– “If you’re gonna revisit history, respect history and do what they did. Otherwise just don’t revisit history and be creative and come up with your own sh*t” – WWF Veteran on WWE modifying tonight’s War Games match
During a recent edition of “The Taz Show” podcast, WWF Veteran Taz discussed the return of the War Games match, which takes place tonight at NXT TakeOver: War Games. Below are the highlights:
On tonight’s War Games match:
“The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) and Roderick Strong vs. Sanity (Alexander Wolfe, Eric Young and Killian Dain) vs. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly) will rage war inside a massive steel cage that surrounds two rings. So that part is the normal War Games, two rings, massive Cage. All three teams will be contained inside separate shark cages by the entrance way with a member from each team as chosen by his respective squad starting the match.
So basically they’re gonna do the same thing as the original War Games from the early years, but they’re changing it which I don’t agree with. The same thing they’re gonna do is they’re gonna have it that they pick a respective squad leader as they huddle up. We saw that in the original ones.
The shark cage thing? Why? Not a fan at all. I don’t like that. All three teams will be contained inside separate shark cages by the entrance way. After five minutes, the remaining members from one team will be released from the shark cage and allowed to enter the match.
Man this changes it a little bit. Let me get this straight guys. What would you say that not one cage that covers a twenty by twenty ring two cages. So the cage is gonna be over 40 feet long I would think and 40 feet wide. Massive cage is to keep other people out of the ring while the two people are going at it as people enter. If we have this massive gigantic cage, why do we need shark cages? Why do we need all these cages?
What made the original War Games cool? There were many things that made it cool, but what made it cool was seeing each team huddled up get ready to go in and that they’re banging on the cage. They’re so close to the action. That made it feel authentic and real. Now you put the streamline, shark tank and lock these guys up. Maybe it’ll look cool when they do it. Maybe it’s gonna be better. I doubt it.
I’ve said before a lot of times and we’ve seen it, WWE has a habit of changing history in their vision. I hate that. Otherwise just don’t revisit history and be creative and come up with your own sh*t. It’s bitter truth up here.
I don’t agree with three teams. It should have been two teams. That’s the other thing. It should have not been three teams. Again, if you’re gonna revisit history, respect history and do what they did. Don’t put your slant on it.
A Twitter user said that the NXT version of War Games sounds like a combination of War Games and the Elimination Chamber and he’s right. It’s exactly what it sounds like.
I don’t like the rules. I don’t like the shark tank. I don’t like any of that. I just don’t. I mean I’ll give it a chance. I shouldn’t say I’m not gonna like it. I will give it a chance. I will obviously watch the show. I just don’t think they should do this with the shark thing.”
On reports of top of the cage not being there:
“I think there has to be. It’s just such an iconic thing for wrestling fans. The War Games and Dusty’s creation and what they did in NWA way back then, you gotta really be careful not to just change this thing too much. I think not putting it on Raw and SmackDown hurts. Nothing against NXT and those kids and stuff. I love it, but you know … pay it due respect if you’re gonna do it otherwise don’t do it.
War Games, NWA, Dusty Rhodes, it was opposing WWF back then and so Vince McMahon is probably not one looking to like support this that much I would assume. So let Triple H do what he wants.
But I think you got to put a cage top on it. The shark tank thing, I’m not a fan of at all.”
– AJ Styles Gives A Hint On When He’ll Retire
During a recent interview with 97.9 The Box, WWE Champion AJ Styles talked about his in-ring style and how it’s hard to maintain with age, his retirment and more. Below are the highlights:
On his in-ring style being hard to maintain with age:
“The older you get, the less energy you have to maintain it! It is what it is, but if you still have that drive and you can still do it, why not? Get in the gym and get it done, and look good in the meantime.”
On not being able to spend a lot of time with his wife and kids:
“Work hard now, you enjoy it later. In a couple of years, I’ll be able to catch every football game, every baseball game, every basketball game, cheerleading, gymnastics, whatever they’re in.”
On the host not wanting Styles to retire in a couple of years:
“Man, I’m 40 years old!”
