Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Mickie vs Melina was the match of the tournament, thought that isn't saying much. They missed the boat having the battle royal and giving the losers a second chance - they should have debuted a new woman, or brought back Beth Phoenix.
Nitro should have been in the tag match, as despite the past few weeks, Masters was pretty out of place. It should have been about Nitro and Shelton trying to outdo each other to get the fans votes for the title match. The set up to Carlito and Hardy falling out was lame, as was Masters and Shelton arguing for no reason. The match itself was your standard good stuff from 3 out of the 4 though.
Nitro has gone from IC Champ to jobbing to Cena. The only offense he got in was when Cena was distracted or made a mistake. And it was all to set up the "sneak" attack (boy was that predictable). I'm glad Booker came out on top, he's certainly the underdog going into Cyber Sunday.
Cena and KFed, HHH V Orton, Spirit Squad v Cryme Tyme - has tonight's Raw been cancelled and am I watching a replay of last week? Apart from the finisher, I'm not impressed with Cryme Tyme at all yet. I'm glad they are only splitting one guy away from the Spirit Squad for now, as it is going to take a while for fans to accept them as individual wrestlers.
How many times can we see Umaga beat up Eugene (who looked like Richard Simmons)? Not sure who I want to face Umaga at Cyber Sunday. We've seen Kane vs. Umaga before, and I don't want to see Benoit or Sandman do the job, as I can't see someone from a different brand, especially a smaller guy, end the unbeaten streak.
Ric Flair v Kenny...Hall of Famers backing up Flair...okay this really is Groundhog Day. With all due respect to Dusty Rhodes, he definitely looks like he's drunk more pop than he got one. I marked out more for IRS last week. Hmm...so now at Cyber Sunday we have the choice of two old-timers winning the tag titles, or the kings of jobbing beating legends...
Message to WWE - if you want us to go see The Marine, don't show us three quarters of the film in vignettes! Please!
HHH v Orton seemed really short, and the ending was predictable.
Overall Raw was....repetitive
Ian
**********
My thoughts on RAW:
Opening segment was your traditional storyline advancement with a little comedy added in by the simple fact of having Ron Simmons appear JUST to say his classic line.
Mickie vs. Melina was a slight downer, but that's not their fault. Sadly, the era of good women's wrestling has long passed us by, especially with the t**s being pushed over the talent (i.e.: Maria in the semi-finals). Loved the forearm trading, though.
Carlito/Hardy vs. Benjamin/Masters was an okay tag, and it puts heat on Benjamin for something other than the previous angles claiming the booking team is racist. I suppose this will continue after the fans likely vote Carlito as Hardy's opponent at the PPV.
At this point, I went channel surfing and found that "The Hour" on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) was having an interview with Alice Cooper. Needless to say, this was the highlight of the night for me. It's funny how an informal 10 minute interview with a rock legend can lift your spirits up. I then turned back the channel to find that I missed an Edge/Randy Orton promo. I would have likely been bored with it, anyways.
Time for Cena vs. Nitro. To be honest, I think with some work, Kevin Federline could actually be a good heel manager. Yes, I said it. I'm now waiting for people to line up and kick my ass. As for the match, I spent most of it getting something to drink and changing the channel to see if Payback on the Speed Channel was a repeat.
Cryme Time vs. Spirit Squad was just there. And yes, I heard the pin drop. Wait, that was my remote batteries hitting the floor and rolling after it dropped.
Only good part about the Umaga/Eugene segment was Armando. He needs to be given more mic time.
Having seen Ken "Kenny" Doane's work in OVW (I miss being able to get the OVW DVD's), I can't wait to see him go on a singles run. He doesn't need the rest of the Squad, and I feel we'll see Flair and whoever the people vote as his tag partner (too bad it can't be Arn Anderson for the true old school effect) win the tag belts and the Squad disband. Hello Heat. You have 4 new regulars. Ken's on a solo run now.
DX didn't provide the laughs I usually get from them, this week. Shame. I was hoping for something funny.
The main event was okay for what it was. I knew Bischoff was going to get involved against DX the minute Vince had him alone.
Overall, I'm glad my download of TNA Bound For Glory finished. In about an hour, I'll have something good to watch again.
Bryan M. Willett
New Brunswick, Canada
**********
First off, I didn’t need to be reminded with that much detail of how The No-Talent Who Got Famous By Marrying Another got FU-ed last week. As for the promo involving K-Fraud and the Three Champs, it was as boring as hell. And of course, it was also cheap shill for his upcoming CD, which I know for a fact that I won’t be buying.
The women’s title tourney semi match was better than most Raw women’s matches, obviously because Mickie and Melina are well-versed in ringwork. That being said, I’m not hugely anticipating the next match, with Lita surely going over Maria. And why would Melina wear leg warmers while wrestling?
The tag match was fine, and the questionable alliance of Jeff hardy and Carlito was good enough to get Carlito some serious votes for Cyber Sunday. So why did the match involve Masters if he’s not in the running for the title shot? And what happened to Super Crazy? I hope Benjamin wins the vote.
The backstage promos did little for me. And I’ve now seen more Federline than I would have cared for at this point.
While the match between Cena and Nitro was well done, I was too bummed out to care. And the conflict between the Champions was not much of a hard sell to me.
Say what you will about the Cryme Tyme gimmick, but it looks as if those two can get it done in the ring. As for the Spirit Squad and Kenny in particular, I’m all set for the final shoe to drop! Then this gimmick will be over, and the guys can hopefully be themselves. Maybe even have a couple of them go to Smackdown perhaps.
Chamber of Horror match at Halloween Havoc 1991? That makes me want to see it out of curiosity.
So, Kane, Benoit, or Sandman against Umaga at Cyber Sunday, huh? I’d prefer Benoit, but I have an inkling on who will eventually be chosen. As for the beatdown of Eugene, next!
Kenny vs. Flair with Legends and Spirit Squad as seconds. Not much here.
I’m not getting Brooke Hogan’s CD either.
The rundown of the card for Cyber Sunday is next. That card looks pretty bad, all right. Knowing how the marks will vote, I think some of these matches are too predictable.
As for the DX promo and the main event, it was exactly what I thought it would be. More PPV selling.
This week’s Raw had OK wrestling and several segments that here ho-hum, along with too many appearances by a man who, no matter how hard he tries, will always be known for little other than Mr. Britney Spears (and I’m personally sick of seeing that moniker in every news story about him).
Overall Grade: C-
Ken Kibby
Benicia, CA
