Could the League of Nations have gone further?

[Sephiroth]

For Saint Patrick’s Day. As short lived as it was, I actually enjoyed Sheamus, Barrett, and Rusev as a trio. They just had a great chemistry together and the commonality of being all European and all using a brawling style made them a well oiled machine together. Adding Del Rio to such a mix was like oil and water, but utterly atrocious booking was the real killer. Instead of trying to wedge Sheamus in the main event as a stepping stone for Reigns, the three of them would have made a perfect midcard feud for a face New Day, who were still white hot at the time. But even then the act probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer, Barrett was on borrowed time thanks to his injuries.

[stoptheclocks]

They definitely could - they were four (yes I said four) very talented guys. But they were limited entirely to being easily beatable goons.

[4real]

Maybe as a trio but the problem was always Sheamus was seriously cold at the time as a MITB winner and barely anyone had interest in seeing him successfully cash in. Even on a hated Roman Reigns. Barrett & Rusev weren’t really treated as serious threats at this time either.

[ChitownKnight]

I’ll never forget that hilarious New Day promo where they introduce Sheamus and kiss his ass after he won the title lol

[msc]

Sheamus basically took what worked with The League and used it to form The Bar.

The issues with the League were three-fold
1. They were there solely to be Vince's henchmen, a tired out trope.
2. Del Rio had no chemistry with the others.
3. Barrett was super injured.

[FinalGwen]

I can't help but think that giving them the name of an organisation that was completely ineffectual without America as a part of it was probably a warning sign of how they thought it'd go.

[mc74]

Mar 17, 2023 13:06:53 GMT -5 msc said:

Sheamus basically took what worked with The League and used it to form The Bar.

The issues with the League were three-fold
1. They were there solely to be Vince's henchmen, a tired out trope.
2. Del Rio had no chemistry with the others.
3. Barrett was super injured.

Plus, the group only existed to put Roman Reigns over. The group never had a chance to be anything above that.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

I was so furious that they just booked some old guys to beat them up for no reason when they just beat New Day at Mania

And one of the old guys was my favourite wrestler

[chazraps]

Del Rio ruins everything.

[El Cokehead del Knife Fight]

It would have worked if they kept up the soccer hooligan vibes, didn't add Del Rio and didn't make them purely to put over Roman.

[Nosnorb]

Mar 17, 2023 12:34:29 GMT -5 4real said:

Maybe as a trio but the problem was always Sheamus was seriously cold at the time as a MITB winner and barely anyone had interest in seeing him successfully cash in. Even on a hated Roman Reigns. Barrett & Rusev weren’t really treated as serious threats at this time either.

Rumours were that Barrett was injured for the duration of the group, hence why he just stood outside the ring wearing trunks most of the time. He was also having a truly shocking 2015 - dude had the worst IC Title run in company history and did almost nothing but chase the title he "held" as various people stole it and lose a lot. The only match he won that mattered was at Fastlane in which Dean Ambrose was DQed for kicking too much ass.

Dude then won King of the Ring, then had some sort of feud with R-Truth then joined up with Stardust in order to take on Neville and Stephen Amell at Summerslam, taking the pin.

Rusev was coming off that abominable feud with Dolph Ziggler. It was three dudes that had been iced for most of the year, in a feud with a dude that creative had turned from a silent badass killer into simply an ass.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Mar 17, 2023 18:22:42 GMT -5 Nosnorb said:

Mar 17, 2023 12:34:29 GMT -5 4real said:

Maybe as a trio but the problem was always Sheamus was seriously cold at the time as a MITB winner and barely anyone had interest in seeing him successfully cash in. Even on a hated Roman Reigns. Barrett & Rusev weren’t really treated as serious threats at this time either.

Rumours were that Barrett was injured for the duration of the group, hence why he just stood outside the ring wearing trunks most of the time. He was also having a truly shocking 2015 - dude had the worst IC Title run in company history and did almost nothing but chase the title he "held" as various people stole it and lose a lot. The only match he won that mattered was at Fastlane in which Dean Ambrose was DQed for kicking too much ass.

Dude then won King of the Ring, then had some sort of feud with R-Truth then joined up with Stardust in order to take on Neville and Stephen Amell at Summerslam, taking the pin.

Rusev was coming off that abominable feud with Dolph Ziggler. It was three dudes that had been iced for most of the year, in a feud with a dude that creative had turned from a silent badass killer into simply an ass.

Indeed, so putting Sheamus, Barrett and Rusev together and just having them being guys being bros looked like manna from heaven in contrast.

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I miss this most of all

[The Rick Jericho]

Perhaps, instead of turning on Barrett the night after Mania. They turn on Del Rio instead?

[DichEvans]

Mar 17, 2023 8:37:07 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

For Saint Patrick’s Day. As short lived as it was, I actually enjoyed Sheamus, Barrett, and Rusev as a trio. They just had a great chemistry together and the commonality of being all European and all using a brawling style made them a well oiled machine together. Adding Del Rio to such a mix was like oil and water, but utterly atrocious booking was the real killer. Instead of trying to wedge Sheamus in the main event as a stepping stone for Reigns, the three of them would have made a perfect midcard feud for a face New Day, who were still white hot at the time. But even then the act probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer, Barrett was on borrowed time thanks to his injuries.

Del Rio is a charisma vacuum. Replace him with Drew and it would have worked way better.


New Day said putting together a match with the League of Nations was one of the bigger headaches in their career

[Hypnosis]

Mar 17, 2023 18:49:18 GMT -5 DichEvans said:

Mar 17, 2023 8:37:07 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

For Saint Patrick’s Day. As short lived as it was, I actually enjoyed Sheamus, Barrett, and Rusev as a trio. They just had a great chemistry together and the commonality of being all European and all using a brawling style made them a well oiled machine together. Adding Del Rio to such a mix was like oil and water, but utterly atrocious booking was the real killer. Instead of trying to wedge Sheamus in the main event as a stepping stone for Reigns, the three of them would have made a perfect midcard feud for a face New Day, who were still white hot at the time. But even then the act probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer, Barrett was on borrowed time thanks to his injuries.

Del Rio is a charisma vacuum. Replace him with Drew and it would have worked way better.


New Day said putting together a match with the League of Nations was one of the bigger headaches in their career

Gee, I wonder why?

[Sephiroth]

Mar 17, 2023 18:49:18 GMT -5 DichEvans said:

Mar 17, 2023 8:37:07 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

For Saint Patrick’s Day. As short lived as it was, I actually enjoyed Sheamus, Barrett, and Rusev as a trio. They just had a great chemistry together and the commonality of being all European and all using a brawling style made them a well oiled machine together. Adding Del Rio to such a mix was like oil and water, but utterly atrocious booking was the real killer. Instead of trying to wedge Sheamus in the main event as a stepping stone for Reigns, the three of them would have made a perfect midcard feud for a face New Day, who were still white hot at the time. But even then the act probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer, Barrett was on borrowed time thanks to his injuries.

Del Rio is a charisma vacuum. Replace him with Drew and it would have worked way better.


New Day said putting together a match with the League of Nations was one of the bigger headaches in their career

Wasn’t Owens supposed to join?

[Nosnorb]

Mar 17, 2023 19:29:12 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Mar 17, 2023 18:49:18 GMT -5 DichEvans said:

Del Rio is a charisma vacuum. Replace him with Drew and it would have worked way better.


New Day said putting together a match with the League of Nations was one of the bigger headaches in their career

Wasn’t Owens supposed to join?

He was, but he fell ill during the week that he was supposed to join the group.

[tirtefaa]

Del Rio felt out of place.

Honestly, I would have preferred if it was just European guys.

Sheamus
Wade Barrett
Rusev
Drew McIntyre
Cesaro

Yes, I know that Drew wasn't there at the time, but he would have been a better fit. Cesaro obviously fits okay as well.

But if the whole thing was essentially like the Alliance to End Hulkamania...then it doesn't matter who is involved, because it's going to stink no matter what.