This week’s RAW was nothing more than a two hour “show” to plug next week’s RAW Homecoming. It was fun for what it was but nothing really stands out. Sure, Jeff Hardy finally won the Intercontinental Belt that he has been chasing after since he returned to the WWE, but title changes don’t happen often enough on the regular TV shows, so they didn’t even bother reminding viewers in the second hour that a title changed happened. I think it is a good move however to have Hardy captured the belt because the belt is really stale on Johnny Nitro. I’m really surprised at the strange comic chemistry between Jeff Hardy, Melina and Maria, but it works.
Other memorable moments from this week’s RAW? LOTS of clips for the “build up” cage match between Edge and John Cena. I’m not really complaining because I understand how they want it to have a main event, important feel, but when you have the feeling that the title under no circumstances will actually change hands, it feels like any other night. Also, how can you have a TLC PPV mach and then have a cage match? At this point, you can only step down the violent matches, and I say, give the boys a break. Edge and Cena have been wrestling each other since the beginning of the year, I really hope next week’s RAW will shake things up, I really need a new combination, even if it’s Triple H versus John Cena.
Degeneration X was on the show, inserting some comedy into the show with Jonathan Coachman. We get a break from Vince McMahon, and the comedy was cute at times, and the crowd loves DX. People complain that DX is stale, but when you see that many signs, and strong merchandise sales, stale or not, they are making money. The best thing that could happen right now for DX is a new feud and/or a new member. A problem I do have with how they are booking DX right now is how they are destroying the supposedly building tag team division. There’s nothing like seeing two men destroy the tag team division with ease and yet the audience is still supposed to respect the tag team titles? By the way, for those of you who are keeping count – the Spirit Squad have the belts.
Mickie James and Victoria had a short match in almost matching lingerie, they both can actually wrestle so it’s sad that they are the only ones actively left that can still fully go, but don’t get taken seriously.
What else…
Carlito and Randy Orton had another match. Carlito’s a spot fest and Orton wins again. They can put on a good energy match up, but I’m trying to think what the point really is without Trish Stratus being around and that neither have a belt. With Jeff Hardy as champion, maybe they can spice up the energy in a three-way dance. I would love to see Carlito as a possibility of new blood for DX because he’s already popular with the crowd.
John Cena and Edge put on a good TV main event and I couldn’t help but wonder if they were going to try any dangerous spots, considering what happened to Hardcore Holly last week on ECW TV. Again, the problem is the lack of a variety of heels and faces to keep cycling through the main event scenarios. DX helps Cena, from sloppy Cade and Murdoch, but Triple H scowls the whole time. Cena and DX have yet to share mic time which should be the next step. The crowd heat always makes these matches better and kudos to John Cena and Edge for having the chemistry to have fans react this way.
I’m really eager to see a draft or some sort of major shakeup, to see some new storylines unfold. Maybe it will take Eric Bischoff recreating the nWo for it to create interest again, but we’ll see, considering how much of a weasel he looked during the book plug. RAW can’t keep going through the same comatose booking every other week, now that TNA has Kurt Angle and people are getting into the NFL football season again.
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.