Raw was no Smackdown, but then again how could it be when Smackdown is Vince McMahon free. And that just might make Smackdown the show to watch again. As you can tell there was much too much of Vince last night, there were some weak segments but two super matches that helped make Raw a decent show, not a great show but a decent show.
I’m going to start with all the highlights. First I’m going to talk first about someone that blew me away last night. That would have to be Ric Flair. Now maybe you all knew what Ric had in store for us in the TLC match, but as you know on Sunday I figured that the match would never take off. Again I am looking like a total fool. Ric Flair performed brilliantly along with Edge in this must see main event. I’m just sorry I didn’t tape it. I never in a million years thought I would see Flair take such extreme bumps. Hell I didn’t even think he would go through with the match. Edge was just as awesome as Flair and the bumps and moves that these guys gave us were magnificent. It hit me a few times that here’s poor Edge just coming off an injury and risking it all just to give the fans something to go nuts about. This was my match of the night, and I’ll go even further by saying so far the match of the year.
Another hell of a match was Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels. This match was a given, I knew it would be off the charts. Let me say this. I was thrilled by the way Kurt Angle’s character behaved last night. He wasn’t his usual psycho self which made me appreciate him more. Naturally in the ring Kurt and Shawn were outstanding. And watching Daivari and Kurt finally turn on each other pleased me more than you will know. Now I would have thought that Shawn was going to win no matter what, but when good old Vince McMahon announced should Shawn lose he’s out, I just knew that HBK was taking this one. This match rates right up there with the main event. All I know is that every time Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle took each other on they gave the fans some of the best matches that Raw and Wrestlemania could offer. This was a great way to send Kurt Angle to Smackdown. He might have lost but now he can focus on the man that cost him that loss, Daivari.
Mama Benjamin has won me over. I think this character is just so entertaining. She has an angelic face, but she’s no angel. She’s one tough cookie, yet most of the time she comes off with humor. I think this is all just working out so well especially for Shelton Benjamin because he’s been consistently on Raw and he also has a nice little win streak going on. I’m really looking forward to a lot more with these two. The Trish/Mickie James storyline became even more interesting last night. You could just see the jealousy Mickie has for Ashley. While the match between Trish/Mickie and Ashley vs. Victoria/Candice and Terrie was nothing, it was the Mickie and Trish build up that was what was important here. I’m now seeing a spoiled brat side of Mickie and I would imagine if things don’t come to a head next week on Raw, then the Royal Rumble will be where we finally see Mickie and Trish really go at it. Let’s hear it for Candice. I liked her Go Daddy commercial, and I just like Candice because she doesn’t seem to take herself seriously, and with her looks that’s what impresses me about her. She’s just having fun out there.
I have to say that Edge was excellent last night. Even with all my complaining about his credibility being ruined from that sex segment last week, Edge turned things around and came off very strong as Raw’s top heel. He’s a pro on the mic and he just shined as the WWE champion. And his opponent for the Royal Rumble, John Cena was used perfectly last night. While I had to turn my head with his entrance, I just can’t stand his over eagerness to please the crowd the rest of his appearance worked well. I was thrilled that it wasn’t Cena that broke the Master lock, even though he gave it his all. I was even more thrilled that he didn’t talk last night that appealed to me more than you can imagine. And it was a no brainier that Cena would save Flair from Edge during the main event. The majority of the crowd seemed totally into this man, so I’m guessing that this chasing the title is a lot more appealing then having him carrying it. Everything that I’ve just mentioned helped make Raw worth watching.
Ah but let’s see what stunk about Raw. And the first thing that comes to mind is Vince McMahon. This was another show where Vince just couldn’t get enough of Vince. Hey has anyone noticed that the whole GM thing is like dead? Well I’m thinking Vince took over since he’s on ALL THE TIME. Also do you all remember when Vince, Stephanie, Shane and Linda were all united as of October? Yet Casanova McMahon is still flirting and this time he had high hopes for having some “fun” with Candice. I didn’t laugh as he pulled his pants down since he’s done this little skit too many times for me. But then again how could any of us forget that Vince is a ladies man, he sure won’t let us forget that. Anyway Vince McMahon was all over the show and that was a total turn off for me.
I talked about John Cena not using the mic last night; well I would have preferred hearing him talk instead of Chris Masters. This guy is so bad on the mic. Just when I started to see a positive side of him in the ring, I’m now seeing the negative side of him again; when he talks it is torture. Masters only comes off good when he wrestles, doesn’t do mic work and doesn’t hype up the Master-lock. As soon as all of that happens he comes off looking like a total amateur. And I don’t say this to be a bitch but if Lita is going to be used as the Raw slut it’s time for her to go. Either get her back as a wrestler or dump her. As good as Edge was during the opening segment that’s how bad Lita looked out there. She seems so out of place playing a skink and I think it’s now time to break this couple up and as I said get Lita back in the ring.
Have I mentioned that the Shawn Michael’s look when Vince McMahon is ordering him around is so not Shawn and I can’t stand it? Oh yeah I think I have. As far as I’m concerned this feud is a dud. Shawn HAS to be cocky and humorous to make us care about this feud. Keeping him quiet and just having him take in the verbal abuse from Vince just isn’t working. It’s ashame that the creative staff doesn’t see it that way. I really don’t have much to say about Big Show and Hunter. I thought their feud ended at New Years Revolution, but last night all of a sudden Hunter interferes in Show’s match against Shelton Benjamin. This and Kane coming out to throw Carlito over the ropes just seemed so ridiculous. And finally the reason for Kurt leaving Raw for Smackdown was rather lame. Now granted usually when a contract is running out negotiations start way in advance. So when Kurt said he was about to renegotiate with Eric Bischoff I guess that would makes sense. But since Bisch has been gone for over a month I think they could have come up with something like I was going to talk to Vince about my Raw contract but…. Now I know I’m knit-picking here but it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
Okay so there were certainly highlights last night but honestly I’m ready for Smackdown. I read the spoilers on Sunday and I’ll tell you the show sounds pretty damn good. I really hope it comes off well on TV. I want to end with a rumor that I read about and one that I heard about on a hotline report. First and this one I find really hard to believe, but Matt Hardy is so angry that Edge is the champion that he wants to be fired. So he’s not following the dress code, coming in late you know just doing anything it takes to get released. As I said I would not be surprised if Matt was pissed but this rumor definitely has me wondering how true it is. The second rumor is, that Vince and JR have been talking and that if things go well JR will be brought in as GM of Raw. Again it’s a rumor and who knows how true it is. And finally I was asked by a reader why I haven’t mentioned TNA. As I told him I can’t watch Impact when guys like Chris Sabin, AJ Styles and the others from the X Division are given very little on air time, but guys like Jeff Jarrett, Kip James, Road Dogg, Konan, Ron Killings and a few others are all over the place. I don’t like them, I’m not entertained by them and I can’t sit and watch them. When TNA wises up and gives their young talent more to do believe me I will definitely take the time to watch their shows.
