Before I talk about Raw, I’m sure many of you have seen the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has caused in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. I’ve been glued to my TV today just watching the waters rise. It’s getting worse and worse. My thoughts and prayers are with all these people that are going through such a hell. I never thought anything like that would or could happen here.
I have received so much feedback, almost all favorable about last night’s Raw. The majority of you felt this was one kick ass show. See for me it was good it had its moments, but it also had some weak spots. It was a good show but not as good as last week’s. I will again give it to the Tampa fans; they seemed to be having a really good time last night. As I said so many of you loved it and it’s always nice to read so many positive thoughts from you. So I will start with a dynamite opening.
Carlito’s Cabana was a total treat for me. Shawn Michaels again proved why he’s one of wrestling’s best. As Carlito’s guest he just shined. He managed to get some more digs in on Hulk Hogan. And let me tell you right now, I was so glad and so relieved that Raw was not Hogan last night. I had enough of the Hulkster to last me a life time, believe me I mean that. But back to Shawn and Carlito. I liked the way these two guys interacted and it was a terrific way to get the show going. I was really into all of this until Chris Masters came out. Last night Masters proved one thing, he is not the MASTER. I’ll get into that later on. I wasn’t impressed or even interested in his appearance during this segment. It was Shawn and Carlito that had a good thing going. But once Masters came out I knew it would be only seconds before Ric Flair would come out and help Shawn, and that’s just what happened. Flair as a face is a nice change and his enthusiasm was fun to watch. So the Raw opening was one of the shows highlights. But I have more I really do.
I wonder why we couldn’t get a match with Shelton Benjamin last night. Maybe because we were treated to The Big Show beating two jobbers. As many of you know I’m cool with Big Show. I like him but he’s so out of shape that his sluggish moves are getting more obvious each time he’s on. I still feel he would make a good manager but to put him in a match at least like last night’s was a waste of time for me. I understand they are building a Gene Snitzy/Big Show feud, but this Big Show match did nothing for me. However it wasn’t that bad because I was still looking forward to the rest of the show. Did anyone notice last night that the new diva winner, Ashley had better mic skills than the veteran Torrie Wilson and the rookie Candice? In all fairness, I have found Candice’s mic skills to be tolerable, meaning she doesn’t take herself seriously and seems very relaxed on the mic. But put her right next to Torrie and it seems like Wilson’s poor mic skills are contagious. I want to believe that Torrie as a heel will be better for her and the fans, but after last night, I’m not sure she can handle being a face or a heel. Anyway, I will give it to Ashley she held her own on the mic. And the little scrimmage between Ashley and Victoria was nothing special but I’ll tell you this it’s setting up a Trish Stratus return. And I’ve been waiting for that since May.
Again, I found the vignette with the new redneck tag team of Murdoch and Cade funny. And I swear I’m usually so not into characters like this. I must really be getting soft in my old age. Is it me? Or did any of you find Edge taking in Altar Bridge’s song a little sickening? So let me just pass that up and go to Lita and Matt Hardy having a tender moment. Lita again borrowed one of my tops, seriously if I was built like she was I would wear one just like that. No I probably wouldn’t but anyway Lita was playing mind games with Matt and made a comment that she had spent a long time warming up Edge for their Street fight. And then she asked her ex how it felt for knowing that he will never experience that again. Matt just stared back and then Lita told him to go to hell. Matt had a great comeback. He said he would be going to hell but he was taking Edge with him. See I like this, remember when Matt used to just read his lines? Now he’s feeling them. At least I got that last night. So a cool segment with these two. And things only got better. Along with Edge these two gave us one fantastic Street Fight. This was what we should have seen at Summer Slam. Both of these men pulled out all the stops and worked their asses off. By far this was the match of the night and I really believe it gave Matt back some credibility something that Vince took from him as soon as he came back. I didn’t get into the wow turn off the electricity before something happens routine, I did like the fact that there was no winner and Edge sold his neck injury like no other. The tears and the concern on his face were perfect. And I was so glad that Eric showed concern and didn’t have an evil smile on his face. Watching the EMT’s check these guys out, listening to JR’s very serious commentary and watching Lita, Jerry The King Lawler and Eric just standing and looking was all very effective. I see this all coming to an end at Unforgiven and thank God last night this feud got back to being something to watch.
I’ve come to a conclusion. John Cena will need to turn heel for me to have any interest in him. I thought his “comedy” material stunk last night. One of my readers and I wish I remembered his first name calls Cena the Panderer. And he is so right. I’m tired of him being “pandering” to the crowd week after week. Cena was best as a thug heel and now he’s just a super nice guy and it’s just something I do not like. Kurt Angle was the same Kurt that he’s been for the last month which I do like. But the sooner Cena loses that belt the sooner I’ll be happy. I guess what I’m trying to say is this was not a segment that I truly enjoyed. But Kurt saved it from being a total wash out by threatening to get in the ring and then backing off and finally attacking from behind. I still feel this will work once it gets into the ring, let’s face with Angle in there it can’t miss.
So we have a new gimmick for Tyson Tomko. He injures his opponent and the match is stopped. Wow that’s exciting isn’t it? He did it to Rosey last night. He kicked him in the head and Rosey was knocked out. And then Hurricane Helms went after Tomko and got just what Rosey got. You know I could have sworn the super hero’s were the tag team champs, yet they seem to be more like two guys being fed to someone to try to boost his career. I don’t think that’s a smart move. I liked Tyson when he was Christian’s problem solver, he was supposed to be this big bad guy, yet so many times he came off kind of mild mannered. I’m not so sure the fans are ready for a Tomko push. This was my worst match of the night. Or maybe just the weird match of the night.
Okay so at the beginning of the show, after Masters and Carlito went after Shawn and then Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff put the Master-Lock hold segment with HBK off until next week. Gee I can’t tell you how sad that made me and Eric set up Flair and HBK vs. Carlito and Masters. But as the show went on, HBK was called immediately to check on Flair. Flair was unconscious and covered in blood. Ric’s lights were totally out. Now JR wanted us to think that it was Masters and/or Carlito that did that too him. But come on we all know this is the start of Triple H’s return. And when he returns in October he’s coming after Ric. So I think without a doubt Hunter attacked Flair and I would imagine Flair’s going to have a lot more things happen to him in the weeks to come. So Ric is at the “hospital” and it’s now a handicap match with Shawn vs. Masters and Carlito. It’s very seldom when Shawn Michaels is in a bad match but last night was one of them. This guy killed himself for about 20 minutes but it didn’t help. Do you want to know why? I’ll tell you why, because Chris Masters looked so out of place in that match. Hey I’m not saying Carlito was perfect but he at least his agile. Masters isn’t ready for this. I cannot believe that Vince found it so important to push this guy. If anything he should have pushed Shelton. He could have turned him heel and let him just do what he does best, WRESTLE. Granted Shelton’s mic skills are weak but the guy is amazing to watch wrestle. Masters not only looks bad in the ring but when he does mic work he comes off like an amateur, he’s not polished at all. I was very disappointed in the main event. And I think even more disappointed that Ric Flair fell to the Master Lock last night. Yes Ric returned with a bandaged head and blood all dried up on his clothes. He finally was able to take the pressure off Shawn, but unfortunately he fell victim to the Master Lock.
As much as this match disappointed me I still liked the show for the most part. I really did. I think Shawn Michaels is carrying Raw and is doing a hell of good job. So it’s on to Smackdown and it’s the last Smackdown on Thursday nights. I would think they would want their move to Friday to be a big one so they will really give us a hot show this week. Okay if you get a chance there’s a very nice interview with Tony Norris (Ahmed Johnson). I enjoyed reading this and I think you will too. Here’s the link http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/07/03/1115819.html, and I will be back on Friday with my Smackdown thoughts.
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com
