The infamous Ball family joined Raw as part of Miz-TV. The segment had the crowd hot and going. Lonzo Ball showed off and cut a promo on the Miz, even taking his shirt off at one point. His younger son LaMelo then used a racial slur, causing WWE to issue an apology. While the LA crowd seemed to dig it, the response on the Internet was mixed.
One wrestler was not pleased with the segment.
https://twitter.com/RealCurtisAxel/status/879555457764872192
Here’s what the Axe Man had to say about the segment during an interview with a Minneapolis radio station:
“They don’t need to be on TV. Get them off. It was embarrassing. Looking at that from my perspective, it was funny backstage looking at it, but that’s not something that… you know, this is my opinion. The kids watch this show. It’s a kid’s program, we took it down to PG-13 and made everything kid-friendly, right? And for someone to come on there and grab the microphone and go off and do something outlandish like this and you were told… I guarantee they were told not to do it – it’s embarrassing.
And yeah, I watching it backstage and I was embarrassed. Growing up in the family business like this and seeing some guy… the whole family to me. Granted, you know the kid’s gonna be a superstar or whatever but the dad and the other guy, they do this on a program where my family’s busted their ass – it embarrasses me and it pisses me off. It sucks.
They went off on their own and did whatever they did to hype themselves up, so I was disgusted with the whole thing”
Similarly, Mr. Money in the Bank Baron Corbin was also upset with the segment and let the Ball family and WWE know about it:
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/879778768423800832
My Take on Curtis Axel and the Ball Family
Corbin’s statement is in-line with his trash-talking character. But Axel bashed a segment featuring the Miz, who is his on-screen boss as part of the Miztourage. It is possible that the statement could get Axel in trouble with the higher-ups.
Even my non-wrestling friends asked me about the segment. Hardcore hands hated it. But again, they hate everything that isn’t a hold-for-hold scientific match. Yet they still watch.
I’m torn on “celebrity” segments like this.
Bad Press is still PRESS. Attention is still attention. WWE knows how to generate buzz, and often times that means reaching out to non-wrestling people. I think that’s totally fine. It is how you get more eyes on the product. It keeps WWE in the conversation.
But then again…the segment was messy. Ball is a despised figure in the sports world. Why have him yell and hulk up on the Miz? They’re both heels, shouldn’t they team together? Wouldn’t it make sense for the two of them work together? The Miz always needs new ways to cheat. But, I’m not Vince. Fantasy booking is worthless but oh-so-fun.
What did you think about the segment? Was it worth it? Did you think it was funny? Or are you a purist and find these sort of antics distracting and disrespectful? Share your thoughts.