Raw got some fancy new talent like The Hardys, The Revival, a new GM Kurt Angle, and a returning Finn Balor and that was cool ...
... but not Roman Reigns opening a show and playing an arena full of shitty wrestling fans like a fiddle for 15 minutes only to top that by dropping one single line on their asses before dropping the mic and walking off while they yell with rage and their heads explode kind of cool.
Angle's response to Cass being seven feet tall should've been something like "of course you can't, physical size is based on genetics, not knowledge." But still, as much as I would've loved to have see Angle become Raw's answer to Drax the Destroyer, good segment.
Say what you will about the New Day's schtick getting old, but the Revival were getting a hero's welcome that turned into a wall of boos when they kicked over the ice cream cart.
A 'superstar shakeup' is actually a much more accurate way to describe the old random draw format of roster switches. Those were never drafts --- WWE only had an actual "draft" (with podiums and hand-picked selections) twice, last year and at the original draft in 2002.
George Michael weighed his options. Maeby had chastised him for not taking risks, and what would be a bigger risk than perpetuating a lie about software just to ignite the passions of a woman? Of course it would be a lie, and since Maeby wouldn't know it was a lie, he wouldn't appear to be taking a risk. Perhaps the bigger risk was to tell his father he was lying, that he came up with it because he wanted his father to leave so he could enjoy what remained of his senior year. After all, he wondered, wouldn't that be the course of action taken by an overtly sexual man, a man who owns a pair of matador pants? He had not responded now for 41 seconds according to his unfailing internal clock, and it was time to come clean.
I loved the fans giving it to Roman and Vince, because both had it coming. Roman just oozes troll. Kurt is a much needed relief from Steph. I expect a lot of the new talent to be switched around.
Goofy Kurt is best Kurt, since he can't be MurderKill Kurt while being the authority figure.
The show was fun in moments, but at no point can you forget that this is a three-hour show, and they have to put on an exceptional show just to not have it drag. Compare that to SmackDown, where an average show usually comes off better because there's an hour less to fill.
Despite the influx of new talent, Raw's format and basic creative philosophy remain more or less the same, which means it will tend to mediocrity once the WM high wears off. The talent shuffle will help some folks, but history has tended to favor Raw heavily in these trades. I can imagine Vince wants more star power on Raw, but no amount of talent can help in the long run until they sort out their larger (writing and creative philosophy) issues. Meanwhile you might kill SD for little to no meaningful gain.
I'm not as caught up about the crowd as some folks are - it's once or twice a year, and those folks paid good money to be there, and they are entitled to doing whatever they want within the law and the rules laid out on the ticket. I was a little bothered that they were more concerned with the beachball during the Neville/Ali match, but those guys managed to pull the crowd back into it by the end. Whether you subscribe to one side or the other in the crowd/show vicious circle debate, I think you'll agree that you'll take a raucous crowd over a dead one every day of the week. Any reaction is better than no reaction, right?
Roman's "promo" was absolutely perfect. I just wish he'd smirked a little more. He has such a great smirk.
(edited by used2bcool on 4.4.17 0829) In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours!
Originally posted by used2bcoolI'm not as caught up about the crowd as some folks are - it's once or twice a year, and those folks paid good money to be there, and they are entitled to doing whatever they want within the law and the rules laid out on the ticket. I was a little bothered that they were more concerned with the beachball during the Neville/Ali match, but those guys managed to pull the crowd back into it by the end. Whether you subscribe to one side or the other in the crowd/show vicious circle debate, I think you'll agree that you'll take a raucous crowd over a dead one every day of the week. Any reaction is better than no reaction, right?
In the old days, when you had a monster, you gave him a manager to do his talking. Brock has Heyman. Brock NEEDS Heyman, as was immediately evident when he came back to the WWE. Reigns was perfect last night because he had one line and the projections of 20,000 people. But he also has three guys in the booth who rarely -- oh so rarely -- shut up. They can carry him as virtual spokesman.
Reigns shouldn't be asked to do five-minute promos. Not everyone can, and that's not a failing. Not everyone can be Jericho or Owens. We love Cesaro, and he hasn't given a memorable promo since announcing "I'M A PAUL HEYMAN GUY" on another RAW After Mania. If the WWE wants to create entertainers, they have to recognize that when some wrestlers talk, they cease to be entertaining.
Those booth guys did hush up when Balor hit the stage, and it was refreshing. Good Lord, is that guy slender. He belongs in the cruiserweight division, but he's too Main Event Handsome to stay in 205 Live. I liked his intensity last night; he didn't play to the crowd beyond the arm movement with the entrance theme.
The Lovely Mrs. Tracker misread the Titantron, so now that guy's name is Brain Snowman. She was dee-diddly-lighted to see Angle again, and he played his role as a goof to perfection. We also loved Cass's finger movements during Enzo's spiel to Angle. I can't wait for Cass's single push. Boots fuh youse, boots fuh youse.
I didn't know Dash Wilder was from nearby Asheville, and that explains a little why Edge likes him so much as he and Beth Phoenix live here too.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
I don't know what was funnier: The crowd paying hundreds of dollars to chant "Go Away" to the only 'heel' they truly care about, or the fact that they were chanting for Finn Balor, got him, and then proceeded to do the wave during his match.
I hope they don't screw this up, like putting him with The Autority. Reigns is perfect right now. AJ and The Miz aren't heels, they are just guys who say heelish things that fans love. No one wants to see them lose. I would pay good money to have Reigns be champion and knock off all of these guys, just to piss people off and have them complain, while they still buy tickets and watch.
Kevin Kelly: "Mr. Austin, would you like to comment on Wade Keller's Take that endorsing the XFL hurts your anti-authority character?"
Steve Austin: "Oh shit, he actually said that? I thought the boys in the back were ribbing me!"
Kelly: "No, he really said that. Did they tell you the part about you sitting in the stands, looking all skeptical?"
Austin: "AHAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeah... oh man that was too much."
I was looking forward to the show and actually did enjoy it. The crowd were entertaining for the most part and added something to the show. Reigns was brilliant in playing with the crowd, but there must be a fairly large bit of him that hates it. It's not often you have 10 minutes of great entertainment where 5 words are spoken.
Lesnar looked like he was enjoying himself so hopefully that will continue. Strowman seems to go from being big, brave and improved to walking away when a fight can be had. I see why they are doing it, but he has to start a fight at some stage.
Hardys seem to be enjoying their first 2 days in the company and nice to see Balor back, but struggling to see him in the title picture against Brock, Strowman, Reigns etc as he is so small compared to them. He has the moves and quality but think the average fan might not get it yet.
Kurt certainly had a sweat on but looked like he was really enjoying it. Hopefully the crowds stay like that with him. Vince looked pissed he was getting a reaction like that. Cesaro and Sheamus were enjoying it and glad they won. Wished a ball would have made it to the ring for Neville to burst.
Originally posted by lotjxIf you go by house show attendance. No one really buys tickets to see Roman.
(edited by lotjx on 4.4.17 1311)
I don't buy that necessarily. As far as I know, he moves the most merchandise in the company and he gets far and away the biggest reaction. I get your point, but the people who are reacting to him know he's going to be a huge part of the show and they still buy the tickets. It isn't a far leap to think that a lot of these guys look forward to being in that crowd and booing him, just to 'get themselves over' and to send some bizarre message to Vince.
Kevin Kelly: "Mr. Austin, would you like to comment on Wade Keller's Take that endorsing the XFL hurts your anti-authority character?"
Steve Austin: "Oh shit, he actually said that? I thought the boys in the back were ribbing me!"
Kelly: "No, he really said that. Did they tell you the part about you sitting in the stands, looking all skeptical?"
Austin: "AHAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeah... oh man that was too much."
I feel like too much of a debbie downer for this show. And to make up for it, I leave you with this:
Revival (n): 1. An improvement in the condition or strength of something. 2. An instance of something becoming popular, important, or relevant once again.
(edited by used2bcool on 4.4.17 2159) In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours!
Originally posted by lotjxIf you go by house show attendance. No one really buys tickets to see Roman.
(edited by lotjx on 4.4.17 1311)
I don't buy that necessarily. As far as I know, he moves the most merchandise in the company and he gets far and away the biggest reaction. I get your point, but the people who are reacting to him know he's going to be a huge part of the show and they still buy the tickets. It isn't a far leap to think that a lot of these guys look forward to being in that crowd and booing him, just to 'get themselves over' and to send some bizarre message to Vince.
Smackdown house shows with Cena do better than Raw. The amount of talent Raw has should always outsell Smackdown.
well i just think it's a load of crap that Kane is the huge monster he is, and has only won the title one time, for less than 24 hours. he beat Austin in 97, and lost it the next night on RAW.