May 29, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE weekend show reviews, CMLL drama, plus tons of news
The two WWE weekend shows in Chicago’s All-State Arena were almost amazing that they came from the same company.
The NXT Takeover show on 5/20 was one of the company’s best shows in years before one of the hottest crowds in a long time. One would have thought the competitive nature of having to follow such a great show would lead to the Backlash PPV stepping it up as well. But instead, they had a lackluster show which felt more like a boring elongated episode of Smackdown. Still, it was the latter show that generated far more talk with the decision to make Jinder Mahal, 30-year-old Yuvraj Singh Desi, into the WWE world champion.
The same decision making that led to Mahal headlining the show made it clear to accomplish the goals based on this move, that he should win the title. Going from a prelim jobber type to holding the historical biggest championship title in the world in a short period of time was unusual, but this was a unique situation.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.