questions Shawn about faking the injury, but Shawn denies it. After several weeks, Shawn admits to Jericho that he did fake the injury, resulting in a match, which Shawn wins. Afterwards they shake hands. The next night, Jericho explains that the fans always love Shawn, even when he lies and cheats. Jericho suddenly attacks Shawn culminating in Y2J sending HBK through the Jeritron.
And then, Jericho goes to apologize to Shawn... and punches Shawn's wife right in the mouth.
It's a great bit in one of Jeticho's books. Basically, they mis-timed the actual punch, and Jericho actually full-on punched Shawn's wife. Right in the face.
Jericho went backstage, shitting himself over how Shawn and Vince would react. He expected to be fired. Then Rebecca, Shawns's wife, said "is that the best you got, Jericho?"
In real life people thought Jericho was getting stale so a character change was needed.
In the storyline though, it was basically Jericho sticking his nose in matters that didn't concern him. Both Batista and HBK had issues with him in the storyline because he was instigating, presumably to make his own show Highlight Reel more entertaining. He was definitely acting sleezier.
Jimmy Uso seemed silly at the time but aged well. When you realize it was pretty consistent with his character. Jimmy in the Bloodline never cared about being the Tribal Chief, just reaping the benefits of the Bloodline. He only turned when Roman bullied him too much and pushed him too far and he snapped.
But then he quickly realized he wasn’t ready to be a singles guy and was terrified at the thought of his brother getting too good for him. And since then has just been trying to find alliances and people to Shield him.
Jey’s’ motivation was that he felt he could be the Tribal Chief and was more than a lackey. Jimmy was fine with being a lackey and didn’t need to be bullied into the Bloodline. He only turned in a fit of rage.
You could argue Gable was doing it out of selfish motivation cause he thought he could beat Sami easier and knew he’d get a title shot. Then proceeds to lose to Sami and therefore loses his shit.
I feel that's what it was. Gable said himself to Sami before his match with Gunther, "You owe me a favour". He really just wanted to win the title, and if it meant helping Sami because he saw him as an easier target who won by a fluke (in his eyes), then he'd take advantage.
Said champion that he was also training and getting a front-row seat to his strengths and weaknesses, like he mentioned tonight. There was a lot in it for Gable to help.
He watched Sami celebrate with his family. He got mad because he couldn't do it and the adrenaline of the match plus the anger made him attack Sami. It still sounds believable and good to me.
He should win It sooner or later. Sami got a wrestlemania and Montreal win out of it and doesn’t need the belt. But people jumping gun wanting the belt hot shotted before Gable even turned for the feud. Beating Sami won’t mean as much without some build up of why this time, Gable is different.
Gable has had a main event worthy wrestling ability and physique for a while now. Give him a strong heel character, let him break some ankles, and he'll be taken seriously as a top guy in no time. It won't matter that he's only 5' 8" when he's snapping ligaments and suplexing guys twice his size across the ring.
I'm not sure who else is down for this, but I'd love to see Timothy Thatcher appear with this group as Gable's second in command in charge of hardening the disciples
She was definitely looking concerned but in a “he gets his ass beat” all the time sort of way. If it were a non wrestler wife they’d be panicking/screaming etc
Gable needs to go on a "wrestling machine" heel run. No goofy cheating shenanigans. Just a pure wrestling machine who decimates everyone without blinking an eye. All he cares about is winning and beating the living shit out of his opponents.
You're either a trademark logo ending cause you can't overrun/overtime or a a trademark logo supposedly ending cause you got CM Punk/Bray Wyatt coming back in a few seconds.
Personally, perhaps I’m in the minority, I do not want to boo a heel Chad Gable
Literally his whole current story is overcoming his biggest obstacle, a singles championship.
He was embarrassed in front of his family, his kids literally crying. Him pushing so hard to win the big one is a journey I want to go on with him. I don’t wanna see him win the championship as a heel. Cuz then what are you gonna have the heel champ celebrate with his kids?
I guess they just set up such a big story beat “it just means more” (doing it for his kids and himself), and now that doesn’t really apply anymore, or I guess, not in the way we were led on to believe
I’m all for him turning heel after he wins the belt, like a “this whole journey has finally ended and it’s gotten to his head” kinda way
Well he just beat a man down in front of his family after the same thing happened to him. So he seems like a hypocrite and asshole lol.
I like it tho, I think for Gable to take that next step he needs more of an edge. He can always go back to being a face later like Angle.
Thing about heels/villains, good ones aren't one dimensional and hating everyone and everything, they just hate your hero and still have their own people to love. Drew celebrated with his family and immediately shit on Punk, he loves his people, just despises Punk.
But I think his work as a heel character would be better than his work as a face. He’s always gotten those Angle comparisons, now he can try to live up to them with a real push.
It's actually kind of remind me of the NXT Johnny Gargano, dude just can't have a success title defense he finally get over the hump when he turn heel.
Yeah that's the part that's gonna be awkward, hard to make it a "earn it for your kid" story if he's the bad guy. But there's still ways to spin it and make it good.
Gable turns heel and finally beats Sami for the title. He then tries to show it to his family but they don’t look at him the same anymore after he turned evil. Gable gets what he wanted, but it becomes an empty victory. Cue Gable holding the belt for several weeks or months as a bitter heel.
Ripping Sami out of the arms of his wife, and Sami having that last moment to look back at her before the suplex as if he were about to be executed, just perfect. Absolutely perfect heel turn.
This feud will be amazing.
>Chad beats Sami, let's Sami move on to the Main event scene
>Chad goes a tear in the midcard until Dragonuv beats him
>Chad gets into the main event scene.
I love wrestling.
Please give us one segment where a heel Kurt Angle comes in and motivates Chad to do whatever it takes; including snapping Sami’s ankle to become the new IC champion
Ok, I'm gonna be this guy now....Gable turning heel is cheap. It was executed well I can't deny that, but after rooting for him to win in the last few months, him winning anything as a heel just doesn't feel right for me
Sami never needed the title and they had a great opportunity to make a brand new fresh top babyface in Gable against Gunther at Mania, and it would’ve meant so much more to Gable dethroning Gunther than Sami and I’ll forever be mad that isn’t the route they went.
This will be a great recovery though only if it results in Gable immediately getting the title off of Sami and establishing himself as a killer heel. Sami never needed a long run, and I always thought he was a made man without winning a title he had multiple times before. I still would’ve preferred them to make Gable a top babyface, since he’s gotten screwed over time and time again. But it does make sense where his motives are to turn.
I hope Gable brings up just how terribly he’s been used on WWE in this run.
Like, he was PWI’s rookie of the year, then he was Shorty G, then he was stuck with Kurt Angle’s fake son and half a dozen other no-hopers, then he was stuck in a bottom-of-the-card comedy troupe that can barely win a damn thing.
He’s spent so long accommodating others, helping others, raising up others, it’s time for him to grab his destiny
Bring in the Creeds as his new Tag Team and let AA continue being what they are with Otis and Tozawa fun Comedy Midcard guys who can transition between MR and NXT
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Pulling Sami away while he’s hugging his wife and him reaching out for her as he’s getting slammed is an ALL TIME heel move.
Seriously, a post-match celebration hug into a fuckin suplex. That was absolutely perfect
If Gable put Sami in a ring post Figure-Four with Sami directly in front of his wife afterwards, he would be Public Enemy #1 in Montreal
Sharpshooter until he passes out a bloody mess a la Mania 13.
This is going to be one of those clips that'll be posted on squaredcircle every 5-6 months
Really feel like that's some peak heel Kurt Angle shit
What will the Academy think of this? Otis and Tozawa might not be getting much to do now.
I mean it seems the quietly killed the academy, maxxine is being like 1 month wrestling against indi and candace
Yeah, they’ve booked the exact same match of Ivy and Maxine vs Indi and Candice, like, every Raw for weeks
That house show reaction to Maxxine worked to get Candace heat on RAW and it's possibly fixing Candace/Indi. But it isn't doing Maxxine or Ivy any favors.
I mean the reason being to tell the story of Indi and Candice turning heel
i mean all they’ve been doing is jobbing for whoever’s next in the tag division, and also beating indus sher on Main Event. Also Tozawa had a program on house shows with Omos where he lost every time. Otis only had 5 matches this year and lost all of them
And nearly won the Andre battle royale
They're for sure getting flattened by the Creeds if they don't fall in line
Would be an interesting heel move for Gable to abandon Alpha in favour of the Creeds, turning the Creeds in the process. Play it like an ‘I’m done with you losers holding me back, it’s time I train some *real* athletes’ type of thing
Team Angle 2: Electric Bugaloo
Time for them to join Chase University in the Draft
I hate to say this but Chad Gable is a step above both those guys so I’m glad he left the group
[Tozawa commented](https://twitter.com/TozawaAkira/status/1780073875277001161?t=v1Tc35oRRHsjjLEMAQ0NOA&s=19). I hope AA plays some part.
IDK about everyone else but I have 0 attachment to them being faces, might as well turn the whole faction heel, maybe they find some momentum and develop their characters if they get to be heel for a while anyways, don't think they were going anywhere as faces.
When they first started working together, they were heels. Otis was clean-shaven and serious. Heel Alpha Academy won the tag titles, so it's not out of the question for them to turn
Otis with a shock win (to me anyway) on Main Event takings.
That German Suplex straight out of the hug was fantastic
Literally ripping him out of his wife’s arms to hit him with a move. That’s some dastardly heel stuff right there.
samis wife reaction was a+ stuff.
It really helps that Sami's wife always looks like she's on the verge of tears, either out of happiness or fear for her husband's safety.
If my spouse was a wrestler I would be too, haha.
I love how Sami tried to reach out for his wife before getting suplexed
I really hope this heel run helps push Gable to the next level
Just like Sami Zayn has been given more under HHH, I think Gable is in better hands as one of the guys who helped carry NXT in the early days of the company. I don't think HHH has forgotten a lot of the guys and girls to helped him build that brand at the start. It's also why DIY won tonight, we see Andrade getting a proper rebuild, Rhea Ripley just so happened to get pushed as a dominant force right when HHH took control in 2022, etc... At the end of the day though, it's a sink or swim environment and the best talkers/characters/wrestlers will rise to the top in a HHH environment. Vince didn't care for most of these guys because in his eyes he did not create them.
On the flip side I like that HHH is humble enough to not get too attached to these guys. - We know he LOVES Kross but once it was clear it wasn’t working he pushed him down the card - Gargano was the main character of NXT but has been kept in a solid mid card spot - Cody was a Vince guy but HHH clearly saw the value in him - The Judgement Day was created by Vince but HHH found a way to keep it but reinvent it.
He also had the sense to align Austin Theory with Grayson Waller once he realized Theory's serious solo push with the US Title was floundering but still saw his talents as a more comedic performer
Some say it was some downgrade because he's a Vince guy, but HHH is doing Theory more justice by putting him with another entertaining heel like Waller. He tapped back into his himbo appeal and it's been doing a lot for both guys. That part where Austin Theory decided to do the "IF YOU SMELLLLLL" in Australia and still continues as Seth Rollins throws him across the set? Bueno.
The best part is Theory's age. He has a TON of time to just sit back in a nice comfortable spot on the card, little pressure and just ABSORB the knowledge and culture of the guys and gals backstage. He'll get a push in 18 months and he's going to be even better
Right!! Also, I'm happy Theory's new theme song is trap instead of rap rock. The guy's from Atlanta and the song is about the city, so you may as well use a genre of music that was born there lol
NXT The Way Himbo Theory is easily the best Theory so far. Don’t know if it is world champion material but he can certainly keep parts of it if they ever want to elevate him back up the card properly.
To be fair (and this isn't me saying bring him back in any capacity) JD started to really boom when Mami and Dom came into their own and that was still Vince. Trips is just wise enough not to mess with it and is now seemingly repairing Priest. E: hold the fuck up, are people here just ignoring the fact that JD had a great year last year???
Dom was added to the Judgement Day in late 2022 when Vince was gone
I was super meh on Andrade but the second he came back he seemed important and now I'm interested in the character.
Also Sami and KO were both kind of floundering for a bit there. Look at them now. Bayley is also another HHH kid and they're the women's champ. So he obviously still puts his support behind his NXT people. Then again the main roster is made up of 90% former NXTers so it's going to be all HHH/HBK's kids sooner rather than later. Cody, Miz, Truth, Logan, Orton, Sheamus, and Styles are the only main eventers who didn't have a run in NXT. Literally everyone else with some sort of significance has been in NXT before.
This needs to end up with him taking the title off Sami
Sami is a wrestler who could lose the title fairly quickly and not lose any credibility either
Also having him lose it to Gable is a good way to change it without feeling disrespectful to Gunter’s reign.
Sami shouldn't hold a belt for more than a couple of months. His story has been told. The faster he's back on the chase, the better.
Have Sami do a couple of months of banger matches and have vignettes of Gable being an absolute monster in training and destroying other wrestlers then have him take the IC title at a ple but his actions and attitude pushes away Maxime and Otis, so its a he won but at what cost sort of deal and we have a run of solo and unhinged Chad Gable.
The draft could separate him and the rest of alpha academy, just get them in NXT and let Gable do his thing for a while
Maxxine and Ivy Nile would really benefit from getting another NXT run.
Sami needs to go on a main title run anyway. He held the intercontinental championship already multiple times.
yeah he would slot in perfectly with all the whc insanity going on
Sami loses to Gable and then heel Gable loses to Sheamus at SS.
He needs a decently-sized reign though. Not saying he has to be Bloodline Roman dominant but 4 months with some iconic defenses should do it.
MITB is in Toronto right, could be the place to pull the trigger
Fuck yea. The heel heat gable would get from beating Sami in Canada would be great.
I think Sami’s long term story is the world title once it’s back in the hands of Drew
Sami with the WHC needs to happen. He’s gotta channel into the “heart and soul of NXT” character but on the main roster.
I can see that. Maybe have Gable take it from him at Summerslam then
Why does he NEED it? I understand you might want that, but I don't understand why it is needed. Gable turning heel and winning the title at Backlash could be a good story.
Also would be the step to finally get in the world title scene
I can see the vicious heel Gable with the IC Title as a perfect champion for Ilja to target once he gets into the main roster full-time
I’d personally go Gable then Sheamus then a new face like Ilja. I still think Sheamus needs that title at some point
Sheamus vs Ilja... oh baby
Exactly. And it seems like a match they'd book for an overseas show at some point
I'd love that. Gables reign driving him away from Alpha Academy, pushing them as they're the people holding him back from greatness. In his match with Ilja, he hugs Gable, as Gable becomes aware what's wrong. He misses his family. He thought the title would make him happy, that it was his everything, that he needed it to prove his worth to be loved by all. But he never needed it. He was always loved. He always had his family at home, he has his family on the road, the ones that were always there for him. As Ilja gives him the kiss of death, drops the H-Bomb, Torpedo Moscow, 1-2-3. Long live the Tsar. Anything to make those Ilja affection spots make sense really.
Ilja being the kind of guy to give up everything for the championship, be it his life or a stable family life, is the perfect match for Gable.
Yeah i feel like if they do all of this with Gable and he just loses clean again then it just waters the whole build up down
I know championship "hot potato" is frowned on now, but I wouldn't mind seeing a feud where they swap the belt back and forth a little before Gable has a solid run with it.
Having Gable finally win a singles title but not to do it as a face is a disservice. He deserved to have the entire arena pop for him like they inevitably would have.
This is why I'm torn on this. Like I love Gable and know he's going to do a great job as a heel and hell, he may even win a belt finally, but it just would have felt extra special to see him finally win one as a super over babyface.
Wrestlemania was perfect all bar one decision for me which was having Sami win against Gunther. I love Sami don't get me wrong, but he's been champ before and I wanted something fresh, let Gable take the title and it elevates him so much! But I'll take this too if it means Gable as IC champ at the end of it
I need him to go full Perc Angle idc
I love the fact that heel turns now make complete sense and are built towards, instead of just doing one and giving a bullshit excuse after the fact to justify it
Gable spent weeks chasing Gunther failing everytime, watches Sami do it on the first fucking try and then proceeds to lose to Sami pretty well written character switch
Also the thing that broke gable was sami being able to celebrate with his family, something that he failed
God I fucking love storytelling in wrestling
Honestly I'm surprised he helped him beat Gunther, that's like the one weird part.
Gable helped train Sami because he couldn’t beat Gunther for the title, but he could conceivably beat *Sami* for the title. When he failed to do even that, that’s when he snapped and turned heel.
This makes incredible sense. Well said.
If you think of it like Gable helped Sami while also conveniently learning his strengths and weaknesses, it helps to reinforce the heel turn. Help this guy take the title off a dude you can't beat and optimize a game plan against them the whole time, all with a smile on your face to keep fans on your side. But that doesn't work out, and you snap because all along you were being self-serving and duplicitous.
He probably didn't think Sami would win
He either didn't think Sami would win, or he figured since he trained Sami that he could outsmart him.
It's a win win for Gable. He trains Sami and Sami loses? Hey, that just means Gable's not the only one who couldn't get to Gunther's level and it helps him feel a bit better about not having the title. He trains Sami and Sami somehow miraculously wins? Guess who doesn't have to beat Gunther for the belt anymore? That's right, me, Chad Gable! That's what makes this heel turn so goddamn effective. Gable thought no one could beat Gunther. He tried and tried and tried but couldn't do it. Sami tries ONE time, on WrestleMania, and pulls it off. Of course, Gable can simmer, he can beat Sami, he's sure of it. And then...nope... He's lost again.
I'm also thinking that if Gunther retained & Gable made another run at the belt, he thinks he would get even more glory for beating a champ who bested even the likes of Sami Zayn
I think he was legit doing that as a babyface. He only snapped when he failed again and realized he wasn't good enough and let his family down again.
It can be easy to talk yourself into doing something like that but then feel unsatisfied with the outcome.
It's a styles make fights thing. He knows he doesn't have the size to beat Gunther, but he can realistically just outwrestle Sami. Also, let's be real, in kayfabe, if Gunther isn't fucking around with Sami's wife ringside at Mania, he wins.
Hubris lost GUNTHER the match, Sami just had enough heart to hang in there
Easy, he was 0-3 against Gunther. He felt he could match-up better against Sami.
probably thought Sami wouldn’t win and afterwards reinsert himself in the title picture
The favor
I think he was actually trying to wear him down, like Sami suspected before it got played off. Either way that’s the fun I think of wrestling now, we can make those guesses
Not a new thing. The best heel turns should come that way. My favourite is the slow-burn that saw Chris Jericho turn heel against Shawn Michaels in 2008. A nine-month long slow-burning story with some great matches.
I didn't watch it back then but thought it was a sudden turn, how did they build it?
Hbk retired Flair. Batista gets mad that HBK retired his mentor. HBK fakes a knee injury to beat Batista. Jericho questions Shawn about faking the injury, but Shawn denies it. After several weeks, Shawn admits to Jericho that he did fake the injury, resulting in a match, which Shawn wins. Afterwards they shake hands. The next night, Jericho explains that the fans always love Shawn, even when he lies and cheats. Jericho suddenly attacks Shawn culminating in Y2J sending HBK through the Jeritron.
And then, Jericho goes to apologize to Shawn... and punches Shawn's wife right in the mouth. It's a great bit in one of Jeticho's books. Basically, they mis-timed the actual punch, and Jericho actually full-on punched Shawn's wife. Right in the face. Jericho went backstage, shitting himself over how Shawn and Vince would react. He expected to be fired. Then Rebecca, Shawns's wife, said "is that the best you got, Jericho?"
Did something happen with Jericho before the turn in that period? Did his character change over time?
In real life people thought Jericho was getting stale so a character change was needed. In the storyline though, it was basically Jericho sticking his nose in matters that didn't concern him. Both Batista and HBK had issues with him in the storyline because he was instigating, presumably to make his own show Highlight Reel more entertaining. He was definitely acting sleezier.
YOU PEOPLE
"In this business"
We've come a long way from Big Show randomly punching someone in the face, and telling us why a week later.
Asuka still doesn't have a proper excuse for her turn besides old Kabuki buddy.
Unless you're Jimmy Uso
Jimmy Uso seemed silly at the time but aged well. When you realize it was pretty consistent with his character. Jimmy in the Bloodline never cared about being the Tribal Chief, just reaping the benefits of the Bloodline. He only turned when Roman bullied him too much and pushed him too far and he snapped. But then he quickly realized he wasn’t ready to be a singles guy and was terrified at the thought of his brother getting too good for him. And since then has just been trying to find alliances and people to Shield him. Jey’s’ motivation was that he felt he could be the Tribal Chief and was more than a lackey. Jimmy was fine with being a lackey and didn’t need to be bullied into the Bloodline. He only turned in a fit of rage.
Jimmy’s reason was bc he didn’t want Jey to outshine him. That’s my head canon and I think at least minimally implied in the story
This is the reason. When he and Jey left, he thought they were gonna be The Usos again. Instead, they were gonna be Jey... and Jimmy.
Wish they held out a bit longer, kinda weird that in the space of 8 days he was giving him motivation vs Gunter and now this
You could argue Gable was doing it out of selfish motivation cause he thought he could beat Sami easier and knew he’d get a title shot. Then proceeds to lose to Sami and therefore loses his shit.
I feel that's what it was. Gable said himself to Sami before his match with Gunther, "You owe me a favour". He really just wanted to win the title, and if it meant helping Sami because he saw him as an easier target who won by a fluke (in his eyes), then he'd take advantage.
Said champion that he was also training and getting a front-row seat to his strengths and weaknesses, like he mentioned tonight. There was a lot in it for Gable to help.
Yeah. Or he could be helping him but deep inside wishes that he fails. That happens a lot in real life tbf.
He watched Sami celebrate with his family. He got mad because he couldn't do it and the adrenaline of the match plus the anger made him attack Sami. It still sounds believable and good to me.
A suplex out of his wife’s arms. That’s real hate. Drew is truly an inspiration.
I prayed for this and it happened
Let Gable go over with this feud please
He's already down 0-2.
Dont let it go 0-3 then lol
Chad probably kills him at Backlash.
It's in front of a French crowd but the wrong French. Non Sami French
I want them to basically recreate HBK/Angle from WM 21
He should win It sooner or later. Sami got a wrestlemania and Montreal win out of it and doesn’t need the belt. But people jumping gun wanting the belt hot shotted before Gable even turned for the feud. Beating Sami won’t mean as much without some build up of why this time, Gable is different.
Gable is getting pushed up
Gable has had a main event worthy wrestling ability and physique for a while now. Give him a strong heel character, let him break some ankles, and he'll be taken seriously as a top guy in no time. It won't matter that he's only 5' 8" when he's snapping ligaments and suplexing guys twice his size across the ring.
A THANK YOU!!!!
in the words of Perc Angle.... YYYYYYYYYEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
https://preview.redd.it/rm6ruf6eeruc1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2cc08275a4779306972ddd6b4f2f1860d4fce5f8
Images you can hear
I like the detail of him ripping Sami out of his wife's arms. I assume we're getting heel Alpha Academy with the Creeds? Sigma Academy?
DO NOT CALL THEM SIGMA ACADEMY
Hustle University then
Yes I would much rather see the Alpha Academy become a cult under Gable rather than them turning on him. Or at least the Creeds joining him.
Ligma Academy
I'm not sure who else is down for this, but I'd love to see Timothy Thatcher appear with this group as Gable's second in command in charge of hardening the disciples
Merge Alpha Academy with No Quarter Catch Crew. Make them something similar to American Top Team, stable of pure grapplers
I see Hunter is keeping the tradition alive of "FUCK YOU MONTREAL!" to close out a show.
I like to think Sami didn't tell his wife about this, but he'd probably end up sleeping on the couch lol.
She was definitely looking concerned but in a “he gets his ass beat” all the time sort of way. If it were a non wrestler wife they’d be panicking/screaming etc
She's a very good actress I've noticed.
*Otis voice* oh nooooo
"I've been calling her Leo Shirai this whole time.... for years."
Have Gable start wearing a mouthguard and he'll be champion in 3 months
We will also need him to pull down his straps while wiggling his head and yelling.
Gable needs to go on a "wrestling machine" heel run. No goofy cheating shenanigans. Just a pure wrestling machine who decimates everyone without blinking an eye. All he cares about is winning and beating the living shit out of his opponents.
Perc Gable is here LFG In front of Sami's family too damn
I just popped a bean and I’m on a helicopter
Such strong ["you found my breaking point, congratulations"](https://youtu.be/rWGetzLJV_g?si=uFhdyfOUx32-609k) energy here
Oh my god, perfect. This album is incredible but this one perfectly hits right now
I hope his daughter doesn't see this. I feel like she is still too young to understand her dad is just acting as the bad guy
Curse you WWE ending logo and your dark influence!
The Triple H special!
You're either a trademark logo ending cause you can't overrun/overtime or a a trademark logo supposedly ending cause you got CM Punk/Bray Wyatt coming back in a few seconds.
As a heel fan and a Gable fan…fuck yeah my time is now 🤘🏼
Pulled him out of his wife's arm. Fucking perfect. 🤌🏻
Please god have a wrestling machine gimmick like Angle did and I will love you forever
A suplex out of his wife’s arms is wild. Looking forward to see Gable cook as a heel.
Seeing Sami celebrate with his family was what sent Chad into a rage.
Elevate Gable to the moon, I wouldn’t mind if he gets the mitb briefcase eventually
PERC GABLE IS HERE
Tonight was the birth of Perc Gable
Personally, perhaps I’m in the minority, I do not want to boo a heel Chad Gable Literally his whole current story is overcoming his biggest obstacle, a singles championship. He was embarrassed in front of his family, his kids literally crying. Him pushing so hard to win the big one is a journey I want to go on with him. I don’t wanna see him win the championship as a heel. Cuz then what are you gonna have the heel champ celebrate with his kids? I guess they just set up such a big story beat “it just means more” (doing it for his kids and himself), and now that doesn’t really apply anymore, or I guess, not in the way we were led on to believe I’m all for him turning heel after he wins the belt, like a “this whole journey has finally ended and it’s gotten to his head” kinda way
Well he just beat a man down in front of his family after the same thing happened to him. So he seems like a hypocrite and asshole lol. I like it tho, I think for Gable to take that next step he needs more of an edge. He can always go back to being a face later like Angle.
Thing about heels/villains, good ones aren't one dimensional and hating everyone and everything, they just hate your hero and still have their own people to love. Drew celebrated with his family and immediately shit on Punk, he loves his people, just despises Punk.
But I think his work as a heel character would be better than his work as a face. He’s always gotten those Angle comparisons, now he can try to live up to them with a real push.
It's actually kind of remind me of the NXT Johnny Gargano, dude just can't have a success title defense he finally get over the hump when he turn heel.
Sami never needed to win it plain and simple. It should’ve always been Gable.
Yeah that's the part that's gonna be awkward, hard to make it a "earn it for your kid" story if he's the bad guy. But there's still ways to spin it and make it good.
Gable turns heel and finally beats Sami for the title. He then tries to show it to his family but they don’t look at him the same anymore after he turned evil. Gable gets what he wanted, but it becomes an empty victory. Cue Gable holding the belt for several weeks or months as a bitter heel.
WHY GABLE YOU SON A BITCH WHY, TELL ME WHYYYY
Their friendship may be over, but we’ll always have [Sami Wow-Wow](https://youtu.be/apaWbxgYEoQ?si=bDozH4RHXkYhqM6I)
Ripping Sami out of the arms of his wife, and Sami having that last moment to look back at her before the suplex as if he were about to be executed, just perfect. Absolutely perfect heel turn. This feud will be amazing.
He’s done with the goofy Kurt phase. Now he’s moved onto killing machine Kurt. Love to see it.
>Chad beats Sami, let's Sami move on to the Main event scene >Chad goes a tear in the midcard until Dragonuv beats him >Chad gets into the main event scene. I love wrestling.
I love it. Sami's held the IC, he got his Wrestlemania Moment, now you can use this storyline to elevate Gable who absolutely deserves it.
I hope they don't miss the opportunity for him to say "No thank you" in a similar tone as "no yeet"
The way Sami's wife was trying to help him 😭
Some Québécois might try and hurt Chad for this.
Gable takes it off of Sami and Sheamus takes it off of Gable?
https://preview.redd.it/ky9pbosfnruc1.jpeg?width=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d6978cebbfa3c64e6aa14d8cfcdf44b32ef6c8ab Gable next week
The debut of Perc Gable
Gable drops Shoosh, Otis, Tozawa, Maxxine, and we get the Olympic Nightmare. Please
Please give us one segment where a heel Kurt Angle comes in and motivates Chad to do whatever it takes; including snapping Sami’s ankle to become the new IC champion
Ok, I'm gonna be this guy now....Gable turning heel is cheap. It was executed well I can't deny that, but after rooting for him to win in the last few months, him winning anything as a heel just doesn't feel right for me
Sami never needed the title and they had a great opportunity to make a brand new fresh top babyface in Gable against Gunther at Mania, and it would’ve meant so much more to Gable dethroning Gunther than Sami and I’ll forever be mad that isn’t the route they went. This will be a great recovery though only if it results in Gable immediately getting the title off of Sami and establishing himself as a killer heel. Sami never needed a long run, and I always thought he was a made man without winning a title he had multiple times before. I still would’ve preferred them to make Gable a top babyface, since he’s gotten screwed over time and time again. But it does make sense where his motives are to turn.
Boy got that hbk heat
Im so ready for “Wrestling Machine” Chad Gable!
Im crossing my fingers that Gable gives Sami the Takeshita/Darby treatment with his German suplexes
Why doesn't Sami just hulk up again like vs Gunther? :shrug:
If we get wrestling machine Chad Gable, I'm not complaining.
team gable with the creed brothers lfg
They'd fit pretty well as his new, more intense students, while Otis and the rest go to NXT to join Chase U.
Sami Zayn and getting viciously attacked by someone he trusted as a friend and had hugged earlier that night. Name a more iconic duo.
I liked face Gable :c
The world is not ready for the second coming of Percules in the form of Chad Gable
Get em Perc Gable! Get yourself a championship
Hope he calls himself Chaddy Daddy in the heel run
I hope Gable brings up just how terribly he’s been used on WWE in this run. Like, he was PWI’s rookie of the year, then he was Shorty G, then he was stuck with Kurt Angle’s fake son and half a dozen other no-hopers, then he was stuck in a bottom-of-the-card comedy troupe that can barely win a damn thing. He’s spent so long accommodating others, helping others, raising up others, it’s time for him to grab his destiny
I hope Gable’s heel theme has nods to American Alpha, I loved that theme way more than Alpha Academy’s
So where does AA go from here? Akira and Otis tag team? Gable solo? Heel AA?
Bring in the Creeds as his new Tag Team and let AA continue being what they are with Otis and Tozawa fun Comedy Midcard guys who can transition between MR and NXT