RAW 5/23

[MTMT]

Pretty good show- and a pretty important one moving forward, no doubt. It felt like a bunch of new storylines were starting up at once. Notes of significance:

-I like R-Truth's heel turn more and more. Some of his promos haven't been great (the hospital food bit was cheesy, the parking lot thing was a little lame), but he's been outstanding at generating heat.

-Otunga and Mc-Hennig-cutty are the new tag champs... thank God Kane/Show are done. I assume all of the Nexus will be at the Smackdown defenses?

-Speaking of Show... they're starting a feud with him and ADR. I really hope ADR wins their inevitable match... that would give him all the momentum in the world. I like how the angle is playing out thus far.

-Swagger/Bourne... I'm guessing they're starting a feud for these guys, but I actually was thinking as they were wrestling... these two could make for an interesting tag team. If Swagger turned face... they have two very different styles, but I think that could add to their chemistry. Just a thought. Anyway... Swagger's post-show victory lap was interrupted by a kick to Swagger's head before Bourne bolted like crazy. I kind of laughed at that.

-Speaking of Bourne... As much as I love the guy's offense, I actually think he's one of the best sellers in the company. When he takes a hard move, he gets squished like a bug. s almost brutal to watch, but I love it.

-I thought that they'd just have Cole quite Raw, but instead they're just slowly fading out the animosity between King and Cole. We'll see how it plays out... I'm definitely glad that the angle is over, but I did kind of enjoy Cole being an asshole commentator. I'd rather he be his total douchey self on Smackdown and not on Raw than a neutered version of himself.

-Alex Riley face turn? Wow. I figured Miz was going to fire and then beat up Riley... I was half right. I was shocked that Riley got the upper hand on Miz. HOWEVER... I don't necessarily think Riley's face turn will be that long. He's a Smackdown superstar, remember... this could have been a one-time thing to break him away from Miz. I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up being a heel again on Smackdown. That being said- he get a MASSIVE pop during the attack, even a few "Riley" chants.

-Divas 8-woman tag gets interrupted by Kharma... who looks like she's going to attack, but then starts... crying?! What the fuck?! I'll reserve judgement for now, but I was kind of looking forward to seeing him beat the shit out of all the Divas. Also... when is she going to actually wrestle a match?

-Kofi/Drew... look, I'll just say it, I don't like Drew McIntyre. I don't think he's bad, but I think that he's as good as a lot of people make him out to be.... and I certainly think there are a lot of other people who deserve a push more than him. The match itself was pretty decent, though short... I LOVED the new finisher Kofi did, though I didn't quite like that he still won despite the "injury" (which I thought was legit for a few seconds- that was a nasty looking fall. It looked like a botch, but once Drew started attacking the knee afterward, I knew it was planned. VERY impressive).

-Savage tribute video. Not much really to say... he'll be missed. I do think Vince is going to swallow his pride and induct him into the HoF next year.

-Cena/Rey beat Truth/Punk in a stupid move.

[theegomjw]

Im just going to comment on your comments, i may add some additional, it depends how much i can be bothered.

Pretty good show- and a pretty important one moving forward, no doubt. It felt like a bunch of new storylines were starting up at once. Notes of significance:

-I like R-Truth's heel turn more and more. Some of his promos haven't been great (the hospital food bit was cheesy, the parking lot thing was a little lame), but he's been outstanding at generating heat.
I will happily admit that i had ZERO time for Truth until this heel turn, but the second it happened i was interested. This is an example of vince, creative and the performer all being smart, or maybe vince has nothing to do with it as Truth was not even on his radar.
I really like the promos, i thought the parking space talk was great, it is so pointless, so unimportant that it makes Truth seem like such an arsehole. I love the 'little jimmy' thing, with him using it to sum up all the stupid little kids...ha ha.
Thats a money t-shirt right there.
Do i see Truth being pushed to a world title main eventer? Not sure, i mean who would have thought it about John Bradshaw from the APA? But truth lacks the backstage pull of JBL.
I think Truth needs to be shown as a strong mid card heel firstly. His victory over Rey was a good step forward.


-Otunga and Mc-Hennig-cutty are the new tag champs... thank God Kane/Show are done. I assume all of the Nexus will be at the Smackdown defenses?
it is a sad day when i smile at seeing Otunga and Perfect Jnr as tag team champs, not because i hate them, but because we have not been given one single reason to care about them, they are jobbers at best.
but im so over Kane/Bigshow. They bore the life right out of me.
Hopefully this will mean that Punk also shows up on SD as 'Nexus' hold the tag team titles.


-Speaking of Show... they're starting a feud with him and ADR. I really hope ADR wins their inevitable match... that would give him all the momentum in the world. I like how the angle is playing out thus far.
do we have to speak about Show?
Ok, well i think that they may announce next week that he is out for a while, and we will see Kane go after ADR.
Either way, ADR needs building back up, his WM curtain jerker and following clean loss really pushed him off the ladder.
Sadly for him he has lost a great opponent in Christian.
Push ADR over Kane, Big show and whoever else is just a few years away from having nothing left in the tank.


-Swagger/Bourne... I'm guessing they're starting a feud for these guys, but I actually was thinking as they were wrestling... these two could make for an interesting tag team. If Swagger turned face... they have two very different styles, but I think that could add to their chemistry. Just a thought. Anyway... Swagger's post-show victory lap was interrupted by a kick to Swagger's head before Bourne bolted like crazy. I kind of laughed at that.
they seem to be unsure what to do with Swagger. He looked like he was on a face turn when he walked out on Cole the first time, then they got back together, then he walked again, then he showed up as Miz's pick to face Cena and went back to being an arsehole heel again.
He worked this week as a heel, so who knows? This is not down to clever story telling like with Christian, this just seems like no one really cares enough about Swagger to put in the effort.


-Speaking of Bourne... As much as I love the guy's offense, I actually think he's one of the best sellers in the company. When he takes a hard move, he gets squished like a bug. s almost brutal to watch, but I love it.
Bourne, his best chance at any success would be as a tag team, otherwise he is set up for short squash matches and the occasional fluke victory


-I thought that they'd just have Cole quite Raw, but instead they're just slowly fading out the animosity between King and Cole. We'll see how it plays out... I'm definitely glad that the angle is over, but I did kind of enjoy Cole being an asshole commentator. I'd rather he be his total douchey self on Smackdown and not on Raw than a neutered version of himself.
it was right to end the feud thats for sure.
but i hope Cole stays as a heel announcer, but talks about the talent more than himself.
he seemed to be playing this role on Raw after his apology.


-Alex Riley face turn? Wow. I figured Miz was going to fire and then beat up Riley... I was half right. I was shocked that Riley got the upper hand on Miz. HOWEVER... I don't necessarily think Riley's face turn will be that long. He's a Smackdown superstar, remember... this could have been a one-time thing to break him away from Miz. I wouldn't be shocked if he ends up being a heel again on Smackdown. That being said- he get a MASSIVE pop during the attack, even a few "Riley" chants.
ah, the man who has been made to look like a complete joke since joining the wwe, just kicked the hell out of former WWE Champion, The Miz...and left him laying.
Sweet.
Im not saying they are wrong to push new talent, thats what they need to do, but this made no sense and made Miz look like the sidekick!


-Divas 8-woman tag gets interrupted by Kharma... who looks like she's going to attack, but then starts... crying?! What the fuck?! I'll reserve judgement for now, but I was kind of looking forward to seeing him beat the shit out of all the Divas. Also... when is she going to actually wrestle a match?
i think we will find out that she cryed because 'deep down' she wants to be smart...sexy...shit...
i guess thats the angle, she hates them because they are fit and just wants to be like them.
it could work, HHH is said to be behind the character and push of Kharma, so who knows.
All i know is i want to see Kharma, Beth, Kym, Natalia (and Layla because she is fit and british) get given some time to put on some good womens matches.


-Kofi/Drew... look, I'll just say it, I don't like Drew McIntyre. I don't think he's bad, but I think that he's as good as a lot of people make him out to be.... and I certainly think there are a lot of other people who deserve a push more than him. The match itself was pretty decent, though short... I LOVED the new finisher Kofi did, though I didn't quite like that he still won despite the "injury" (which I thought was legit for a few seconds- that was a nasty looking fall. It looked like a botch, but once Drew started attacking the knee afterward, I knew it was planned. VERY impressive).
i like Drew, we got a glimse of greatness when he was in the chamber, his kinda reaky, sadistic expressions and his hard hitting style got the fans popping like mad for a few moments, then he got pinned and nothing was done to run with this moment.
Kofi, im bored of, is that his fault? I doubt it, he was given a great push with Orton, but then it was haulted and Orton squashed him, not sure why.
But that streak of toughness, aggression that we got during that feud was then replaced with the smiley, bouncey bullshit we see every week.


-Savage tribute video. Not much really to say... he'll be missed. I do think Vince is going to swallow his pride and induct him into the HoF next year.
wwe did good, it was great, the images were great, the music was great and man did it get me all smiling and teary eyed at the same time.
Lawler called him 'a hall of famer', Lawler will either get sacked for this, or we will indeed see Macho take his rightful spot next year, it is just a shame it may only happen because he is no longer with us.


-Cena/Rey beat Truth/Punk in a stupid move.
agreed.
Rey could afford to loss again, it makes no difference to his position with the fans or the company. Truth should have got another win, even it was cheap.
Cena, well of course Cena didnt loss.




additional thoughts...
CM Punk - great as always, and even greater thanks to his Radny Savage inspired trunks and boots, a great tribute to a great wrestler.

Ziggler - so his hair is dyed blond again, does this mean the 'new and improved' version actually meant 'looks the same as everyone else and no one likes it'?

Bret - needs to stop wearing the extended Cena style trouser/short things. They make him look stupid. I love Bret and hate him looking stupid.

Lawler/Regal - i wish Regal would replace Lawler on Raw.




Question...
Are there actually any real 'tag teams' in the wwe right now? I think we have the Usos...but who else, i dont mean the Corre/Nexus or any thrown together teams...tag teams?
It really was worth spliting up the Hart Dynasty...what a swet move that was.

[Anthony Jordan]

Fit and British? Is that an oxymoron?

[theegomjw]

no.

moron