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THE SPOTFEST RAW REPORT DEBUTS

The Spot Fest- Monday Night RAW 9/22/08
by: Michael C. Grimaldi

http://www.carltonprescott.com

Welcome to the first "Spot Fest" recap.  What is "Spot Fest?"  This is quick, fast paced (hence the name) recap of a wrestling show, in this case, Monday Night RAW of what I thought was good, bad and just sorta there.  The good, is a "high spot," the bad is a "botched spot" and the just kinda there is a "rest hold."  Pretty simple.  Corny?  Sure, but this is the name for now.  So let's get to it.

High Spots:

The Opening Segment (Jericho/Orton/Punk/Shane)-Everyone was good in their roles here.  First, Jericho has mastered the role of being a heel by not over doing it with his own vision of the truth, but throwing enough lies and self indulgences in the get the fans to say, "hey, wait...he's full of it."  Early on in this feud with Michaels, Jericho wasn't getting boo'd nearly enough.  His entrance still would get a pop and he'd only get jeered when he started talking down Michaels and other babyfaces.  Now, his mere presence gets a negative reaction.; it really is a study is how to correctly "heel."

Randy Orton has been really good as the RAW wild card.  The casual fan really has no idea what Orton is going to do next, and for that matter, with the way Vince and the writers change their minds, no one does, probably not even Orton himself.  Still, he does a tremendous job trying to further his own agenda while not caring who's toes he steps on.  It's actually very early Stone Cold-esque.  Hell, Orton may show enough on his own this way that he may change the plans of mentoring the likes of Rhodes/DiBiase/Manu. 

Punk's interaction was fine, but he looked like he was trying too hard to show anger.  I guess his laid back style lends itself to looking over the top when he's trying to emote anger.  The clenching/un-clenching of his fists was a bit too much; but his slaps to Orton came across good as did his yelling at Randy to get up.

Not much to say about Adamle, other than his "I'm the GM and I'm telling you to stop" sounded way to much like a parent who isn't in control.  Shane McMahon added enough to the mix to save Adamle.  Shane is everything Adamle isn't.  Confident and over.

All in all the segment worked very well.  It was almost 20 minutes but it didn't just revolve around one or two people or just one feud.

CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes- A solid match that featured Punk on offense the majority of the way; which he should.  If Punk is to remain a top level guy w/o the title, he needs to show well against guys who aren't in the top championship matches.  I still think Punk is a more natural heel, even his style of work.  This wasn't a fast paced match, but the slower pace helped make Punk's offense look effective.  Punk hit Rhodes with a few stiff jumping knees that looked to bust Cody's lip and the GTS at the finish was brutal looking (in a good way, unless your name is Cody).  I could have lived w/o Kofi saving Punk.  Kofi's character is to happy-go-lucky to be a "friend" of CM Punk.

Evan Bourne vs. Kane-  Bourne continues to look like he belongs on the big show.  Kane isn't the best guy to work the "big man/little man" match because he's not as powerful as his size would indicate, but still, he has enough ring savvy to pull it off in a short match.  Bourne could very well take Kofi's spot in a few months as one of the top mid card babyfaces on RAW (as long as they continue to use him on the show).  I can honestly say I didn't think he would fit in the WWE...but so far, so good.  The after match stuff was visually appealing due to Kane's kick to Misterio while Rey was in mid-air and picking him off the mat right into the chokeslam.

Shane McMahon/Randy Orton Confrontation-  It was short and they over used the "I respect you" line, but they are two dynamic characters who's motives and relationship pique interest to where they both are coming from and going to.

Jericho/Lance Cade/JBL vs. Shawn Michaels/Batista.-  I wouldn't say this was a real good match, but it teased you with Jericho and Michales and the ending was a good spot for Cade to get a pin on Michaels.  JBL isn't moving very well right now and that could spell disaster for his match against Batista at the next PPV.

Botched Spots

Rated PG-  If you didn't notice, the past week or two in the "WWE" opening, where at the end you hear some famous catch phrased like, "Rest in Peace," "If You Smell..." and "Gimmie a hell yeah!" the "hell" in "hell yeah" was muted.  Now, the Austin's entire line has been cut.  So...on the show Shane talks about Kane electrocuting his testicles, but the phrase, "gimmie a hell yeah" is too much?  I really think, in the long run, this PG tone is going to turn away more fans than it attracts.  Wrestling is always "uncool" to watch for older adolescents, but it will get uncool a lot quicker this way.

Randy Orton's Ink-  What the hell is Orton doing?  He's gone from a few tats on his back, shoulders and forearms to have two sleeves?  And what are they?  I saw he had a new one last week and figured he'd gotten something for his new child...but this week it looks like he spent all 6 days between shows in a tattoo shop.

Santino and Beth/Kelly Kelly and Batista- So now another person is upset because Batista and Kelly "laughed" at them?  This is now a legit reason to have a feud or at least an issue with someone?  3 of these four are better when they don't talk.  3 of these four are better when they don't wrestle.  2 are better when they don't talk or wrestle and just say, "hey, look at my body."  I'll let you decide who's who.

Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly-  Every time I see Kelly or Candace in the ring, it's like waiting for a car crash.  They just seemed to skip learning actual wrestling and went into doing spots.  They even look like they're going to get hurt running the ropes!  I don't know what looked worse, Kelly's drop kick or Kelly doing that springboard gimmick off the ropes while Beth just held he hand.  At least when Undertaker does a move like that, he has the guy beaten down a bit.

Rest Holds

Miz & Morrison vs. Cryme Tyme-  Okay, so now we have  feud because two 5 minute a week internet shows don't like each other?  Jesus H. Christ!  On the same show with the Michaels/Jericho feud?  The match was fine, but it didn't leave me caring to see this feud continue.

Santino vs. Deuce-  Santino is quickly going from being over the top and funny to just being over the top.  Who knew Deuce still had a job. 

Charlie Haas's "Perfect Tribute"-  I found it mildly amusing...but I still don't know what the point of this whole Haas doing impressions thing is.

Dolf Diggler-  Well, I said "Rest Holds" was for things that were "just kinda there" and he was...just kinda there.

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