Raw did everything right last night. That’s something that Smackdown just hasn’t learned to do lately. And even with one questionable segment which you can bet I will talk about Raw was just one fantastic show. Granted there were not many matches but two of the three were not only long but they were definitely matches well worth watching. And before I get into Raw let me just say I only missed two Armageddon picks, I missed Funaki and Big Show. I did read a lot of feedback from you and from other sites and the show sounded like what I expected bad. For those of you that emailed me liking it, I’m very happy you did. I just couldn’t see putting that money out for what the ppv was offering. And JBL’s win was no surprise but I really believe that show would have been the perfect time to crown a new champion. Okay enough of that let’s get on to Raw. And let me start off with the questionable segment that worked but didn’t. I’ll be going out of order but what the hell that’s nothing new for me.
Yes I’m talking about Hassan and Daivari interacting with Foley. I will say right off the bat that all three of these men were brilliant on the mic. Foley being the veteran that he is I expected but Daivari and especially Hassan did one great job. BUT, I do not like where this angle is going at all. I did not appreciate the soldiers that are there being put down by Hassan and this storyline is getting way too personal and way to volatile for this kind of show. I’m extremely unhappy that Vince feels the need to use such a tragedy to get some publicity. I’m thrilled for the troops that Mick and Smackdown will be performing for them. I just wish this whole thing with the angered Arab American never hit TV.
But that is the only segment that made me upset. Raw still had everything going for it. Even Gene Snitzky terrorizing Christy, Melina and Maria was okay. Sniztky is so weird looking that you can’t help being entertained by his words and actions. Lita coming out with the women’s belt warning Gene of Kane’s return was short enough that her mic work as bland as it was still was passable. So the husband is returning, this couple should be very interesting to watch once Kane returns.
We were treated to two excellent matches. The first was the opening match with Edge vs. Randy Orton. I knew this would be good I just didn’t realize how good. Edge and Randy work so well with each other and the near falls really made things so damn exciting. I want to say one thing, I am a big Randy Orton fan and in the ring I love him, but I am starting to feel the face things is dwindling. Randy is lacking something, he stills seems to have the fans with him and I’m with him but he’s definitely missing something. Maybe it’s because Batista now seems to have the focus on him. I can’t put my finger on the Randy situation but again his match with Edge was great. I was thrilled seeing Randy beat Edge. After all Edge wanted to prove to Eric Bischoff that he was made for that world title and a win against Orton would seal that. So a perfectly booked match.
Hunter and Batista vs. Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho was excellent. Again this match went on for a while and like last week all four did an amazing job. This match really seemed to have the Huntsville into it. And speaking of those fans, they did an awesome job they came to be heard and believe me they were. Okay back to the match. Batista got the win not hunter and watching a very surprised and shocked Triple H realizing that Batista won was definitely priceless. You couldn’t ask for a better match and an even better ending, meaning the puzzled look and stare on Hunter’s face after Dave won. Believe me it was GOLD! The only match that I didn’t care for was the main event with Eugene, William Regal and Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian, Tomko and Maven. This match was good but not what I would want to see as the closing match. I felt that this was a little rushed. It was decent don’t get me wrong. And by having Maven beat the IC champion Benjamin makes me wonder if Maven now will be pushed to feud with Shelton and go for that title at New Years Revolution. So these were the matches of the night. But out of the ring things were hot too.
Like the very beginning of the show when Eric Bischoff whom by the way looks so much like a young Burt Reynolds came out to make that announcement about the World title situation. Backstage Chris Benoit, Edge and Hunter all waited to hear who Eric was going to name champion. Only Hunter was a little impatient and started rushing Eric for an answer. Benoit then got in there and then Edge and a nice little brawl broke out with all three of them going at it. I liked having the show open like this because this was the beginning of making that title seem like nothing else on earth exists. It also pissed Bisch off so much that he put of his announcement until later. After all of this Ric Flair was doing his thing with his famous pep talk to Hunter. You know the one that Hunter is the best and so on and so on and he’ll get that title back. Hunter was already to pressure Eric but again it was the mild mannered Batista that told Hunter to just wrestle against Benoit and Jericho and dominate the match and Eric would see who the world champion is. Yeah Hunter liked that, and I’m thinking that Batista is going to give Hunter a chair shot like no other during that match as pay back for last week. During the show, Benoit pleaded his case to Eric why Eric should set up a triple threat rematch, and Edge of course came in telling Bisch the only thing to do was to hand him the title and it was Hunter the mad man that came in begging and almost crying while trying to reason with Eric why that belt needs to go back to him. You know it’s Hunter’s life. As Hunter was carrying on with tears I was waiting for him to walk out and have that smug grin on his face, but that didn’t happen. Raw did a super job building up that title all night. Edge, Benoit and Triple H all performed so well. This theme is what made the show so strong. You cared about what the decision was going to be. Before Eric made his announcement let me say I also enjoyed Trish being interviewed by Todd Grisham about her loss to Lita. She did one sweet job as a very bitter loser. And watching Eugene meet up with his hero Mick Foley was also a treat. We also know that Simon Dean is now a contract wrestler on Raw and not that there aren’t enough new diva’s but Eric was interviewing another one. Pretty soon the chicks will push out the wrestlers.
Seriously back to who would be the champion. The very low keyed Eric called out the three guys, and naturally Hunter was escorted by Batista and Flair. When Bisch questioned why they came out with him, Hunter had that cocky attitude back showing Eric that the emotional side from earlier had disappeared. Eric did what I think so many of us thought he would do he kept the title vacant until New Years Revolution January 9th. And it’s going to be Hunter vs. Jericho vs. Orton vs. Benoit vs. Edge and yes vs. Batista in the Elimination Chamber match. The crowd took to that well and I think this could be one reason to order the show. Of course another fight ensued between Edge, Hunter, Benoit and Batista. And that brought out Jericho and while Batista came to the aid of Hunter, Hunter left only to have Orton standing right behind him and Randy tossed Hunter right back in the ring for some more action. This show gets thumbs up from me all the way, and next week is the Best of Raw so we will have to wait for two weeks to see where things pick up with all of these guys, I know I am looking forward to that.
So with one excellent Raw can Smackdown come through? I won’t hold my breath but I’ll be watching along with Impact on Friday and I’ll be back to let you know what I thought of both shows.
Before I end after Raw went off, Randy and Hunter put on a 15 minute match for the crowd. And from what I have heard it was very good. I wish they would be consistent and do this at all their Raw shows or at least give the fans something before they go home. Okay I will be back on Friday.
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com
