I started the Payback Prediction Thread, so I might as well start the Raw thread while I'm here.
So Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins had an awesome match. The WWE Universe got it right voting for that match.
I'm really digging the A.J. Lee vs. Kaitlyn story. Combine that with the awesome Gail Kim vs. Taryn Terrell match at Slammiversary, and there are some positive developments in the women's divisions in both companies.
More Triple H drama with Vince and Stephanie. Curtis Axel was once again left to the role of bit player in one of the more bizarre opening segments in Raw history.
I'm not so hot on Ryback vs. Cena. Almost feels like there's not even an issue between the two any more...there's been little done to continue the story since the last PPV.
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Stephanie's acting in the first skit was so amazingly atrocious that I gave up on the show until I could zip thru it all on DVR. (Sin Cara/Cesaro was fun and Bryan/Rollins was good.)
This McMahon-Helmsley business is just so baffling it defies any sort of attempt at explanation. I mean, it's clear somebody thinks that this is the Big Story which will bring the female viewers they seem to think they need but....why aren't those people ever smacked in the head with the reality that they're just so, so incredibly wrong about their theories?
And just in case any women WERE interested in the Paul/Vince/Steph saga, wouldn't they be turned off by the "makin' Kaitlyn cry" climax of what felt like MONTHS of the "secret admirer" angle?
DISCLAIMER: I'm not a woman and should never try to guess what women in general are thinking....even if I think it's obvious. (Along the same lines, it'd be interesting to know how many within WWE Creative possess no Y chromosome-- well...barring Stephanie, of course.)
But golly, did this show get you excited for PAYBACK™ or WHAT?! Especially those dueling promos between Cena and Ryback - WOW! Snapped, crackled and popped, it did! Man, when Cena said SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP you KNEW it was RAW and REAL and that they DIDN'T PRACTICE THEIR SCRIPT AHEAD OF TIME
Bryan/Rollins at least had an ending, which I never got recapping Danielson/Black matches main eventing ROH on HDNet, so at least THAT part wasn't *completely* infuriating.
I'm sure I liked this show more than it seems. (It would be impossible for me to like it LESS than it seems!)
I was really hoping the Kaitlyn storyline would suddenly go from timewaster to awesome if Bray Wyatt revealed himself as her secret admirer.
Vince/Steph/HHH is like the poorest, poorest, poorest, poorest's man's version of Tywin, Cersei and Jamie Lannister.
(edited by Big Bad on 11.6.13 0250) "It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
Our DVR blew out for the first 1/2 hour, and I made judicious use of the FFWD through most of the show.
That HHH/Vince/Stephanie segment at the end was atrocious, except for one shining moment where Stephanie summoned her power to control the undead when she bellowed, "HEY!". That got the attention of the lovely Mrs. whatever, who requested two playbacks of the aforementioned bellow as she could not believe that sound came out from her. (I don't believe that's the 'women's appeal' they are looking for.)
That Kaitlyn payoff was amazing for several reasons. First, getting to see 'Big E: Soul Man' was fun. Second, the lovely Mrs. whatever totally called it when he dipped her and held the pose a little too long. But best of all was the AJ/Big E High-5 of DOOM. It was OUTSTANDING and earned my WWE Rewind of the Night(TM). Bonus points were for seeking out an animated gif of said moment, and finding out that Big E Langston has a custom My Little Pony instead.
Funny, Kane sounds just like me when my girls are arguing and not listening.
I like Damien Sandow's new finisher, it's less awkward than 'Terminus'. Sad that he didn't get a victory cartwheel.
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
Originally posted by CRZ I mean, it's clear somebody thinks that this is the Big Story which will bring the female viewers they seem to think they need but....why aren't those people ever smacked in the head with the reality that they're just so, so incredibly wrong about their theories?
As a female viewer, I was most brought in by the non-stop discussion of triple bacon cheeseburgers.
Bringing in female viewers shouldn't be this hard. You have many attractive men tussling about in their underpants. When it's fun matches like Sin Cara vs. Cesaro or crazy-awesome matches like Bryan vs. Rollins, all the better. I also feel confidant in saying that ladies like Big E's My Little Pony (youtube.com)
On an unrelated note, The Wyatt family seems like villains on next season of Justified, and this is not a bad thing.
As terrible as the opening segments were - and they were about as terrible as things can get on multiple levels, from acting to plotting to general respect for your audience - the mental image of crazy old Vince McMahon squirting his grandkids with a hose was so amazing that I'm still laughing thinking about it. Which was probably not the intent of the Helmsley/McMahon Acting Clinic segment backstage.
Originally posted by Toast JrAs a female viewer, I was most brought in by the non-stop discussion of triple bacon cheeseburgers.
That reminded me, WTF are they thinking putting one of those in front of King like that?!? That's just mean.
Also, bonus points to Jericho for the use of JBL's hat in his celebration.
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
The opening segment one upsmanship between Vince and Triple H was unexpectedly the most I've laughed during RAW in a while. Mostly, I popped for Hunter turning the match into a 60 minute Iron Man match. Frankly, I can't blame Vince for killing the Curtis Axel vs. Triple H match three times. It was all headlocks! Fuck, was it boring.
I also popped for Sexual Chocolate Big E. Langston (Nestl E. Langston?) and AJ as the secret admirers. For some reason, Stephanie bossing the P.A.s around backstage and then chuckling to herself also tickled me. It's fun to order P.A.s around!
Also, Curtis Axel needs to learn how to counter a headlock.
Last night was also the first time I didn't fast forward the Bray Wyatt promos:
I feel like the Wyatt family's lives are gonna be in Waylon Mercy's hands. (heh heh) Know what I mean?
(edited by John Orquiola on 11.6.13 0758) "Cody, I mustache you a question." - The Miz
The crowd reaction to Daniel Bryan is amazing. I'm glad this is happenning while Vince is in the building. I can't remember a time when a crowd was chanting another wrestler's catchphrase wile another wrestler's music was playing. (Other then a heel's music in a save situation...)
Jesus that Stephanie McMahon troll yell was devastating. I had headphones on when she broke three of the Seven Seals like she did.
I love Triple H trying to get a strong reaction from fans that never comes. This week he fails miserably at getting a "Hug it out" chant going with Vince. Didn't you hear earlier Hunter? This is Daniel Bryan country. By the by, Rollins v. Bryan was PPV quality, I loved every minute of them having another classic on free tv.
....but in all seriousness Stephanie's yell should be a finishing maneuver.
Originally posted by CruelAngel777I love Triple H trying to get a strong reaction from fans that never comes.
Exactly. It feels like this has been the motivation behind his last 3 or 4 angles in a row. I stopped caring about HHH years ago and I'm glad everyone else finally agrees with me.
Thankfully I was 'warned' by this thread about the HHH stuff before I got to watch it. So I was able to not take it serious but just laugh along with it.
Cesaro-Sin Cara was good. Too bad the commentators really didn't care.
Bryan-Rollins was amazing. From the kicks to the reversals, everything was great by both guys. Oh and did Bryan just do a 'chaos theory' rolling german suplex? Awesome. Just awesome.
Regardless on how we feel about the product, as long as WWE allows guys like this to bust out 5star matches like that one from time to time, they'll be just fine.
I'm pretty excited just because this will be the WWE goes full steam into the future. It sucks about Lesnar and Angle butthe lottery should be fun on Monday. Remember the last time they did a draft it pulled a huge rating for RAW.