As I have in recent weeks, I quite enjoyed RAW this past Monday night. I appreciated some parts of it, I chuckled at others and I was disappointed with one thing in particular which I will elaborate on as you read on.
I had to laugh at the top of the show when Edge came out with Randy Orton. Apart from the distinct difference in body mass, the Rated R Superstar looked uncannily like Triple H due to the fake beard and strap on nose. It was eerie seeing how similar to The Game he looked during those opening few minutes.
When Cryme Tyme met Booker T, sorry King Booker, I thought they should have made the most of their gimmick and said they respected Booker…for his criminal exploits as a real life armed robber. This would have drawn a great response from King Booker as he broke character which seems to be the only time he’s mildly entertaining in his current gimmick.
Johnny Nitro and Melina delivered a typical WWE announcement – over hyped and disappointing – when they announced that ‘K-Fed’ was going to join them at ringside. Some of the developmental guys should take notes from Federline on how to get heat as a heel but then again it’s probably hard to teach someone to be as naturally obnoxious and definitively unlikeable as Mr. Britney Spears is.
Moving onto Melina…I think she does a good job as a heel valet, mainly because she is as annoying as Stephanie McMahon was when she was on TV. Watching Melina successfully rub people up the wrong way on Monday nights always leaves me confused though…I don’t know whether I’d rather punch her or screw her!
Nitro clearly looks like he’s on the gas. His torso reminds me of the legendary Rick Rude’s when he was on steroids during his feud with steroid poster boy Ultimate Warrior.
The man from Del Monte, he says Uuuuuuuuuuumaga!!! Estrada seems to have had his wardrobe influenced by the man who had loads of fruit and used to travel everywhere in a helicopter. (I don’t know if non-UK readers and / or people below a certain age will know what I mean but I though I’d put it out there anyway)
As Umaga entered the ring, JR mentioned the loser leaves Raw match with Kane which got me thinking…wouldn’t it be good for Teddy Long to book a ‘winner leaves SmackDown’ match? Now that’s a prize worth winning! It would be more prestigious than holding the SmackDown Title, sorry I mean the World Heavyweight Championship of course. You know the one I mean, the title that was held by a former tag team bully, retired by Batista, won by a RAW competitor who has since joined TNA while the title was vacant in a battle royal, dropped to a little guy who couldn’t win a match as champ and is receiving more heat (as a babyface) than he has in his entire career and receives chants of someone else’s name as his only current source of fan support and finally ended up round the waist of an overlooked and under-utilised veteran who is sadly now riding out an unoriginal gimmick as a wrestling king who has only been given the belt because they’ve run out of options. Don’t get me wrong I like Booker but that is why he has the belt, it’s not because they have faith in him.
Steve-O from Jackass turned up in a Brooklyn Brawler style holey t-shirt and I was disgusted with him for a few moments when he disrespected the business by laughing at the assault he received from Umaga, a man a lot of people have put over as a monster. After getting annoyed at the jackass (poor pun intended) I saw the funnier side of it and thought to myself ‘if Vince & co are stupid enough to put Steve-O in a ring and not expect him to make a fool of them and the business then it’s their own fault‘. He was always going to be a risky guest to invite into the ring and expect him to work the crowd and audience. Pontius was professional enough to do it but Steve-O? Not a chance! It was funny that the more aggressive Umaga became, the more Steve-O laughed. It was hilarious if you look at it from a certain point of view and infuriating if you look at it from another. I think they cut away to the replays quite hastily as a result of the no-sell to try and save face.
I was surprised to see that Kurt Angle’s statement about Shane being knocked out is still on the don’t try this at home video. I thought they would have pulled that as soon as he signed for TNA.
Now to the part of RAW that disappointed me. WWE were recently given an ideal opportunity to re-invent the women’s division and changed the fans’ perception of it when the title was vacated. They made a decent start by arranging a tournament which could have showcased the superior wrestlers such as Mickie James and Victoria and I naively hoped and prayed this would happen. Instead they book a bra and panties match…same old rubbish folks, it’s not wrestling. There was only one real worker from four divas working the match and that was Victoria. WWE have missed their chance to promote real women’s wrestling yet again.
I realise this wasn’t wrote in my usual format but hey, the title told you what to expect…it was random and I rambled about RAW. You can’t accuse me of false advertising!
Just before I go, I want to encourage UK based readers to visit my latest project at www.myspace.com/supportbritishwrestling where you will find info on a wide range of British promotions and there’s an in depth section on show dates and venues. Check it out then check out your local shows and support British wrestling.
Any readers, feel free to chat to me on messenger: paulfahey3@msn.com
