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Stephanie McMahon was conspicuously absent from Monday Night RAW, this week. She and her beloved husband deemed themselves deserving of a vacation. In the wake of Wrestlemania 31's runaway success, both commercially (Levi's Stadium attendance record, most watched Wrestlemania in history, etc.) and competitively (Triple H and Big Show victorious and Seth Rollins shocking World's Championship win) it's tough to argue.
Also absent, WWE's deposed despot, Brock Lesnar. This was less of a surpise. Stephanie made it very clear last week that Brock was no longer welcome on WWE programming or property, pending a judicious review of his violent outburst.
It's one thing to attack fellow WWE Superstars outside the confines of sanctioned competition. This has been commonplace even before the days of Pat Patterson and Sergeant Slaughter. It's somewhat feasible to forgive the attack on JBL and Booker T. As legends of the ring and perpetual potential entrants in the annual Royal Rumble, their status as active competitors is ever in flux. It's even tolerable to hospitalize lead announcer Michael Cole, since he can be so annoying sometimes. But a line was crossed when Brock assaulted a salt-of-the-earth WWE camera operator, not once, but twice. I might be so brazen as to pardon one F5 on this black-clad auteur of the squared-circle, but a second? That's just cold and calculated brutality. Where does it end? How close was Brock to delivering a Canadian Destroyer to the Make-a-Wish kid in Row 2? It's impossible to say, but this writer says: "Too Close."
Stephanie McMahon is ofted chided by the public for her ruthless, business-first style of management, but in this case she has sidelined her top-drawing Superstar. A legitimate contender owning a laundry list of intriguing and marketable opponents and a newfound desire to wrestle on free TV. Simply put, Brock Lesnar is a money printing machine for the McMahons, on which Stephanie just willfully put a big "Out of Order" sign. That shows concern for the crew, the balance of the WWE roster, and frankly, the general public.
Let's all take this opportunity to laud Stephanie for her humanitarian decision in this matter. As a WWE shareholder I find her actions disconcerting, but as a humanitarian, I find them necessary.
Brock won't be allowed into a WWE event any time soon. Now, Steph just needs to make sure that Sting doesn't lend Lesnar his master key to every arena in the country. Though the masculine accord reached by Triple H and the Stinger at Wrestlemania 31, makes this seem less a possibility than ever.
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OFFICIAL WRESTLER WRANKINGS FORMULA
ANY WIN = 2 POINTS
US OR INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE BOUT = 1 POINT
WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BOUT = 3 POINTS
NON "BIG 4" PPV BONUS = 1.5X
SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE = 2X BONUS
WRESTLEMANIA = 3X BONUS
The WWE season begins on the day after WrestleMania 31 and culminates with WrestleMania 32. The wrestler who accumulates the most points over the course of the season, wins the coveted Wrankings Championship!
Monday Night Raw -- 3/30/15
Main Event-- 3/31/15
Smackdown -- 4/2/15
Monday Night Raw -- 4/6/15
Main Event-- 4/7/15
Smackdown -- 4/9/15
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WRESTLER WRANKINGS, WEEK 2 *TOP TEN*
T1. John Cena -- 6 points
T1. Randy Orton -- 6 points
T3. Miz -- 4
T3. Neville -- 4
T3. Sheamus -- 4
T6. Daniel Bryan -- 3
T6. Stardust -- 3
T8. 9 tied at 2 points each
Thanks for reading, Cagesiders. We'll see you back here next week!