Source: Todd Martin, WrestlingObserver.com
WWE Raw Report
By: Todd Martin
Email: MartinT2007@lawnet.ucla.edu
Date: 02/14/05 from Cincinnati, OH.
The Big News: “JBL” attempted to run over Batista, but the valiant HHH
pushed Batista out of the way. Batista is coming to Smackdown to even the
score. Of course, this is a master plan by HHH, who stole the idea from
Homer Simpson on the episode where Homer goes back to college. Thus far the
plot has worked better for Hunter than Homer.
Title Changes/Turns: None.
Match Results: Muhammad Hassan b Chris Jericho; Shelton Benjamin b Gene
Snitsky-DQ; Yoshihiro Tajiri & William Regal b La Resistance; Randy Orton b
Christian; Kane b Simon Dean; Edge b Dave Batista-DQ.
Show Analysis:
As referenced last week, you can get my thoughts on a number of subjects
here:
http://www.armpitwrestling.com/PickMyBrainToddMartin2.htm
If you aren’t watching the Ultimate Fighter yet, why not? I want to see
Leben vs. Koscheck, and I want to see it now, now, now, now, now, now, now.
The show started with the Highlight Reel with Candice Michelle. The
announcers raved about her, and she was dressed up like a big deal. The
crowd was of course completely silent. It’s a f***ing commercial. You are
not a celebrity because you appeared in a commercial. It doesn’t get any
lower than glorifying commercials. Count me as a dissent in this idea that
WWE should “capitalize” on her fame. She isn’t famous. She isn’t talented.
She won’t draw any money. What exactly is there to be “capitalized” on?
They actually showed the commercial, which wasn’t even funny. She threatened
to pull off her top and made fun of the “uproar” over her commercial. The
idea that there was an uproar is news to me. Muhammad Hassan came out, and
talked about American hypocrisy in praising a woman for disgracing herself
on national television. Who was praising her? He talked about the dumbing
down of America, which couldn’t be any truer when we are basing segments
around advertisements. He called Jericho the poster child of stupidity. I
can think of better representatives. Hassan said the segment was female
exploitation and threatened Jericho. Jericho responded by saying Daivari
doesn’t have a penis and suggesting Hassan and Daivari are gay. Ho ho, what
a clever guy that Jericho is. Seriously, Hassan was a complete baby face in
this segment.
This led into a match where Muhammad Hassan pinned Chris Jericho. Ross said
Hassan doesn’t represent any Arab-Americans he has met, and I’m sure he has
met just tons. Daivari distracted the referee and Hassan hit the downward
spiral for the pin. One nice thing about the Hassan character is that for
the first time in a while, there seems to be genuine heat on a heel rising
up the card. This was an important win for Hassan if they are determined to
push him to the top.
HHH told Flair that JBL was coming to the show to confront Batista. HHH has
a new beard that makes him look like Ole Anderson. They announced Roddy
Piper will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, which is a much
needed addition to the ceremony. That could potentially be a very
interesting induction speech. I wonder what the odds are on his speech
making it to the DVD in its complete form.
Backstage, Orton and Keibler made plans for Valentine’s Day. I don’t know if
I would present Orton as romantically attached on television given his
strong female fan base. Flair found Batista and told him JBL was coming to
the building. Batista was unconcerned, and getting ready for his match. He
told Flair that if JBL does show up, that HHH should stay out of it so he
can deal with JBL himself. They are spending a bit too much time on
Batista-JBL given that is not the ultimate destination and they are risking
getting fans genuinely interested in that match.
Shelton Benjamin retained the Intercontinental Title, defeating Gene Snitsky
by disqualification. JR suggested Snitsky will never be in the Hall of Fame.
I think that is a safe bet. Lawler, on the other hand was busy making jokes
about Benjamin being a criminal. Funny how he reserves those jokes for a
select group of wrestlers. I have this feeling they have something in
common, but I can’t put my finger on it. Benjamin hit a clothesline off the
top. Snitsky went for the pump handle slam, but Benjamin got out. Snitsky
was then able to immediately hit the big boot. Snitsky got into an argument
with the referee over the count, and then grabbed a chair and clocked
Benjamin for the DQ. This was a pointless waste of time with an awful
finish. Benjamin did a good job selling the blow, however.
Tajiri and William Regal beat La Resistance. The crowd was dead for this.
Lawler identified Resistance as being from France, so apparently he hasn’t
been paying very close attention to Raw the past few months. I wonder if he
could point out Quebec on a map. Tajiri made the hot tag to Regal, who hit a
high knee for the pin. The pin was so abrupt that it made it seem it wasn’t
even the planned finish, but it did look good.
Randy Orton beat Christian. Orton got a shockingly strong reaction given the
crowd had been pretty dead up to this point. Ross said Orton has a clean
bill of health and is at 100 percent, which is interesting given they have
done two concussion angles in the past month. Christian is a tough sell as a
threat to Orton given he is much shorter and has been buried for so long.
They did a good job here, though.
Tomko threw Orton into the steps on the outside, and got himself ejected.
Christian at one point must have got potatoed, because he had a huge lump on
the side of his head. Christian worked over Orton, but Orton came back with
a power slam and cross body off the top for near falls. Ross got in a Ricky
Steamboat reference. Christian distracted the referee, and Tomko came in
with the big boot. Christian went for the pin, but Orton kicked out.
Christian became very frustrated, and Orton hit a neck breaker on him. They
then did the WWE finish for an Orton win. (Wrestler A goes for his One and
Only Finisher, Wrestler B gets out and goes for his One and Only Finisher,
but Wrestler A reverses and hits his One and Only Finisher for the pin) This
was a very good match, but I am so sick of that finish.
Edge complained to Bischoff about Batista, and suggested he get the title
shot against HHH if Batista leaves for Smackdown. This set up a nice
potential angle for a Batista-Edge feud after Mania, but the way they buried
Edge in the main event won’t help that cause. It’s too bad, because Batista
has no opponents. That is probably not so accidental.
Trish Stratus said the divas of Raw are trying to steal her spotlight. She
did a good job here as the angry and insecure heel. She called out Christy
Hemme. Trish called Christy a slut for posing naked in Playboy. That
announcement got a tepid reaction from the crowd, which was telling. Christy
may be good looking, but she is utterly unattractive. Christy said she is
proud to be posing for Playboy, which again got no reaction. Christy told
Trish that posing for Playboy doesn’t make you a slut, sleeping with half
the locker room does. Trish then slapped her hard, which was a real
highlight of the night.
Kane beat Simon Dean. Dean vowed to continue to produce the Simon System if
Kane were to end his career. Kane whipped Simon with his belt and did
push-ups, which was amusing. He won with the choke slam. Shawn Michaels was
interviewed backstage about Kurt Angle. He said Angle should focus on No Way
Out, which seems to indicate to me he will be interfering.
Batista told HHH that he would take care of JBL himself. HHH said JBL was
spitting in the face of Evolution, but Batista insisted the issue was
specifically with him. Next week Batista will sign the contract for
WrestleMania on Raw, so that is the time for the big angle. Edge beat
Batista by DQ. Batista got a big reaction, and this was a shockingly short
squash. Batista hit the spine buster and sit down power bomb, when the Titan
Tron showed the JBL limousine arriving. HHH shoved the referee and Evolution
left to greet JBL. HHH was talking trash, but Batista got angry and told HHH
to stay out. The JBL car attempted to run over Batista in the parking lot
but HHH shoved Batista out of the way, saving him. Of course, JBL wasn’t in
the car and it was a set-up.
