Are sledgehammers supposed to break that easily? I feel like that wasn't supposed to happen. Funniest part of that entire scene: Brock walking away and leaving only a single "W" (which CRZ should totally steal for the Test Pattern), because God knows The E hasn't stood for that second W or that E for years.
I'm still finding the Ryback heel turn so hard to swallow, but you can't say the guy isn't trying. Cena isn't giving him much, though, with that opening promo. No better way to build up your big, bad PPV challenger than by treating him like a joke and pointing out what a loser he is. Of course, that's the general M.O. for The E these days. Also, I once again have to point out that it's really hard to buy that Cena's got a busted Achilles when he's SPRINTING TO THE RING AT FULL SPEED at the end of the show! At least TRY and sell the injury, doofus!
Speaking of losers, I REALLY found the Cesaro promo hard to swallow. It's so unbelievable (as in NOT BELIEVABLE) to watch him cut the "I have no competition" promo after watching him lose every single match in 2013.
I'd point out that United States Champion Kofi Kingston did the clean job in a match where he tagged with The Usos who haven't been on TV in ages (and one of whom was busted on DUI not too long ago), but The E is just purposely trolling everyone with the secondary champion business, so why bother?
Positive part of tonight's show: Mark Henry. He continues to be the beacon of light in a string of miserable shows. But yeah, I can see why The E put him on the backburner with that BS "You must earn your title shot by beating the champion in a non-title match" stipulation, while "0-7" Ryback (who Henry BEAT!) gets the next title shot. Henry should go split some wigs.
"NEXT WEEK! FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! FANDANGO! AND CHRIS JERICHO..."
Well, that sounds like it's going to be a hell of a show! And they're hyping the match a full week in advance! Can't wait to see...
Damien Sandow killed it with his version of Randy Orton's theme, then Orton had his second good Raw match in as many weeks.
Loved how Brodus Clay improvised and threw up a 42. Poor guy.
The announce team still stinks. Dated references in liew of match calling, and Cole breaking Henry was neither heel nor face, just douchebaggy. I liked how Bradshaw STAYED HEEL and defended Henry.
Mark Henry took someone's belt to beat Sheamus. This is almost Tarentino film worthy. Seriously, Mark Henry went up to someone, demanded their belt, they obliged, and he then attacked Sheamus with it, screaming that he'd beat him like he stole something. I may not hate John Cena, but I sure as shit root for Mark Henry.
And I'm giddy; are they actually holding back and waiting to do Bryan/Ryback?
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Frown and the world laughs at you." -Me.
I'll go out on a limb and say that Kofi was the one picked to lose in the tag match because he's one of the guys on the roster capable of making Ambrose's finisher look deadly with the head spike. The other way to look at that, though, is that if the finisher is only going to look good on a handful of the roster, maybe he should have a different finisher.
Originally posted by LexusAnd I'm giddy; are they actually holding back and waiting to do Bryan/Ryback?
Well, they just did that on Smackdown last week, so they aren't really holding it back. That said, having Bryan talking about wanting to fight The Ryback again is a good sign for him, I think. If The Shield winds up taking the tag titles at Extreme Rules, Bryan could very easily segue into a feud with WWE Champion The Ryback or World Champion Zigglypuff.
And as hard to swallow as Cesaro's promo might have been after his losing streak, I'm just glad that they're doing something with him besides yodeling. Being the 'W' in WWE is certainly something he can make work, as long as he keeps doing impressive moves like that superplex on Kofi while Kofi was on the apron. Cesaro's survived that test that WWE likes to give their new guys where after a strong initial push they get scaled back a lot, so maybe it's time to take him farther now than he went as US Champion?
Originally posted by John OrquiolaThe AJ and Bellas Dream Team and Paul Heyman touring Titan Tower: "Why does everyone look so UNHAPPY??" made RAW for me.
But the ditched her, laughed at her and flashed the dreaded "L" in her direction. My loyalties here are divided, unless AJ just shrugs it off and chalks it up to being friends with evil women.
The rest of the show was kind of ok. I can't make a more middling and non-committal statement than that. The stuff with Cena was awful, and not just because it was Cena. The Ryback is trying, but Cena isn't giving him anything to work with. And someone as green as The Ryback can't pull this off by himself.
Everything with Heyman was very good. As always.
The Shield segment was good.
But Mark Henry was the superstar of the show. Everything about him since he started this Hall of Pain thing has been glorious to watch. I wish Mizzark did this 10 years ago. BTW, I recently watched the best 100 moments of Raw history on Netflix... it was amazing to see how racist and not-funny the X-Pac version of Mizzark was. I didn't remember it being that bad, but it was absolutely cringe-worthy. The nWo 4 Horsemen was better.
The show was better than the past three weeks, but for me it's still not there yet.
Originally posted by John OrquiolaThe AJ and Bellas Dream Team and Paul Heyman touring Titan Tower: "Why does everyone look so UNHAPPY??" made RAW for me.
But the ditched her, laughed at her and flashed the dreaded "L" in her direction. My loyalties here are divided, unless AJ just shrugs it off and chalks it up to being friends with evil women.
They're not friends.
You take our #1 Contender spot, we take away your win. Haters Gonna Hate, Bellas Gonna Ball. Besos! B&N #RAW
Originally posted by It's FalseAre sledgehammers supposed to break that easily? I feel like that wasn't supposed to happen. Funniest part of that entire scene: Brock walking away and leaving only a single "W" (which CRZ should totally steal for the Test Pattern), because God knows The E hasn't stood for that second W or that E for years.
Antonio Cesaro puts the W in WWE (hopefully he puts *both* W's actually) and Brock apparently takes the W out of it.
And yes, Mark Henry was the best part of the show by a long shot. Also rolling his eyes when Sheamus was defending his actions.
Goddamn Cena is the most annoying unfunny jerk on the planet. You want to book him as the top unbeatable guy, FINE. I can live with another five years of Cena as the top face if they want, just HAVE HIM SHOW SOME FEAR. It's like watching Scott Hall do his "I'm so scared" fingers for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time.
Originally posted by Amos CochranGoddamn Cena is the most annoying unfunny jerk on the planet. You want to book him as the top unbeatable guy, FINE. I can live with another five years of Cena as the top face if they want, just HAVE HIM SHOW SOME FEAR. It's like watching Scott Hall do his "I'm so scared" fingers for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time.
Is this the WWE prescription to standing up to bullies? Be An Ass?
The long time between Mania and Extreme Rules is killing them. Punk's absence should have allowed two people (Punk's temp and his opponent) to step up.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Other than about 5-6 guys (and you know who they are), the rest of the roster is made out to be total losers. Losers. Several of whom are "champions". How is that supposed to encourage me to care about 2 different TV shows, when they don't give a crap about pretty much anyone on those shows?
Originally posted by kentishOther than about 5-6 guys (and you know who they are), the rest of the roster is made out to be total losers. Losers. Several of whom are "champions". How is that supposed to encourage me to care about 2 different TV shows, when they don't give a crap about pretty much anyone on those shows?
Honestly, I wish they'd just start throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. Have Cesaro challenge Barrett and see who the crowd favours. Something, anything to stop this constant cycle of midcard wheelspinning and main event smirkery.
Originally posted by Amos CochranGoddamn Cena is the most annoying unfunny jerk on the planet. You want to book him as the top unbeatable guy, FINE. I can live with another five years of Cena as the top face if they want, just HAVE HIM SHOW SOME FEAR. It's like watching Scott Hall do his "I'm so scared" fingers for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time.
Only if Hall would turn turn to look at the hard camera several times during his 15 minute scared fingers routine, make a troll face, and say "Oh, by the way, I'm being sarcastic." And then add "Like from The Simpsons" at th eend to get a muted cheer from the crowd.
Originally posted by kentishOther than about 5-6 guys (and you know who they are), the rest of the roster is made out to be total losers. Losers. Several of whom are "champions". How is that supposed to encourage me to care about 2 different TV shows, when they don't give a crap about pretty much anyone on those shows?
Honestly, I wish they'd just start throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. Have Cesaro challenge Barrett and see who the crowd favours. Something, anything to stop this constant cycle of midcard wheelspinning and main event smirkery.
Hate to say it, but you just KNOW the only reason they gave Cesaro the win and that promo was to set him up to be "strong" when he loses to Orton on Main Event.
I actually did really like the Ziggler/del Rio match, but it really underscores how unnecessary and out of place Swagger's inclusion in the feud is. Del Rio should be doing a straight chase right now, but instead Swagger just keeps showing up to draw focus. Hopefully he'll do some cool power spots in the ladder match, and then fade out of the feud.
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How much longer will the Baron's flashback last? Will it reveal the beginnings of his deep-rooted hatred for Al Wilson? Does Dean know that he keeps dropping the Baron's accent? Stay tuned!