Monday, October 27, 2008

WWE Raw Report

Date: 10/27/08 from Tucson, AZ

The Big News: Next week will be a monumental moment in our nation’s history. That’s right. It’s Raw’s 800th episode, and to celebrate there will be a three hour celebration bash. No “WWE Universe” drinking games, either, or you’ll be too hung over to vote the next day. Hell, you’ll probably die of alcohol poisoning that evening, so don’t try it kids.

Show Analysis:

An upset Chris Jericho came out to start the show. He said that his title loss at Cyber Sunday was the biggest screw job in WWE history. Jericho claimed that Adamle wanted Batista to be champion and the fans helped achieve that goal. He labeled Steve Austin a biased bully and said that Batista should be ashamed to call himself champion given he didn’t defeat Jericho. Conspiracy, he cried. Jericho vowed to use his rematch clause on next week’s three hour Raw and reclaim the title.

Mike Adamle interrupted, and said that the title match next week would be a steel cage match. That feels a little repetitious given they did the same thing when CM Punk dropped the title to Jericho. Jericho stormed off.

Randy Orton then came out, and was mad that Adamle stuck him in the referee situation at Cyber Sunday which led to him getting the stunner. Orton called for Stephanie and Shane McMahon to fire Adamle next week, and said that if they don’t fire Adamle he will leave. Orton called Adamle spineless and a failure as an interviewer, commentator, general manager, father and husband. Ouch. Adamle slapped him, and Orton left. This was an entertaining opening segment. They built a lot of stuff for next week and this angle with Orton to me is the most interesting angle they set up.

CM Punk and Kofi Kingston beat Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes to win the tag team titles. Jerry Lawler sold that Kingston or Punk would have the advantage in singles matches against DiBiase or Rhodes, but that Rhodes and DiBiase were the favorites in the tag match because they have better teamwork. They should emphasize that more often to make the tag titles feel like they mean something.

Kingston and Punk were successful early with dropkicks and double teams including Kingston flipping Punk into a plancha. Rhodes and DiBiase briefly worked over Punk, and then worked over Kingston. Kingston got the tag to Punk, who hit a swinging neck breaker, slaps and a high knee on DiBiase. DiBiase went for the million dollar nightmare (my new name for the cobra clutch leg sweep), but Punk escaped and hit the GTS for the pin. This was a good match.

Roddy Piper, Goldust and Honky Tonk Man came out to do commentary for Santino’s match. Santino and Beth Phoenix came to the ring, and Santino put over Beth. Beth’s music then played, presumably to tease she would be Santino’s opponent. Instead, Charlie Haas came out dressed as Phoenix. The match never really got started. Santino on the outside slapped Honky, so the former Intercontinental champions pursued Santino into the ring and Honky hit Santino with a guitar.

They aired another video package and Mike Knox is in fact coming to Raw. The package actually made him look quite impressive. I think he’s got the potential to be a poor man’s Gene Snitsky.

Batista came to the ring for a brief interview. He said that he feels good to be the champion, and that it was a long journey back to the top. He wasn’t concerned about having a short lived title reign. He said that he is comfortable with the cage, where there will be nowhere for Jericho to run or hide.

Mickie James, Kelly Kelly and Candice Michelle beat Jillian Hall, Katie Lea and Layla. The heels worked over Mickie, who got the tag to Kelly. Kelly hit a whirly bird, dropkick and famouser on Katie for the pin.
JBL did a backstage promo where he said that he was angry at Shawn Michaels for interfering with his plan at Cyber Sunday. He had a deal with Chris Jericho where he would help Jericho retain the title and then would receive the next title shot, but Michaels cost JBL his title shot and the money that would have come with being champion. JBL later jumped Shawn Michaels backstage, setting up a seeming handicap match for the main event.

Rey Mysterio beat Evan Bourne. Evan hit a moonsault to the floor and Rey hit a senton off the apron. Evan went for a springboard crossbody but Rey caught him with a dropkick. Rey hit a springboard senton but Evan quickly answered with an enzuigiri. Evan hit a standing moonsault and attempted a sunset flip off the top but Rey rolled through. Rey hit the 619 but missed the west coast pop. Evan went for a victory roll, but Rey rolled through for the pin.

This was a good match, particularly at the end. Both guys botched some spots early. After the match Kane and then Mark Henry came out. Kane ended up giving Rey a choke slam and Henry ended up giving Evan the world’s strongest slam.

Miz and John Morrison again made fun of DX. They said that their sophisticated brand of humor may be too much for the common people and their style on the intimidating side. Next week they vowed to defeat DX. Good luck with that.

Batista and Shawn Michaels beat Chris Jericho and JBL. The vast majority of this was a handicap match. The heels worked over Batista for a while, but he came back with clotheslines. Jericho hit the code breaker, but Batista kicked out. Batista speared JBL and at that moment Michaels finally made his way to the ring.

Batista made the tag to Michaels but the referee didn’t see it and went to escort Michaels from the ring. In the midst of this there was a weird botched spot. Jericho went to hit Batista with the title. I think it was supposed to be the spot where Batista moves and Jericho hits JBL, but Jericho missed both of them. Michaels then thought about doing sweet chin music but changed his mind, so Jericho just left the ring and Batista hit the spine buster and Batista bomb on JBL for the pin. This was okay.

Final Thoughts:

This show was fine. It was better than recent weeks because it had better wrestling and the booking was marginally better, but it wasn’t a great show by any means either. They spent a lot of time building next week, but they didn’t do anything that really got me excited for it.

12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

why a cage match? Alvarez made a good point last night: why would Jericho try to run and hide in a match where he's theoretically attempting to regain his world title? it kind of made sense with Punk since Jericho was champ.

since 1995 I've been an avid raw watcher, and usually watch it live through all the commercials they have every seemingly 5 minutes. But now I find myself recording it on VCR (I'm that behind the times) and fast forwarding through so much shit that Raw sometimes only lasts 50 minutes now. It might just be me but I'm worried the product is starting to lose me. I mean fuck, not even Santino is making me laugh anymore.

5:54 AM  
Blogger Bobcat said...

Wow. "Poor man's Snitsky". That's like a poor man's homelessness.

6:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Last night I tried watching Raw, but then I found myself watching the World Series and Monday Night Football. I don't know it doesn't have the same feel as it use too. I am tired for all these made for TV drama matches. “Against all odds” type of matches and then you have the "good guys" overcoming impossible odds. It usually happens to guys I really don’t want to win such as a HHH or Batista, who I think really doesn’t need a win like this cause I don’t think losing would hurt their credibility, and you have guys that I do want to win and need to win so it does not hurt their credibility on these “against all odd matches” such as a CM Punk or Rey Mysterio usually losing. Raw is just whack right now and unentertaining. It really destroys a person’s intelligence when it comes to reality.

7:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How many times last night did we hear that Raw is the longest running program on TV?? ENOUGH VINCE!!

Someone needs to fill him in that Meet the Press has been on the air for over 50 years, about 35 years longer than Raw.

They are starting to lose a lifelong fan with this bullshit.

9:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

zzzzzzz, boring, zzzzzzz

10:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I meant Raw, not you Todd. Thanks for the report

10:10 AM  
Blogger AKFooFighter said...

Riddle me this: What is the constant (and inacurate) mentioning of Raw's longest-running "episodic" status supposed to accomplish?

If I'm hearing this junk as I watch, I'm already a viewer of the drivel. Are they trying to court new viewers? Anyone, anyone, Bueller?

Maybe I'm waiting for Vince to come out publicly and excuse everyone over the age of 30 from watching the product anymore. Then and only then, might I be free of the WWE shackles I can't shake off. Help me, please.

- Matt in Anchorage

P.S. - Santino remains the only entertaining entertainer in the WWE stable at the moment.

11:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree that Santino is the most entertaining but the problem is his segments are NOT long enough.

Give that man (and his "girlfriend") more time.

1:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love the review (found your blog linked to the same review you posted on pwbts.com)

"A poor man's Gene Snitsky"...always thought that was Matt Morgan.

Keep it up - I'll be reading these reviews until I have a reason to actually watch a whole episode of RAW.

7:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

P.S. Santino is great and I'll keep it on the show if I happen to see him.

7:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Someone needs to fill him in that Meet the Press has been on the air for over 50 years, about 35 years longer than Raw.

Is Meet the Press an episodic drama? Nope. Bad example.

Now if you went with Days of our Lives you'd have a point.

I think they actually mean episodic drama in prime time. Now there they do have the record.

What I would like to know is how long before Orton is back in the ring? He took a bump at Cyber Sunday so it can't be far away, although the angle with Adamle will make next week very interesting.

One more point, Todd. Next week is the 800th episode celebration. The actual 800th episode was back on September 22. Unless they are claiming a miscount.

Trivia note - the Word verification below for me with this message was "ressles"!! LMAO!!

5:18 AM  
Blogger AKFooFighter said...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/03/wwe-monday-night-raw-cele_n_140642.html

Well, what do you know? I go searching for well-worn, lefty propaganda and my beloved Raw gets some love.

Have fun voting tomorrow everyone.

- Matt in Anchorage

5:03 PM  

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