{"id":203950,"date":"2025-09-03T14:21:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T19:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=203950"},"modified":"2025-09-04T10:59:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T15:59:31","slug":"wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-paul-peaks-roman-rules-a-j-s-okay-bella-blunders-the-wyatts-woes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/09\/03\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-paul-peaks-roman-rules-a-j-s-okay-bella-blunders-the-wyatts-woes\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Paul Peaks, Roman Rules, A.J.\u2019s okay, Bella Blunders &#038; the Wyatts\u2019 Woes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-3807951662\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>September\u2019s Wrestlepalooza harkens the beginning of the ESPN era of WWE PPVs, along with the promise of a new stage and new opportunities for WWE performers.<\/p>\n<p>In professional wrestling, momentum is everything &#8211; and it can turn on a dime.<\/p>\n<p>So, who\u2019s leading the charge and who\u2019s getting lost in the shuffle?<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Rising Star of the Week: Logan Paul<\/h3>\n<p>In his rise to prominence as one of YouTube\u2019s hottest influencers from 2015-2018, Paul became not only famous but infamous. A notorious video filmed in Japan\u2019s \u201csuicide forest\u201d painted him as someone who valued sensationalism over ethics. He was later accused of fraud by investors in his NFT-based video game, which was never released.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, WWE audiences love to boo him.<\/p>\n<p>When Paul debuted in WWE in 2021, he was booed relentlessly despite being positioned as a face. In his wrestling debut at the following year\u2019s WrestleMania, WWE course-corrected by recasting him as a heel. Paul has embraced the role and has been remarkably successful in generating heat ever since.<\/p>\n<p>However, his talent as a WWE performer is simply undeniable. Logan Paul has taken to the craft of professional wrestling faster than anyone since Kurt Angle.<\/p>\n<p>Paul has fantastic instincts in the ring and on the mic. His promo work is compelling and confident, belying his limited experience.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-514449980\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>His remarkable athleticism, ability to sell his opponent\u2019s offence, and willingness to take extreme risks, combined with the crowd\u2019s desire to see him lose, make his matches some of the most compelling WWE has to offer.<\/p>\n<p>No surprise, then, that John Cena selected him as one of the few opponents on his retirement tour. Paul brought out the best in Cena at Clash in Paris. He provided the movement and pacing that Cena\u2014at this stage\u2014cannot.<\/p>\n<p>The Paris crowd\u2019s dislike of Paul galvanized their support of Cena, which seemed to motivate the veteran. Cena ate up their adulation and delivered what was likely his best performance in years.<\/p>\n<p>A decisive finish cemented it as the best match on the card \u2014 a rare honor for Cena, whose match against Cody was easily WrestleMania\u2019s worst.<\/p>\n<p>Arguably the best new wrestler of the 2020s, the Maverick\u2019s value to WWE is incalculable.<\/p>\n<h3>Runner-up: A.J. Lee<\/h3>\n<p>A.J. Lee may seem like an odd choice for this list, given that she hasn\u2019t wrestled or appeared in WWE for ten years. A standout of the Diva\u2019s era due to her charisma, in-ring ability, and status as an anti-diva, Lee, ironically, set a record for longest-reigning Diva\u2019s champion. Her record would stand for only a year before being eclipsed by Nikki Bella.<\/p>\n<p>Fans have clamored for Lee\u2019s return for the past decade, although not to the same degree they did for her husband, C.M. Punk, during his extended absence.<\/p>\n<p>Until now. The buzz for Lee\u2019s return is louder than ever.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1483563066\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Becky Lynch\u2019s alliance with her own husband Seth Rollins foiled C.M. Punk\u2019s planned revenge at Clash in Paris, and again on Raw. Punk is in dire need of an equalizer. Who better than Punk\u2019s own wife?<\/p>\n<p>While nothing has been officially announced, signs point to A.J. Lee returning in some capacity to align with Punk against Lynch and Rollins. When she does, the fans will be there to greet her, and she could not ask for a better partner and opponents.<\/p>\n<p>Nick Barbati likes to say, \u201cTiming is everything.\u201d A.J. Lee\u2019s return looks to be worth the decade-long wait.<\/p>\n<h3>Second Runner up: Roman Reigns<\/h3>\n<p>They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. And in Roman Reigns\u2019 case, it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n<p>His massive reception at recent shows proves that the WWE audience is hungry for more Reigns. After nearly a decade of misalignment as Vince\u2019 McMahon\u2019s chosen lead babyface, Roman truly clicked when he turned heel in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s difficult to overestimate the success of his Tribal Chief role and its accompanying Bloodline storyline, which completely redeemed Reigns, and cemented his legacy.<\/p>\n<p>Reign\u2019s babyface run in the past year has been stop-start owing to his part-time schedule. He\u2019s made few appearances and wrestled fewer matches.<\/p>\n<p>The OTC\u2019s frequent absence from WWE programming has only increased fans\u2019 appreciation of him and whetted our appetite for his return.<\/p>\n<p>His decisive victory over Bronson Reed, and subsequent beatdown by Bon Breakker sets the stage for higher-stakes feuds with Breaker, and ultimately Rollins. These will be some of the highest-profile and most highly anticipated programs of the year.<\/p>\n<p>Part-time but full-impact, the OTC is one of WWE\u2019s biggest attractions \u2014 whenever he decides to show up.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Raw: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/wwe-raw-post-show-9-1-keller-fann-discuss-paris-crowd-breakker-reed-without-heyman-becky-confronts-punk-dom-styles--67586940\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WWE RAW POST-SHOW (9\/1): Keller &amp; Fann discuss Paris crowd, Breakker &amp; Reed without Heyman, Becky confronts Punk, Dom-Styles\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=67586940&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Fading Star of the Week: Nikki Bella<\/h3>\n<p>The audience has spoken. Nikki Bella is no babyface.<\/p>\n<p>To be clear, Bella has value. Seemingly timeless, her trademark beauty hasn\u2019t faded a bit in 20 years. She\u2019s clearly in phenomenal shape and barely seemed to break a sweat during her Clash in Paris Match with Becky Lynch. Bella carries significant cachet from her prominence in the Diva\u2019s era and success as a reality TV star, and is skilled in self-promotion.<\/p>\n<p>However, Bella has come to embody much of what fans disliked about the Diva\u2019s era. Bella comes off as a failed fashion model with limited mic skills, minimal ring ability, and no love for wrestling.<\/p>\n<p>Even the remarkably compliant Paris crowd could not bring themselves to cheer for Bella, and she was resoundingly booed when she appeared backstage on Raw.<\/p>\n<p>Bella has the potential to generate massive heat. Much like Logan Paul, she must stop trying to fight fans\u2019 disdain, and simply embrace it.<\/p>\n<p>Heel turn, please.<\/p>\n<h3>First Runner-Up: The Wyatt Sicks<\/h3>\n<p>Who are the Wyatt Six? What are they trying to accomplish? How are we supposed to feel about them?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not clear WWE creative knows the answers either.<\/p>\n<p>When they debuted on Raw, the Sicks were portrayed as brutal bringers of justice, something like the movie The Crow. Since coming to Smackdown, they\u2019ve been portrayed as heels, repeatedly cheating to win matches. However, nothing else in their presentation seems to have changed. Their promos are dense, confusing, and often amount to little more than word salad &#8211; vague enough to seem meaningful, but ultimately incoherent.<\/p>\n<p>Of all the matches at Clash in Paris, the Smackdown Tag Team Championship match was the least well received. Pitting them against the Street Profits, whose alignment is also uncertain, gave the audience no one to root for or against. The match featured the faction\u2019s least interesting members: Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy.<\/p>\n<p>The story of dissension between the Profits was abruptly dropped. Despite a fantastic entrance and some very good wrestling, the match never clicked. A finish which saw the Sicks win due to interference by Uncle Howdy, left viewers unsatisfied and confused.<\/p>\n<p>The Wyatt Sicks need a clearly defined mission, and some serious character development. Otherwise, they\u2019re squandering Bray\u2019s concept, essentially following the buzzards off a cliff.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (9\/1) - WWE Raw w\/cohost Rich Fann\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7GU6diei2GA?start=2&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3640303684\"><div id=\"pwtor-3310782054\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>September\u2019s Wrestlepalooza harkens the beginning of the ESPN era of WWE PPVs, along with the promise of a new stage and new opportunities for WWE performers. In professional wrestling, momentum is everything &#8211; and it <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/09\/03\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-paul-peaks-roman-rules-a-j-s-okay-bella-blunders-the-wyatts-woes\/\" title=\"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Paul Peaks, Roman Rules, A.J.\u2019s okay, Bella Blunders &#038; the Wyatts\u2019 Woes\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,52,4309,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-203950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlightarticles","category-opnionandanalysis","category-rising-star-fading-star","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2017\/04\/LeeAJ_3x2_600.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203950"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203952,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203950\/revisions\/203952"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}