Right off the bat let me say that Vince having Matt Striker make that disgusting comment about the death of Steve Irwin angered me yet did not surprise me. To be honest with you I expected Jerrry the King Lawler to be the first one to pop with some tasteless remarks, but that was saved for Matt Striker. And by the way no way do I put the blame on him. Now let me give you my thoughts on and last night’s ECW, Monday’s Raw.
For someone who was so put out by the new ECW product I have really gotten into the shows and I look forward to watching the shows each week. I didn’t think last night’s show was that hot, but the opening match with RVD and Sabu vs. Mike Knox and Test was a good opener. Granted for awhile the match moved in slow motion but Sabu and RVD towards the end got things going in a big way. And Knox and Test took some pretty hard hit shots when all of this happened. This was without a doubt the best match of the night. Steven Richards vs. Ball Mahoney was okay but I think the camera was more focused on those crazy kids Ariel and Kevin Thorn. The lap dance that Ariel gave Joey Styles was hilarious. I liked how Styles and Tazz reacted to it. I can’t tell you how much having Tazz and Styles together has really been such a positive for the show.
DX vs. Big Show was a typical WWE match. I liked it but I didn’t love it. I was very glad about a few things. One that DX came out as serious and focused as you would expect them too. And even though I’m the first to expect their humor on a regular basis, the way that they made their entrance last night was the way it should have been. I was so happy that Paul Heyman came out and sat at ringside. I enjoyed his LOUD voice about no one can beat the Big Show not even two guys, that is the Heyman that I enjoy, loud and arrogant. I expected interference from the Heyman group, so this pretty much played out as I thought it would. But again it was a decent match and it just continues to set up Show with The McMahon’s against DX.
I’ll tell you who freaked me out. That was Shannon Moore. When he opened his mouth about bringing sexy back he sounded like a little girl, a little girl on something. I think they need to get this guy into the ring and stop the vignettes. I was also disappointed that CM Punk didn’t have a match but it was nice to see him almost make Moore cry when he slapped him. Punk is one guy that I am still very big on. Anyway not a bad show last night but I have seen better. So let me get right to Raw.
Edge again did a great job on the mic. And again I say it’s because he didn’t have Lita hanging on him to take away from what he had to say as far as John Cena goes. Every time she’s not out there with him, he comes off like a super heel and one that I really like listening too. He sold the tables, chairs, ladder match very well not only by talking about it but by showing a video on the matches he’s taken part in. I thought it was great when we didn’t see Cena come out and Edge looked down as he was sitting on top of the ladder and said something like “oh shit” and quickly tried to get off the ladder but ended up in Cena’s arms and getting F’U’d onto a table. I would say that this was a very nice opening.
Is it me? Or is Jeff Hardy looking damn good out there in the ring. So far three weeks of good really matches from him and he just seems more focused. I thought the opening match against Johnny Nitro for the IC title was excellent, now I didn’t see Jeff beating Nitro, not with Melina out there and also because this was the first time Hardy was going for the title I just didn’t see a Hardy win. But I think it’s safe to say that at Unforgiven it’s now Nitro vs. Hardy for the IC title. I’m very happy that a rematch will be happening on the show. There were only two matches that I didn’t like Monday night. One was the Chris Masters vs. Super Crazy match. I will say while I’m glad to see Crazy back and this time on Raw and even happier that he won, since Masters came back he reminds me why I don’t like him, he offers nothing special when he wrestles. I didn’t miss him while he was gone and I said this MONTHS ago if they are going to keep him on TV give him someone to work with, someone that can help him get over, alone he just doesn’t have it. The second match that I really didn’t like was the number one contenders tag team match. I knew before it started that the Highlanders would win. I do like the Highlanders, but Cade and Murdoch do nothing for me, Vis and Charlie Haas as a tag team are nothing, but I’ll tell you put the star of Heat, Shelton Benjamin back with Haas and they could give Raw the shot in the arm that it needs in the tag team division. But back to this match, it’s too bad Eugene and Hacksaw didn’t take part in there that would have made this even crappier than it was. I will say this, with the Highlanders win, I see the Spirit Squad losing the titles at Unforgiven and probably then right after that splitting up.
While Vince/Shane and Big Show’s in ring promo was the same old stuff, just like in ECW last night, Shawn Michaels and Triple H came out with pissed looks on their faces from the beatings that they took the week before and again I liked that. I don’t think seeing two guys being funny would have been the way to go. They were beaten bloody last week and instead of trying to hide their anger they showed it and Hunter’s remark thanking Vince for reminding them who they are I liked because Hunter said it in that gruff angry way that he has. So while the McMahon thing was nothing I think the DX moment coming out and then going right to the ring and taking out security came off well.
If you go to WWE.com they have a few things dedicated to Trish on her retirement. So check it out. And speaking of Trish, the main event with Trish, Carlito and John Cena taking on Edge, Lita and Randy Orton for the main event was fantastic. This was one hell of a good match. This one never stopped being entertaining. The crowd was so into this match and all the participants were so INTO pleasing the crowd that pardon the expression, but it was ELECTRIFYING! I have been saying this so often, but I really love the push Carlito is getting. There is no doubt in my mind that he deserves where he is and I really feel he has become a big fan favorite since his face turn.
There you have it a decent ECW but a really good Raw with just a few exceptions. Okay, definitely Saturday night will be when we get Smackdown over here. So I might wait until Sunday for a Smackdown column or pop with something else before that. I have two links to my friend’s site with his animated wrestling pictures. I know when I plug this site many of you do go there and email me with such positive comments so I hope you will check his latest work out. www.kmaster.pt.vu
www.chibiwrestlers.pt.vu.
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com
