Would love to do a full re-cap, but I was at a ballgame tonight and accidentally taped USA instead of Sci-Fi. When I went back to watch the tape, I saw RAW re-running on USA, and realized my mistake. So I picked it up close to the end of the first hour, with Carlito's Cabana. From various recaps:
-The show opened with Orton coming out, and Cena interrupting. Regal then came out and made Cena/Booker for tonight.
-Jeff Hardy beat Mr. Kennedy by DQ when Umaga interfered. Looks like they're picking that storyline back up and dropping the 'tweener role for Umaga.
I thought the Cabana was alright, until Triple H showed back up. He seemed refreshed on the mic, but man, we're going back to the fifth grade material again. I was hoping he left that behind with his injury. At least Vince's "I hate you" and "I wish you never came back" responses were funny.
The six-man tag match was fine, but pairing Daivari with TWGTT was odd. I guess it was just so they could get to the post-match happenings with Cryme Tyme. I don't know what's making CT the face in this feud.
At least they're building up someone in the women's division as a challenger to Candice. And it doesn't hurt that she has a wrestling background.
I love the Vince/Coach/Regal chemistry.
The main event was fine, and Orton stopping short on Cena was something new. But man, a BRUTAL shot that Cena's dad took. Really horrifying looking.
I really liked Orton punting Mr. Cena in the head, it's the kind of thing that can really add some emotion to a feud that's consisted of "I WANT THE BELT" vs. "I AM FIGHTING CHAMPION!"
Is Booker getting heat for bringing TNA guys into his training school/promotion?
Why are Umanga and Kennedy on the same page one night later?
Lord, that Cabana segment dragged.. I still say Trips will end up being the fifth McMahon.
I hate the Crime Tyme gimmick.
Anyone who didn't see Orton attacking during the main event, didn't know Matt was bringing out Stone Cold last night.
Where was Santino while Maria was getting killed?
Oh goody, four times the McMania next week...
King Booker... 14-time tag team champion, five time, five time, five time, five time, five time WCW champion, (WWE) World Heavyweight Champion, King of the Ring, Champion of Champions... McGuffin in our Raw main event. Grrr.
Mr. Cena made the Orton punt look devastating, unfortunately it appeared he did it by moving when he shouldn't have. Hope he's okay.
Terrible show. And less than three weeks to set up the next PPV.
In no way would I call this a terrible show. The whole angle with Orton and Cena and Cena's dad was perfect to me. I remember them announcing that the father was there and my first thought was that of course they would have someone attack him. But the WWE did a smart thing and didn't really mention the dad at all for the rest of the night.
Orton has to be commended as well because he slid out of the ring so fast at the end and in one fluid motion brought over the dad. I had actually forgotten all about the dad, and as noted the kick was sheer brutal beauty.
You add this to another good/great Kennedy-Hardy match and the smooth flow of the fun six man into the Cryme Tyme/Daivari/CADENMURDOCH angle, and you have a Raw that I thought was pretty damn great.
Only big negative...yep THAT segment. I don't fault Trips at all by the way; the material let him down.
"Put on your helmets, we'll be reaching speeds of 3!" "It was nice of you to give that dead woman another chance." "All right, look alive everybody...oh sorry Susan."- MST3K: Space Mutiny Click Here (myspace.com)
Mr Kennedy vs Jeff Hardy Hardy looked really good tonight. Umaga coming out and turning heel against Hardy worked over real well. Well done match.
Carito's Cabana - it was way toooo long and HHH seems not to be as sharp with his mic skills. I don't know if we need another wrestler vs McMahon angle.
Six man tag team - great match, just a bit too short. Daviri surprised me with his ring skills on this one.
Cryme Time - They really are good at the getting the crowd involved. A few months ago, they were relegated to dark matches and Heat.
Women's match - what a squash. Phoenix is the only pure women's wrestler on Raw. Perhaps a handicap match to push Phoenix along.
Booker vs Cena - Cena has really turned into a good wrestler and sells moves really well. Orton also sold enough as a legit challenger after losing at Summerslam. The question is, what do they do with Booker?
Good show overall with better wrestling than Summerslam.
I got to watch most of RAW. Like there going back to Jeff/Umaga. I guess Jeff wasn't to far off the wagon to come back to into a program that went on hold.
Originally posted by shawnpatrickCryme Time - They really are good at the getting the crowd involved. A few months ago, they were relegated to dark matches and Heat.
Finally, something that makes perfect sense, I too like Cryme Tyme. They seem to get better reactions in bigger cities though.
Originally posted by geemoneyI don't know what's making CT the face in this feud.
That's why I also have to defend the other point of who the crowd will choose night to night if there going to be in a program with Cade and Murdoch. Some Mondays you'll probably here more response for Cade and Murdoch than Cryme Tyme then vice versa the equation.
At the root of it you have the Country/Redneck type vs Urban/Street type.
Almost goes back to WCW but I think WWE will pull all off OK with what they have.
"World, Canadian, Celtic, Fusion all pulled off as there own."
Triple H is noticeably thinner in the face and seems slimmer in the arms and torso. Last night was refreshing as there was none of the previous behavior or catchphrases that made him drab. A rebooted Triple H could make for interesting viewing.
Maria is indisputably the best-looking diva, and I applaud the gradual shrinkage of her wrestling outfits. Phoenix looked daunting.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Not only was Orton's kick really sick-looking, but (when he actually pulled Cena's dad over the guard-rail) it damn-near looked like the old man landed right on his head ... Maybe it was just the camera angle, but I was shocked (and relieved) that he didn't snap his neck right there.
Two other (non-important) things that stuck out in my head after RAW:
1) Shelton Benjamin's new 'do ... I can't tell if he looks more like Koko B. Ware, Sisqo (had to look up The Thong Song on Wikipedia to remember his name), or Cartlon from that one episode of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" where he dressed as Macauley Culkin for Halloween.
2) Not sure if anyone caught the commercial for the DVD release of "The Condemned", but it amused me greatly that they actually used a quote from my my local paper as one of the taglines to try and convince the viewer that this movie was actually worth seeing ... It's really scraping the bottom of the barrel when you have to dig that deep to find a reviewer who actually had something positive to say (and here's the review the quote came from if anyone's interested ... "pushes all the right buttons" my ass).
So is there any booking logic at all to Booker not being pissed that he lost his opportunity to win the title because of Orton? It isn't like he was even hit with an FU or trapped in the middle of the ring in the STFU. This is the kind of lazy booking that really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Everything in that match, before and after, was perfectly good WWE fare, but Booker just being hunky-dory after being screwed out of the title is a bit crap.
Would have liked to have seen more of the six-man match, as all those guys deserve some time to shine (though is there any more generic of a finisher than a cross-body? Do all "blue-chippers" start out using that and the DDT?).
The skit was god-awful, though I was expecting a midget, so it could have been worse. Kennedy as the heir to the throne could be fun, though.
All in all, not too bad of a Raw for my first in a year, but RoH still smokes the current product.
Originally posted by AlessandroTwo other (non-important) things that stuck out in my head after RAW:
1) Shelton Benjamin's new 'do ... I can't tell if he looks more like Koko B. Ware, Sisqo (had to look up The Thong Song on Wikipedia to remember his name), or Cartlon from that one episode of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" where he dressed as Macauley Culkin for Halloween.
At first sight, I got a "The Natural" Butch Reed vibe from Shelton's new doo. Since you bring it up, I'll second the Sisqo resemblance.
-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year --
"Let me see if I can get inside his mouth." -- Michal Wilbon on PTI August 28, 2007
Originally posted by astrobstrdSo is there any booking logic at all to Booker not being pissed that he lost his opportunity to win the title because of Orton?
Um........when the hell did ANYONE say Booker/Cena was a title match?
I was envisioning some sort of "Mr. Cena costs John the title at Unforgiven, causing Randy Orton to come out the next night on Raw and say 'AND THE AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR GOES TO JOHN CENA'S DAD' who gives a speech about how he never loved his son" scenario, which I guarantee would happen if Russo were booking this.
Originally posted by AlexI was envisioning some sort of "Mr. Cena costs John the title at Unforgiven, causing Randy Orton to come out the next night on Raw and say 'AND THE AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR GOES TO JOHN CENA'S DAD' who gives a speech about how he never loved his son" scenario, which I guarantee would happen if Russo were booking this.
I suppose that can be a possibility too. I was taking the high road in thinking that Cena can lose the belt doing something that would elevate him into that "one giant step into immortality" kinda like Hogan at WM6. Why not? Cena has been running with the belt forever, might as well do that while he is champ.
Originally posted by mskj> It seems like every tag team in WWE gets little to no response when actually wrestling. It drags the show down.
OK show.
Seriously. I was watching London & Kendrick vs. WGTT a few weeks ago and the crowd was absolutley DEAD. I forget where it was but they put on a great show and the crowd was silent. It's like watching a sitcom without a studio audience or laugh track; it really takes away.
Hell has frozen over. I know there are quite a few people here who like to go get their karaoke on, and now there's a new one made especially for the wrestling fan. I would highly suggest anyone doing this song to rip off their shirt during the chorus.