The last Raw from Spike TV starts off from Waco, TX with good ol’ JR informing us that there will be a tag team tables match in the main event, as Shawn Michaels & John Cena take on Carlito & Chris Masters. Now, I’m a pretty big fan of tables matches, but what point do any of these four have in being in a tables match? Seriously!
Vince McMahon’s music hits and we go right into the big announcement. McMahon then talks about how this is the last Raw on Spike TV. He actually even thanked Spike TV for the time spent! That was actually pretty cool of McMahon to do. The next thing that happened was definitely not cool, as Carlito would say. McMahon proceeded to talk about the move to USA Network, but Spike TV censored him. How dumb is that? Seriously, it’s low, immature, and completely unprofessional. For once, Vince actually took the high road while someone took the low road. What a shocker. You can actually check out a pretty funny cartoon about this by clicking here. Anyway, Angle eventually came out and wanted to be the number one contender to John Cena at Taboo Tuesday since he won at Unforgiven. Shawn Michaels came out and cut a typical comedic promo saying, “Well, hey! I won at Unforgiven too.” They then announced a thirty minute Iron Man match for Raw Homecoming that will determine the number one contender and be the rubber match in the series. This match should be pretty good, but WWE TV Iron Man matches definitely do not come off that well. Angle-Lesnar sucked, in my opinion, and Benoit-Triple H had a lot of problems as well. After the two bickered some more, Vince demanded that the championship match start to kick off Raw.
WWE Women’s Championship
Trish Stratus (c) Vs. Victoria
This was a pretty good match for Trish’s legit first match back, and it’s nice finally seeing the Women’s title being defended again on Raw. The three bimbos of Ashley, Torrie, and Candice were all at ringside and definitely dropped the quality of the match down a peg or two. You wouldn’t think that 3 dumb chicks at ringside would be able to drop the quality of a match so much, but trust me. They did. Match was still pretty good, but it’s fairly obvious that Trish has some ring rust. I’m not bitching because everyone gets it, but it’s still not enough for me to overlook whether a match is great or good. Victoria was in rare form tonight here and it is great to have the Trish-Victoria feud that made 2002 pretty good back. Pyscho Victoria will always own in any other WWE women’s gimmick. Always! There was a really cool spot where Trish went for the Stratusphere while Victoria was on the top rope. Victoria pulled her up which was impressive and the two started trading it out before falling to the outside. It was a pretty fun spot and I don’t think the two have ever done it before. Finish came when Trish used the Matrix to duck Victoria and then hit the Stratusfaction. Torrie and Candice jumped in and beat down Trish causing the DQ. The Stratusfaction was a huge ring rust spot. Trish held onto Victoria’s head for a good forty-five seconds before doing the move. Now I know a lot of moves set up like the Scissors Kick exposes the business, but holding onto an opponent’s head for a good minute before doing something (and not even holding that tight) is pure exposure.
Winner: Trish Stratus
Star Wrestler: Victoria
Trish was pretty good in this match for her first real match back, but Victoria was the definite star with spots like the reverse bridging chin lock and lifting Trish out of the Stratusphere. I really hope they put some seeds into a serious Victoria-Trish feud for the next few months. I know it will most likely involve the other three bimbos, but they will still deliver some good matches.
After the match, Trish and Ashley fought off the three and stripped Candice down to her bra and panties. Candice whined about being embarrassed. Why? You’re the one who wants to do Playboy and it’s not like your outfits are less revealing. They challenged the two to a handicap bra and panties match for next week. Hurray for the wrestling fans, huh? Pointless segment and a true testament to why Candice should never be given a microphone.
Before we go to break, we see Big Show walking backstage and we will get a street fight when we get back! Sweet!
Commercial break number one.
Street Fight
Big Show Vs. Gene Snitsky
For a street fight, this was pretty bad, but then again, these two obviously don’t have the same kind of chemistry Kane and Snitsky did. It lasted like seriously two minutes, was all Big Show offense, and either wrestler barely had a chance to sell much considering they probably were told to put X amount of spots into such a small time span. It was just a bad match. I enjoyed some spots though, like Show slamming Snitsky into the trash can and Show bringing the kitchen sink out, but there wasn’t any story to the match. No in-between, no build-up during the match, nothing! It was just pretty bad. Finish came when Show hit Snitsky hard with the kitchen sink and got the win.
Winner: Big Show
Star Wrestler: Big Show
I don’t really put the blame on either wrestler for this match, rather the time given. Obviously, their Unforgiven match was the pits, but why in the hell would you do such a short street fight? It makes no sense and virtually squashes Snitsky, who, whether you like him or not, is a good filler heel to have. Show was definitely the star though. Ever since they have started to push him more like Andre, he has gotten miles better and I think he is at the peak of his career right now. He may be having stinker matches, but I think we know who to blame it on. Show is playing with the crowd more than ever, acting more and more like the gimmick wrestler he should be, and just overall being better than any time of his career. I only wish they would push Show with some good wrestlers to get some good matches, because I think he’s up to the task right now.
To read the rest of this review, click here.
To view a wrestling editorial cartoon on the Spike TV censorship, click here.
AIM – Douglas Nunnally
E-mail – douglasnunnally@thewrestlingvoice.com
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