I think we are two for two, after a terrific pay per view on Sunday we got one very entertaining Raw last night. I really liked the show, maybe it’s because Summer Slam is over and it seems like so many things are changing for the better. The show also gave us a very hot Hampton, Virginia crowd. We also had two great back to back live crowds and for me that always makes the shows that much better. So let me get to right to the opening and what an opening it was. This time I’ll hit you with all the positives and then just leave you with what I didn’t care for. So let me start with Shawn Michaels.
I will admit that when Shawn Michaels came out I figured he was back as HBK the face. However his little promo about Hulk Hogan was all heel and I loved it. I think Shawn made it perfectly clear last night that even though he jobbed to Hogan on Sunday, he was going to make sure that he got the last word, and that’s just what Shawn did. I believe Shawn was shooting all the way, and like his DX days Shawn’s delivery was FANTASTIC. I could have heard more from Shawn on this subject but one of my favorites (trust me, I’m being sarcastic) Chris Masters came out to stop the promo. So we now have Masters face to face with Shawn. Again Shawn showed a lot of great facial expressions when Masters was trying to be insulting to Shawn. Now this may shock you, but I’m okay with this. While I would prefer Shawn to have someone again like Kurt Angle or Ric Flair to feud with, I can take this. I really can. They have a match next Monday and I’m okay with it. However, I’m not so sure that I want this to go past next week’s show and into Unforgiven. Let me take this week by week and see what happens. But with Shawn in here I feel I can sit back and just enjoy what happens.
I don’t know how about you, but Shelton Benjamin vs. Kurt Angle’s match was my match of the night. I know this might sound weird, but honestly when Kurt came out to the ring I thought that it would be Shelton that would face him. You have no idea how glad I was that this match happened. It’s nice to have this type of match on Raw, like the good old days. Shelton Benjamin seemed to have gotten lost in the shuffle, but thank God last night he was found and he showed why Raw needs him and he deserves to be a regular each week. Kurt was the same intense maniac that he was at Summer Slam against Eugene. Kurt is all business now and it seems to be clicking very well with Kurt in and out of the ring. So this was my match of the night and yeah it could have been a match at Summer Slam and it would have gotten rave reviews I’m sure.
Okay, okay I know I complained about the Matt Hardy situation on Sunday, meaning that Matt totally got screwed by losing to Edge due to losing a lot of blood. So last night he is out there against Rob Conway. Not Kurt Angle or HBK or Chris Jericho, but Rob Conway. Now the match was okay, it was a good match. And while the match was taking place a very cocky Edge and his lovely Lita came out to do commentary. After Matt’s loss, yes he did lose to Conway, which I’m sure most of us saw coming, Edge ran in and brutally attacked Hardy again. The most painful part was when Edge pinned Matt’s head between the ring and then Edge kicked the ring-steps into his head. That was all Matt needed to put him out again. Now granted it’s two nights in a row with Matt being made to look like a nothing. And I’m sure many of us are asking ourselves why in the hell did Matt even agree to comeback. So I’m kind of thinking that this feud is far from over. So here’s my take, while I agree that Matt is going nowhere, I see a rematch taking place and Matt finally defeating Edge at Unforgiven. That will be the show where Matt is made to look like something, at least that’s what I’m hoping for.
I loved Ric Flair and Carlito last night. I thought this was one of CCC’s best and funniest segments. I always say I like Carlito’s facial expressions with his guest, and last night was no exception. While Ric Flair whom by the way did a tremendous job did his Woo’s and catch phrases, there was Carlito just looking at this man like he was some kind of a freak. So we have Ric has the face, and the fans are eating this guy up. Was it me or was this the best shot ever of the apple spitting in someone’s face? Yeah this guy targeted Flair’s face so well that Ric was covered in the stuff. I enjoyed watching Flair go after Carlito and once Carlito escaped the ring, Ric started to strut and he ended things with an elbow drop on his suit coat. This was typical Ric and just a fun segment. And just think how great it would be for Carlito to work with Ric, talk about working with a legend. I’m all excited about this one.
I normally don’t take well to new talent. But I did laugh when I saw the ad with Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch. I have read that at house shows these two have done a good job as one of WWE’s newest tag teams. You have the latest edition of the Dukes of Hazzard’s with these two. Why they are going to make someone squeal like a pig. Oh yeah this could be fun. Now let me get right to the main event. It was Chris Jericho vs. John Cena in a You’re Fired match, and it again was excellent. The only thing that killed it for me was Eric Bischoff hanging around like he has almost each week since he got involved with Jericho. But other than that Jericho and Cena did a super job and with Jericho losing and Bischoff turning on him, it was Chris that got the AXE. Now of course Jericho is taking some very well deserved time off and that’s the reason for the firing. I’m reading some reports that he might not return until 2006, however right now I don’t think anyone knows when he’ll be back. I for one will miss this man so much. He brings so much to the shows each week and I will be lost without him. Now once Jericho was fired and Cena watched Chris being carried out, it was Kurt Angle that took Cena by surprise and attacked him. Now I’m all for this, because I’m looking forward to these two going at it. But again Eric Bischoff was right there with Angle and let me just say this. I hope to God that Eric doesn’t become part of this feud. Kurt certainly doesn’t need him, but then again either did Jericho. That’s the only thing that somewhat concerns me. But as I said an excellent main event. And a very very good Raw.
No w let me leave you with what didn’t do it for me. First, I for some reason did not watch the Big Show vs. Snitzky match. And I was right here, so I guess I just wasn’t paying attention. I could have done without the Snitzky foot fetish segment with Maria, but remember when I used to call Maria an Airhead? Well she has played that role so well, that I feel I owe her an apology, she’s more than an Air Head, she a lot of fun to watch, so Maria forgive me. As I said I couldn’t take the Bischoff/Jericho alliance last night. The backstage segment with Eric smiling that smile and plotting against Cena really bugged me. And Eric starting up with Cena when John had the hood on and then Cena didn’t hear him because he had earphones on again was too much Eric throwing his weight around. We now have a trade; Stacy and Christy were traded to Smackdown for Torrie and Candice. Now that Torrie is a heel I think that this might suit her better than that old stale face character she played. Candice I like so I have no complaints about that, but I thought the trading deadline died, if not, then maybe they should have traded some other top wrestlers to each show. But hey that’s just me. Finally what I did not like was the racist and totally unentertaining promo by Kerwin White. I didn’t think this character would work, but so many times Kerwin has been humorous and clever. But leave it to Vince and that miserable writing staff of his to start the race issue again. Sure now that Hassan is done, Vince needs to come up with something to make the fans talk, and I guess it’s working because I’m talking about what I heard last night.
I welcome a Benjamin vs. White feud in the ring because I think we will get some hot wrestling, but please don’t insult me by starting the Shelton isn’t white thing. It’s been done so many times by Vince that it just gets so stale and so dated. This will slowly take away any momentum that Kerwin see I even call him Kerwin has. I see this race crap killing any fun that this character might have shown us.
So there you have it, two great nights of TV now can Smackdown make it three great nights? I can only hope. I’m reading there are some big new feuds coming up so I’m very anxious to see what is in store for all of us. I’ll be back on Friday with my Smackdown thoughts. Okay I come to you again. A reader of mine has a request; if anyone can help him his email address is here so you can get back to him. In advance thank you for your help and for all the help in the past that you have given some of my readers. I wanted to know if you could ask your readers if they know where I could get The Rock’s “Team Bring It” shirt he wore during the alliance days. It’d be very helpful and would mean a lot, since I’ve been looking for a long time. HCLcactusjack5@aol.com
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com
