Curtis Axel's Current Gimmick Is Reviving His WWE Career

Not getting a chance to enter the Royal Rumble has turned out to be the elixir for Curtis Axel's WWE ailing career. Who would have thought that getting clubbed from behind would lead to rejuvenation? 

Axel stumbling into a new gimmick that has him more over than he ever has been is a testament to the unpredictable nature of wrestling success.

After his alliance with Paul Heyman wound down, Axel found himself at the bottom of the tag team division with Ryback. When The Big Guy went out with injury, the spotlight did not often touch Axel's skin. He was lucky to appear on Superstars and battle some other struggling midcarder.

Then came the Royal Rumble, the impetus for the most unexpectedly entertaining angle in 2015 so far.

Axel contends that because Erick Rowan ambushing him that night prevented him from being in the Rumble that he should be the winner of that bout and headline WrestleMania. He will tell anyone who will listen, online or onscreen, that he was never eliminated:

Beyond him being delusional, he has taken to being exuberantly boastful. His shtick is more over the top than when he was claiming to be "better than perfect."

It's like a wrestler doing an impression of a wrestler. 

He tries to get fans to chant "Axelmania." He provides a running clock for how long he has been in the Rumble match. 

Most recently, he has taken to borrowing Hulk Hogan's signature colors and poses to add depth and ridiculousness to the act. The WWE Universe Twitter account showed him in full-on Hulkstermode:

Whether WWE came up with this for him or Axel created this version of his persona himself, someone deserves kudos. This is the most entertaining Axel has been.

He's never been strong on the mic. His promos always sounded too rehearsed. This gimmick doesn't require him to be a good actor. Instead, it demands that he play a single note—but loudly and with great passion.

His severe overvaluing of his own worth invites ridicule and laughter. While that may not sound like what a performer wants, the key to rising in wrestling is a getting a reaction. And Axel is getting more of a reaction now than he did even when he was under Heyman's wing.

The last year has been home to surprising takes on the heel role.

The Miz is a D-lister who believes himself to be an A-lister. Tyson Kidd is a jerk to his wife and loves his cats to the point of audience discomfort. Add Axel to that list of odd villains.

He has found a vehicle for him to connect with the crowd. He has found a path out of blandness.  

Mick Foley, for one, believes that big things are ahead for the third-generation Superstar:

That's not something many folks would have said a few months ago. There also would be no basis to the argument that Axel was the most entertaining part of an edition of Raw. On Monday night, though, by tearing his shirt and tooting his own horn, he made a case for himself to be in that discussion.

The key to keeping this going will be finding a way to adjust this act so that it can live past WrestleMania. 

Perhaps he can channel Chris Jericho and claim a conspiracy kept him off the marquee for that event. He can create petitions to get a title shot or continually bug whoever is champ.

Maybe he gets cheated out of entering the Andre the Giant Battle Royal and a new "I was never eliminated" campaign begins.

Whatever path WWE takes, it would be wise to find a way to keep this fire going. It's rare that a wrestler's supply of momentum changes so quickly and with such little effort.

There is more fun to be had with Axel; WWE can't let the surprise hit of the year just fade away.

Brock Lesnar Could Remain with WWE Beyond WrestleMania, Reports Jim Ross

WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is seemingly in a state of flux entering WrestleMania 31, but a new report suggests that The Beast Incarnate could remain with WWE over the long haul.

There has been plenty of speculation regarding the possibility of Lesnar returning to UFC once his WWE contract expires following WrestleMania, but former announcer and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross revealed in a blog post that he is hearing that the former UFC Heavyweight champ may ultimately decide to stick with wrestling due to concussion concerns.

"Sources are saying that it looks more promising that Brock Lesnar could well stay with WWE past WrestleMania due to concerns over long-term health effects of competing in MMA, specifically concussion-oriented issues later in one's life. Again, these are 'sources' and how reliable they are can only be judged after WM31 and following the status of the former UFC Heavyweight champion."

JR's revelation is a far cry from what many have long assumed regarding Lesnar's future. It was just a few months ago, in fact, that UFC president Dana White discussed the 37-year-old star's desire to return to the octagon, according to Damon Martin of FoxSports.com.

"Brock Lesnar's under contract with the WWE. We have a great relationship with him. He's healthy and he has said that he's interested in fighting again," White stated. "We'll see what happens."

Lesnar is currently slated to main event WrestleMania against the winner of the match between Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan at Fastlane.

His match promises to be of great interest no matter what, but the possibility of remaining with WWE certainly makes it that much bigger since retaining the title would suddenly be on the table.

Lesnar is a hot commodity with the option of doing essentially whatever he pleases when his WWE contract is up, but he seems to have a great arrangement in place, and it is easy to understand why he might consider maintaining the status quo.

Triple H And Paul Heyman Interested In Samoa Joe To WWE

Triple H has a good amount of interest in signing Samoa Joe to WWE, reports backstage insider MetsFan4Ever on Reddit. Triple H would want Joe on the NXT brand and there may already have been contact made.

The supposed contact came last year. Triple H followed Joe on Twitter, with Joe quickly following him back. They then unfollowed each other. The speculation at the time was that they’d followed each other briefly in order to exchange a direct message.

Triple H being interested in Joe wouldn’t be a surprise. Hunter has demonstrated a keen interest in indie wrestling, and has already signed many top indie stars to NXT. However, Joe is 35 years old and a veteran of the industry. He isn’t the future and is physically worn down. Years of a hard hitting style have seriously slowed him down in recent times. Then again, he’s only two years older than NXT’s Finn Balor.

Sting Will Take out The Authority at WWE Fastlane

Sting is expected to make an appearance at WWE's Fastlaneevent coming up on Sunday, February 22. The pro wrestling legend and resident vigilante of WWE will be at Fastlane thanks to Triple H, who has demanded he be present for the night.

And while this scenario reeks of a classic setup, the fact is that The Authority's schemes may backfire on them.  Considering how good Sting has looked thus far, it's hard to believe that the company will allow him to fall now, and that means he will very likely take out The Authority at Fastlane.

The impending confrontation between The Game and The Icon is a storm that has been brewing since The Survivor Series in 2014.

That was the night when Sting shocked the world by making his debut in Vince McMahon's ring.  He came down the aisle, stepped through the ropes and prevented Seth Rollins from making the pin on Dolph Ziggler.  That move gave John Cena's team the win and bragging rights over The Authority, a fact that has stayed with Hunter the entire time.

But it's not just that Sting opened fire on The Authority, it's that he did it at the expense of The Game himself.

When Sting delivered the Scorpion Deathdrop on Triple H, it was the shot heard around the world.  For the first time in a long time, Hunter was left flat on his back and The Authority was left with a loss.  The company's top protagonists had finally won the day, and they did so thanks to a man who had never performed in a WWE ring.

Sting made more of an impact in one night against Triple H's group than perhaps any man had to that point, with the exception of Daniel Bryan.  Sting made his presence known and took out WWE's top heel faction, and he did so with relative ease.

And he will do so again at Fastlane.

The truth is that The Authority will be ready for him this time.  This time, Sting will not have the element of surprise on his side.  Hunter will likely be in the ring when he calls out Sting, and Sting will likely show up in the ring, right in front of him.  The Cerebral Assassin will then surely do what he does best: play mind games with The Icon and try to rattle him.

And as soon as it appears that Hunter may have asked for more than he could handle, The Authority will certainly show up to protect its leader.  But it's The Authority that will be outnumbered.

This is where Sting and his gimmick are at its finest: when his back is against the wall.  This is the same sort of angle that played out in WCW, when Sting was fighting against The nWo.  Eric Bischoff was the evil corporate mastermind, the Triple H of the group, and was determined to stop Sting dead in his tracks.

But no matter what The nWo did, it could not stop Sting.  Sting almost always managed to come out on top, and while he did so with help at times, the truth is that more often that not he was alone.  However, he was not unarmed.

The sight of Sting clad in a black trench coat wielding a baseball bat is one of the most iconic images that fans have ever seen.  The idea of the lone vigilante, the heroic voice of opposition that refuses to bow down and fights the system from the inside, is one that Sting perfected.

It was his role against The nWo that brought fans to the table in WCW and brought more excitement to that company than had been seen in years.  Sting was the perfect protagonist at the perfect time, and he was doing battle against the perfect heel stable.

Now history is repeating itself.

Now, Sting has the opportunity to correct past sins when he attempts to shut down a pro wrestling company's oppressive heel threat.  What he was unable to do against The nWo could now be realized against The Authority when he once again plunges a dagger into the heart of the group.

And it all begins at Fastlane.

Fastlane will surely be a setup, planned and executed to near perfection by Triple H.  But the fact is that Sting will either get help from other babyfaces in the locker room or he will have the infamous bat in his hand when he confronts The Game.  If that happens, then Sting will best The Authority, just as he did at The Survivor Series.

All of this could very well be leading to a match between Sting and Hunter at WrestleMania 31, a night that has seen many dream matches and epic showdowns happen over the years.  And if WWE is indeed laying the groundwork for Mania now, then Sting will surely continue to look good as time goes by.

Fastlane could be a flashback of the old days in WCW, when one heroic figure armed with only a bat was able to start a revolution against the unfair ruling class.  Sting may not end Triple H's regime that night, but he could certainly take them out, and that would be a huge statement on WWE's part.

The Authority will surely be ready for Sting, but Sting will surely be ready for them.  Chaos will almost definitely ensue.

Bray Wyatt Must Emerge from WrestleMania as a WWE World Title Contender

Bray Wyatt is the most enigmatic, most devious heel in WWE.  The man known as The Eater of Worlds has been to the edge and back on more than one occasion, and it's because of his bizarre character that many feel he is the perfect opponent for The Undertaker.

Indeed, The Deadman has never really faced a Superstar like Wyatt.  And if that match were to take place at Mania, then Wyatt would be in perhaps the best position of his WWE career.  Wyatt should emerge from WrestleMania as a contender for the WWEWorld Heavyweight Championship.

It's a spot that some fans may have thought would never happen for the outlandish Superstar.  After all, Wyatt's success has never hinged upon his ability to win a championship belt, and he's never really been that close to getting one.

Many likely believed Wyatt could go his whole career without wearing a title and it wouldn't affect his legacy in the slightest.

The reason for that is the fact that he just has never needed a championship to get over.  While some guys need that extra bit of flash, that status symbol to prove they deserve respect, Wyatt has been content to get his respect the hard way; he's earned it.

Wyatt has taken the best that WWE has had to offer and kept coming back for more. Kane, Dean Ambrose, Chris Jericho and even John Cena have all stepped up against Wyatt. And none of them has been able to even slow him down. Wyatt just keeps coming.  And he just keeps getting stronger every time.

He smiles in the face of danger.  He laughs in the presence of chaos.  While others run from trouble, Wyatt runs toward it.  He is unlike any other heel in WWE because he does not give an inch, and he never backs down.

Despite whom he faces, Wyatt always comes out virtually unaffected.  His brand of evil is unyielding and unchanging.  And even though he is portrayed as a monster heel to be feared and despised, WWE crowds have shown him an incredible amount of respect as he has become one of the most popular Superstars on the roster.

And he did all of this without a championship belt.

But the truth is that over the past several weeks, Wyatt has looked less like a man comfortable in his own character and more like a man on a mission.  The company has put him in key spots to make him look strong, to convince fans that he is on his way to something big.

He soundly defeated Ambrose in their feud, and he beat the immensely popular Daniel Bryan upon his return to WWE.  He also had a great showing in the Royal Rumble match, which saw him eliminate six other guys and last nearly an hour in the ring before being eliminated himself.

There is no doubt about it; Wyatt apparently has a goal he's working toward.  And that goal could very well be the destruction of The Deadman.

If Wyatt steps into the ring against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 31, then it will be the culmination of a career's worth of darkness realized in one night.  Finally, Wyatt would have the competition he craves—that one black soul who is as twisted as he is.  Finally, he would have the perfect opponent.

Their characters will mesh so easily together; it will surely be the most ideal fit that fans have seen in a very long time.  

Undertaker has faced men in the past who have challenged him physically such as Shawn Michaels.  He's faced men who have challenged him mentally such as Triple H.  He's also faced men who have challenged him psychologically such as CM Punk.  But no one could arguably do all of that combined better than The Eater of Worlds.

For the first time since Mankind, Undertaker will have an opponent who will not be scared for his own safety.  Wyatt evidently has no desire to protect himself or to live to fight another day.  When he steps into the ring, he's all in.  And if he steps in versus The Phenom, then he will certainly not hold back a bit.

Perhaps the best part about this potential feud is that Wyatt does not necessarily need to win at Mania.  Just facing Undertaker and giving him a great match is enough to put Wyatt in a whole new spotlight, to cause fans to see him from a much different perspective.

He will still be the enigmatic and charismatic devil the crowd knows, but he will have more of an edge than ever before.  He will also look stronger than he ever has.

And WWE should take advantage of that strengthened character.  Assuming Roman Reigns walks away from WrestleMania 31 as the new WWE world heavyweight champion, he will need a strong challenger to push him both physically and mentally.  There will arguably be no Superstar in a better position to do that than Wyatt, if he does indeed square off against Undertaker.

As with any other moment during his WWE career, Wyatt does not need a belt to get over.  But the fact that he is looking so good right now and would be so fearless in going toe-to-toe with The Deadman and live to tell about it means that he would be in a great spot to earn one.

Bryan had his moment at WrestleMania 30.  Reigns may indeed have his moment at WrestleMania 31.  But Wyatt's moment could come after, when he's within a heartbeat of winning the WWEWorld Heavyweight Championship or possibly even becoming the new champion himself.

WWE Network to be free for the whole of February

WWE Network, which launched in the UK earlier this month, has not only announced that it now has more than one million subscribers worldwide but it is to offer new subscribers a free month of access on the build up to Wrestlemania 31.

For the whole of February, new subscribers will be able to watch WWE Network content for free, with the usual subscription price of £9.99 a month in the UK, $9.99 in the US waived for that period.

The free month includes a live video podcast with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who will interview Triple H, and the all-new pay-per-view event WWE Fast Lane, which will be shown live on Sunday 22 February.

Wrestlemania 31 will take place on Sunday 29 March and will be shown on the network - as well as on Sky TV in the UK. The WWE will hope to keep those who hooked up for free as paying subscribers for its biggest event of the year and then going forward.