Make Movement: No Way Out On Cruise Control, WWE RAW Predictable

Archive

After on and off ten years of writing wrestling opinion columns and wrestling journalism articles, it was brought to my attention that “In Perspective” is trademarked by Wrestling Perspective. I believe I need to take it as ironic flattery that they finally noticed my work after all these years and kindly and politely asked me to change the name of my column. So a new chapter begins in my wrestling writing career and I’m here to make movement.

Watching a completely forgettable WWE No Way Out Sunday and a predictable WWE RAW Monday, the question is how is WWE going to truly put on a good Wrestlemania this year? The biggest mistake was having Rey Mysterio Jr. lose to Randy Orton, even if the future plans are to have a three-way dance for Kurt Angle’s world title. The match itself was passable, however, the absolute problem is when Randy Orton clearly grabs the rope, the referee goes for the count and is not in the proper position to see if Orton is cheating by even looking at the ropes, nor does Teddy Long bother to come out to restart the match during the actual pay-per-view in such a important match as the chance to wrestle the champion at Wrestlemania is bad booking. It took the complete air out of the audience and fans were not into the finish and part of the main event if they had planned the finish a different way.

To even put Vickie Guerrero through this whole angle is simply unfair. Isn’t it enough that she lost her husband, why put her through a storyline so she can deal with a frustrated Rey Mysterio Jr. feeling like he let everyone down? Thankfully they weren’t rushed to the ring to console a upset Rey. What happened to Chris Benoit after the match? Maybe the Cruiserweight presence backstage as a unintentional way of saying that Rey Mysterio Jr. is a “former” Cruiserweight who doesn’t fit into main event status. Of course this insanity won’t end anytime soon, but I can only hope that if Rey Mysterio Jr. is somehow elected back in a triple threat match against Angle and Orton, he will at least be given a chance to shine “for Eddy” and have a “feel good” moment for the audience especially since WWE is going to go ahead and induct Eddy into the WWE Hall of Fame that weekend.

To save the pay-per-view, Kurt Angle wrestling the Undertaker in the main event was the biggest surprise of the night because they were able to get the fans back into the show after what they just witnessed with Orton and Rey and put on a really good match. I was really surprised by how well done all the close threes and reverse finisher attempts they performed. Both gentlemen should be really proud of this match, especially the Undertaker for really stepping up as a performer when he’s been accused of just going through the Undertaker formula matches over the years.

Other random WWE No Way Out thoughts:

I think it’s time to give the Chris Benoit and Booker T storyline a rest. Good for Tatanka for being able to wrestle with Matt Hardy, even if they don’t bother offering any explanation to why Matt Hardy would choose Tatanka as his partner. It is interesting that the WWE will bring “surprises” without any reasoning for it. It’ll be interesting to explore if this will be a new permanent tag team on Smackdown since they don’t know what to do with Matt Hardy either, much less tag team wrestling as a whole. JBL and Lashley put on a passable match but I’m waiting for WWE to find a opponent to really get Lashley over. I like the potential of Lashley, the Dominator is the perfect move for him, but he needs something to really get his career on fire in the WWE. I’m thankful for the Cruiserweight Division and Hurricane Helms, but if WWE would push this division like TNA pushes their X Division, WWE would have a far stronger and marketable position on the WWE cruiserweights.

RAW itself was overall predictable but had some surprising shining moments. The last thing WWE needs to be right now is predictable, right before their biggest pay-per-view of the year. The return of Marty Janetty who I didn’t even recognize at first with his short hair, was really great and adds a new aspect to the storyline (making it not seem this is fly-by-booking). The Spirit Squad who alone would be completely forgettable, can pass as obnoxious, high energy, annoying, Daffy Duck on Speed types together. However, it is very easy to see them on the card and get up and make a phone call during the match. My prediction is Vince McMahon will offer Janetty a long-term contract with the WWE if he agrees to fight Shawn Michaels instead of being his ally. This puts Janetty in the role of security versus friendship.

I’m saddened that the only way Shelton Benjamin could become a WWE Intercontinental Champion against Ric Flair was with Mama Benjamin by his side, instead of Benjamin’s pure wrestling talents being recognized. Whether or not it was intentional, I couldn’t help but laugh at the fact after Mama Benjamin was done dancing, she breathed in her oxygen mask without a tank there anymore. I think Flair and Benjamin can tell a good story at Wrestlemania but I also again wonder how many more Wrestlemanias we have in Flair if the outcome is going to be like it was this past Monday.

WWE sends conflicting messages when it comes to the WWE Divas. The best thing they could possibly do is build up Mickie James versus Trish Stratus at Wrestlemania for the WWE Title because there’s no question that these two have chemistry and can go but they barely bother advancing that storyline whatsoever. Instead, Mickie is thrown into a WWE Diva Battle Royale with the winner facing Trish Stratus who was scouting but not on commentary. It is in those moments that remind me how much I miss Trish Stratus being a heel and being able to rip at the complete inability of 90% of the WWE Divas in the ring. As we learned today Ashley is now out with a broken leg, and I hope she heals up quickly because I can’t blame her for being placed in these dangerous situations. This is proof why you should never put a inexperienced wrestler in the ring until they are passable in performing. Maybe someone wants the WWE Women’s Division to fail entirely, when you reflect on the booking decisions being made putting women like Ashley in danger of getting seriously injured.

I’m not as excited to see Candice Michelle and Trish Stratus at Wrestlemania as I would seeing the all-too-deserving Victoria or Mickie James in that same spot. I understand they have a Playboy Magazine issue to promote but sincerely, Candice is attractive enough that her on the cover of Playboy will sell itself and out sell all the previous WWE Diva appearances to date. Candice’s voice is irritating however, it’s almost like she’s trying out for a porno everytime she speaks. The one aspect that could have made good television was when Edge’s music hit that Lita was going to decide to get back into the WWE Women’s Division and turn Candice a face instantously. Instead, it was just a segway to give Edge some heel heat, which he can do without interrupting Candice’s segment.

Edge and Hacksaw Jim Duggan was forgettable and was naturally booked to give Edge heel heat to remind Foley what could be his future. Someone needs to remind Edge that Mick Foley now resides in Florida.

WWE put the two people they seem lost on what to do with now together in a match: Chris Masters versus Kane. Nothing too terribly exciting here except when Kane tried to put Masters in his own hold. It was nice to see Masters attack him after the match before he goes on a total losing streak without any explanation.

The sit down promos peppered throughout the night with Big Show, Triple H and Rob Van Dam were affective uses of promoting the main event importance of RAW and how it lead to Wrestlemania’s main event match for the WWE championship against John Cena. Their match was the match of the night and exciting to watch, making you believe that maybe just maybe Rob Van Dam was going to have his dream come true at some moments. WWE fans have generally been support of RVD throughout the years and I would love to see WWE reward RVD for that constant fan base. With Carlito talking about a Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania, this would be a perfect time for RVD to get a guaranteed shot against the winner of Cena versus Triple H. I thought this match did promote all the participants strengths and took away from no one. However, WWE needs to have serious concerns if people are walking to leave immediately after Triple H is declared the winner and Cena’s coming down for a stare down. It will be interesting to see if fans will indeed boo Cena and cheer Triple H at Wrestlemania. It’s not like WWE hasn’t been warned that a total about-face from fans regarding their baby face champion couldn’t be a possibility.

Always remember, for things to change, you have to make movement. Thanks for reading and for all the feedback, feel free to contact me anytime at Bam@4sternstaging.com.