I hope something really, REALLY bad happened to the morom who ran in and shoved the ladder while Eddy was on it. I'm talking locked in the shower with Bradshaw bad. Thank God Eddy got those shots in.
It's so sad... it's so obvious that they're setting up face New World Order v. heel Four Horsemen for a month or two down the road, and it should be the other way around...
I HATE HATE HATE that Benoit had to be turned heel again (he was getting monstrously over as a babyface before his injury last year) but at least the Federation realizes he needs to be on Raw...
And the other thing I was happy to see was that RVD beat Eddie cleanly without the Austin run-in, which is what I was expecting... a distinct sign of hope...
CRZ NOTABLE QUOTABLE OF THE MONTH: KANE: Triple H...tonight, I will burn the flesh from your body! MICHAEL COLE: OH MY GOD. KANE THREATENING TRIPLE H, SAYING HE'S GONNA BURN THE FLESH FROM HIS BODY! CRZ: Umm, I heard it the FIRST time! -- WWF Smackdown, 9/9/99
A quality ladder match between RVD and Guerrero, combined with Benoit returning to his heel ways and (for better or worse) hintings at the return of the Four Horsemen...and it will probably score lousy ratings.
Why?
Because WWE spent ten minutes leading into RAW Zone getting Dreamer to drink Undertaker's chaw juice.
One step forward always seems to be countered with at least one step back.
Steph
I'm going twenty-four hours a day...I can't seem to stop - "Turn Up The Radio", Autograph
Awesome show tonight. It had it's lulls, like the Big show/Bradshaw match, but overall it was pretty good. Benoit's heel turn was pretty easy to see coming, but it's good to see him coming back in as high a position as he was in when he left.
The WWF finally seems to be serious about the NWO, I just hope it isn't too late. I think they've been entertaining the last couple of weeks, and Kevin Nash's entrance has been popping the crowds.
RVD/Guerrero- great match. I felt sooo bad for RVD when the ladder fell out from under him going for the 5 star frog splash. They recovered nicely though, and this was a good way to get the IC belt off Eddy so he can feud with Austin. I wish the WWF hadn't hyped Austin's late arrival so much, because it seemed like the crowd was waiting for him more than they were watching the match some of the time. Also, how about that fan running in? That was funny. It looked like he was getting his ass beat too by security, because all the fans on that side turned to watch. Good thing, the SOB deseved it.
Brock/Bubba- Another good match with some exciting near falls. I'm surprised they gave these two's first meeting away on TV. Hayman needs to superglue that hat to his head or something.
Undertaker/Dreamer- I think the WWF overestimated how over Dreamer would be after those vignettes. I thought it was kind of funny, but still a waste of time.
One thing I noticed: right at the start of the main event, JR told us we had just taken our last ad break, but then, 5 minutes into the match, we go to commercial. grrr.
To expand on Steph's point, I spent the whole night being torn between feelings of "best Raw ever" and "uh oh, I don't like this one bit." To wit:
-Opening segment owned the whole wide world. Benoit monster face pop returning home was beautiful and warmed my heart. The interaction with Eddy and the referencing of the Radicalz was just ultra-cool. No complaints here, and got me at least hoping for Benoit's eventual move to Raw.
-Regal/Molly vs. Trish/Spike segment worked just fine. I find myself enjoying Trish in the ring more than 75% of the guys at this point, and evil Regal is always a treat to watch. I'm still feeling good about the show at this point.
-Hardcore title segment was totally harmless, and i got a kick out of it, since I was in a generous mood at this point.
-NWO interview was clean exposition, establishing Nash as leader, and continuing the Booker T "round peg, square hole" idea. In fact this pretty much applies for the whole night for the NWO.
-I couldn't figure out any good reason to have the first Bubba vs. Brock match on Raw. But oh well. Nothing too offensive here, though Brock needs to learn bearhugs=bad.
-"They broke Tommy." So sayeth my watching companion, the last living Tommy Dreamer mark. This segment just dragged forever, the crowd was cheering Taker the whole way, and just didn't do much for me. Plus it makes me fear a Hogan/Taker rematch as he keeps mentioning retiring Hogan.
-When the RVD/Eddy match started I realized I didn't want Eddy to lose, as I was still hoping for RVD/Taker to somehow occur again at the PPV. And that won't happen with RVD as IC champ. Also, I realized how conditioned I've been over the last few months as when I saw 25 min left in the show I immediately began waiting for Austin to run-in, ruin the match, spend 8 min drinking beer and flipping off people and stunnering everyone. Which didn't make me happy.
-The RVD/Eddy match just was off the hook. Best RAW match since Benoit/Austin. The fan getting his ass kicked ruled. But the minute Benoit hit the ringside I was "oh no...they're gonna turn him heel in his hometown. Why?" I spent the rest of the match waiting for him to jump into the ring, and was damn surprised at a clean ending.
-Austin coming down and doing his thing was the usual. But watching Eddy and Benoit working together against Austin all I could think is "oh great, now he's going to squash not just one, but BOTH of my favorite wrestlers." Mark my words, at some point Austin is going to beat both of them in a handicap match, and the popping sound you'll hear will be my brain exploding from annoyance. I'd love to be excited about Benoit on Raw, about Eddy and Benoit together again, and about them both seemingly in a main event feud. But they've squashed every other young star who they seem ready to build up, I have no faith, zero, non, nada, 0% at all in the WWF to have this end any way but the usual...in this Austin drinking beer over the fallen corpses of his victims (you can substitute HHH doing the roid monster pose over his victim here, or Taker glowering at his victim here).
So I guess what I'm saying is I really loved Raw this evening, but one kick-ass show does not erase a year of bad tv. I'm hoping this is the start of something great though, as I like wrestling, and really like to enjoy what I'm watching to the max.
"You used it to shove your miserable daughter down our throats week in and week out...not anymore!" - Ric Flair gives me hope, Raw 3/18/02
"I thought it was cool how HHH just tossed Jericho out of the ring and made him vanish, possibly into another dimension, at the end of the match." - Dr. Unlikely says the funniest thing I've ever read on Wienerville
Originally posted by CajunManWhat about RAVEN??? The WWE is bringing back THE FLOCK?
That would be cool, even though I doubt it. I bet the only people in the WWF, be it wrestlers, writers or front office people, who have ever even heard of the flock are guys like Saturn who were at one point members.
I would love to see a bunch of undercard stables formed though, and I think that would be the WWF's first step towards better TV on a consistent basis.
There was no indication Benoit would be a part of RAW. They refered to him as a SmackDown wrestler multiple times. It appeared that he was there a.)to visit his hometown, b.) help Eddie and c.) attack Austin because...storyline-wise, Austin was the one that took out Benoit last spring. His last match was that 3-way title match at KOTR. That makes sense, right?
Although I was hoping for a face Benoit vs. heel Jericho feud later this year..this really sets up the Canadian heel army on SD.
But the RVD/Eddie match? Wow! I`m pretty sure that was longer than either of their PPV matches. It`s a shame that moron had to run into the ring and that the ladder gave way under RVD (although he seemed wayyy too close to hit a 5-star, you could see Eddie sorta moving himself back a few inches).
And I felt ill watching Taker spit that wad of tobacco into the cup. Seeing that was sicker than Tommy drinking it. Tobacco is Wacko if You`re WWE Champ.
"Why don't you say 'what' if you like to sleep with your own sister." - The Undertaker
I have to think they wouldn't set up a major feud which they can't deliver by having Benoit do this. If they just wanted to reintro him, they could have just had him do the opening segment and then leave. I got a hunch he'll be on Raw, now that Flair and Vince are buds it should be easy to justify him moving over.
"You used it to shove your miserable daughter down our throats week in and week out...not anymore!" - Ric Flair gives me hope, Raw 3/18/02
"I thought it was cool how HHH just tossed Jericho out of the ring and made him vanish, possibly into another dimension, at the end of the match." - Dr. Unlikely says the funniest thing I've ever read on Wienerville
Originally posted by Spiraling_ShapeThere was no indication Benoit would be a part of RAW. They refered to him as a SmackDown wrestler multiple times. It appeared that he was there a.)to visit his hometown, b.) help Eddie and c.) attack Austin because...storyline-wise, Austin was the one that took out Benoit last spring. His last match was that 3-way title match at KOTR. That makes sense, right?
But he is also apparently in cahoots with Flair now, because Benoit was, remember, Flair's "welcoming party" for Austin.
Great Raw. The Tommy Dreamer/UT segment served what purpose? Did it get UT over as a heel? Did it help Tommy get over? Ummm...No and No. I was hoping UT would put Tommy on a mission to beat some guys in the back in order to prove himself ready for a title match. That would atleast get some interest in Tommy and maybe get fans caring if he wins or loses.
The Four Horsemen seem to be re-born. I see a trade being made bewteen Raw and Smackdown to get Benoit on Raw. I don't see Horsemen vs NWO though. I did see X-Pac trying his best to get some of the Booker T face rub though. Did you see when they came out, he was pointing at the Book as if to say, "Hey, I am with him, cheer me!!!". Funny when the NWO needs The Book to get over.
But there were some good angle progression and good wrestling this week. Of course it was a holiday so the ratings will be down regardless of what they did. But I hope they can follow it up with a few more good shows. They need a string of good shows to get the ball rolling and people caring again.
January 4th 1999 - The day WCW injected itself with 10 gallons of Liquid Anthrax...AKA...The day Hogan "Defeated" Nash to win the WCW title in front of 40,000.
I HATE HATE HATE that Benoit had to be turned heel again (he was getting monstrously over as a babyface before his injury last year) but at least the Federation realizes he needs to be on Raw
You're right! Benoit was over as a face! Monstrously over!
I`m sure CRZ will catch this in his report, but was the music in those TNN movie/Mick voiced spots the old theme for Palumbo & O`Haire? I know it was someone`s entrance music, and I`m pretty sure it was them.
"Why don't you say 'what' if you like to sleep with your own sister." - The Undertaker
Originally posted by Spiraling_ShapeI`m sure CRZ will catch this in his report, but was the music in those TNN movie/Mick voiced spots the old theme for Palumbo & O`Haire? I know it was someone`s entrance music, and I`m pretty sure it was them.
Good...I was hoping I wasn't the only one that noticed that...
Your ego has just been *CRUSHED*!!! Courtesy of The Renegade
Austin is nothing like HHH he made Angle look like superman in there feud esp at summerslam when Angle kicked out of three stunners. Austin Vs Benoit should be awesome. Expect RVD and Austin Vs Eddie , and Benoit once Chris is ready to wrestle. Benoit a main eventer and nash a midcarder pounding on Crash Holly ha! just like it should be. Trade the nwo to Sd for Benoit not like they're feuding with anyone. The whole thing was to setup a Austin-Benoit feud as well as maybe reformn the greatest stable ever. Benoit is staying on Raw pretty obvious.
I HATE HATE HATE that Benoit had to be turned heel again (he was getting monstrously over as a babyface before his injury last year) but at least the Federation realizes he needs to be on Raw
You're right! Benoit was over as a face! Monstrously over!
In Alberta.
Actually, I think that unlike the Hulkster, Benoit's face heat is able to clear customs and come back over the Canadian border. I guess they need some heels, I just hate seeing anyone useful fed to the What? machine.
"You used it to shove your miserable daughter down our throats week in and week out...not anymore!" - Ric Flair gives me hope, Raw 3/18/02
"I thought it was cool how HHH just tossed Jericho out of the ring and made him vanish, possibly into another dimension, at the end of the match." - Dr. Unlikely says the funniest thing I've ever read on Wienerville
That jail skit is one of my favorite non-wrestling match pro-wrestling memories for me. Jacques Rougeau's reaction to his cell-mate's blatant homosexuality ("Oh my GOD!") is one of my fondest pro-wrestling memories ever.