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At Crown Jewel, Team Hogan will take on Team Flair in what should be a fantastic match, between 5 babyfaces led by Hulk Hogan and 5 heels led by Ric Flair. We knew who the members of Team Hogan were already, but now we know the members of Team Flair too.
RAW opened this week with the towering Drew McIntyre showing up to proclaim that he was the fifth and final member of Team Flair, taking on Ricochet in a preview. The two men would put on a match for the ages, with Drew McIntyre coming out on top in this particular encounter.
So, why was Drew McIntyre chosen ahead of other contenders like say, AJ Styles? The answer is quite obvious, but I'll still, spell it out with 5 hard-hitting points.
At the same time, I invite you to leave your thoughts and comments in the section below.
#5 To return from injury without losing momentum
Drew McIntyre made a very inauspicious exit before he took time off to deal with his health issues if you guys remember. Many touted him to be the winner of the King of the Ring tournament, but he was eliminated in the very first round, to the surprise of everyone. He was showcased as Shane McMahon's right-hand man for most of his stint since WrestleMania, and with McMahon gone, he needed to find a new gig and a new gimmick.
Drew McIntyre is a big scary guy, but let's be honest. A lot of people in the WWE roster are big scary guys. To differentiate him from the pack, he needed to come back in a prominent role.
Getting the rub from the greatest of all time is never a bad thing. The validation from Flair goes a long way.
See WWE RAW Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE RAW Results page
#4 Existing feud with Roman Reigns
If you read between the lines, there are many mini-stories being told in the match between Team Hogan and Team Flair. Bobby Lashley and Rusev have a feud of their own which is centered around Rusev's wife and her affair with Lashley. Moreover, Baron Corbin and Shorty G have been at each others' throats for a while now, arising from the recently concluded King of the Ring tournament.
Not long ago, we learned that the Captain of Team Hogan was going to be Roman Reigns. This is a man who has had his problems with Drew McIntyre in the past. The announcers have a story that they can delve into, the moment that these two men come to blows.
Because the two men are on different brands, they may not even have a chance to work out each others' moves ordinarily, but owing to their awesome chemistry, that should be a breeze for both Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre.
#3 To add star power to the match after losing Rollins
Team Hogan vs. Team Flair was a big deal when the match was first announced. And this is because Seth Rollins was announced as the Team Captain for Hogan's team, which made it a star-studded affair.
Of course, as time passed and the Hell in a Cell debacle happened, a rematch would be booked for Saudi Arabia and Seth Rollins had to bow out of the team. Roman Reigns would be announced as the Team Captain for Team Hogan, and the match lost a significant amount of star power with the Universal Champion's departure from the said contest.
McIntyre may not be the same level of star that Rollins is, but he belongs in the upper mid-card. Adding someone like say, Buddy Murphy, while building a new star, would have just made the match much less must-see.
McIntyre's presence was certainly needed!
#2 To slowly inch his way into the title picture
WWE Insider Tom Colohue reported that Drew McIntyre was apparently in line for a pretty major push before injury and surgeries derailed them. In fact, he was in line to get a title shot ahead of The Fiend, but of course, it was not to be. If McIntyre picks up an impressive victory at Crown Jewel, he will be back in title contention again.
We know that Seth Rollins will be taking on The Fiend at Crown Jewel, and this is a match that Rollins is likely to win, I guess. I mean, if The Fiend had to become Champion, they would have pulled the trigger at WWE Hell in a Cell. Plus, how can a SmackDown Superstar hold the Universal Championship?
Rollins vs. McIntyre may just be the next big feud. And truth be told, that should be quite the clash!
#1 To be physically imposing as opposed to the babyface team
If you look at how Team Flair lines up against Team Hogan, you'll see that a majority of these men are physically imposing beings. Which is a great storytelling device, if you consider the age-old mantra of the underdog squaring off against the bigger man.
Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, and even Shinsuke Nakamura don't look like the kind of men you meet on an everyday basis, say at the supermarket. They are some of the finest human specimens, and others like Shorty G and Ali will have a tough time overcoming their sheer presence.
The world roared in glee when Hulk Hogan, a smaller man, bodyslammed Andre The Giant at WrestleMania 3. WWE wants them to do the same when a smaller man takes on the impressively large Drew McIntyre at WWE Crown Jewel.
Who do you think it'll be?
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