A well-rounded Raw
Last night’s episode of Raw had a good mix of wrestling, promos and story line advancement, with a surprising revelation and a couple big announcements, too.
As far as the wrestling part, Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho delivered a pay-per-view quality match. Even though Hardy lost, it was a back-and-forth contest and had a nice finishing sequence, so the loss shouldn’t hurt him at all. Plus, the stipulation was that Jericho needed to win to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania, so, theoretically, he had much more incentive to win than Hardy.
After a bit of a slow start since his return, Jericho looks to be gaining momentum after scoring clean wins over JBL and Hardy. And speaking of Hardy, when was the last time he had a match that wasn’t good? OK, it was last week, but that was against Snitsky, so that should have an asterisk.
The main event, in which John Cena and Triple H defeated Randy Orton and Mr. Kennedy, also was good. The match was effective in building tension between Cena and Triple H.
Shawn Michaels’ win over Lance Cade was decent, too. I was surprised that Michaels won by disqualification (Trevor Murdoch interfered) rather than by pinfall, but it might have been to set up a tag-team match for next week pitting Cade and Murdoch versus Michaels and Ric Flair.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
JBL revealed that Hornswoggle was actually Finlay’s son, not Mr. McMahon’s. McMahon seemed shocked by this news, which left me a little confused. I recall McMahon and Finlay discussing some secret that they were both in on last month. I thought the secret might be that Hornswoggle was Finlay’s son, but if that was the secret, McMahon’s reaction last night doesn’t make sense. …
Nearly three hours before Raw aired, a reader who goes by Everett W. posted a comment saying that Batista’s opponent at WrestleMania might be Umaga. I responded that the thought had crossed my mind, as well, but I dismissed it, thinking Umaga would end up in the Money in the Bank match. Well, Everett W. just might be right. It was announced last night that a wrestler of Smackdown general manager Vickie Guerrero’s choosing will face a wrestler of Raw general manager William Regal’s choosing at WrestleMania. Regal picked Umaga, and I’m guessing that Batista will be the Smackdown representative. I don’t think it will be Kane, and there really aren’t too many other choices. No disrespect to Umaga, but Batista has to be a little disappointed with his place on this year’s card. …
It’s official that The Rock will be inducting his father, Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, Peter Maivia, into the WWE Hall of Fame. The presence of The Rock adds even more excitement to what is shaping up to be an incredible weekend in Orlando, Fla., at the end of March. …
The Michaels-Flair match is on for WrestleMania. I liked the way it was set up, with Flair issuing the challenge and telling Michaels that he wanted to have a great match on the biggest stage the night after his Hall of Fame induction. There was just a hint of tension, which I’m assuming will grow between now and WrestleMania. …
In his match against Cade, Michaels got his nose busted yet again. If this keeps up, his nose is going to end up looking like Triple H’s prominent proboscis. …
I was a little surprised that Jim Ross didn’t mention the fact that Cade was trained by Michaels. If WWE ever decides Cade is worthy of a singles push, it could do an angle in which the student turns on the teacher a la Larry Zbyszko and Bruno Sammartino circa 1980. …
The opening three-way promo with Cena, Triple H and Orton was well done, and it was good to see Orton lay out both babyfaces. Orton needs to look strong in the buildup to WrestleMania so he doesn’t become just “the other guy” in a match involving the charismatic Cena and the legendary Triple H. …
I’m not sure what a BunnyMania match is, but it sounds like something that doesn’t fit with Beth Phoenix’s character. The match at WrestleMania pits Phoenix and Melina against Candice Michelle and Maria. I figured it was a sure bet that Phoenix would defend the WWE women’s title at WrestleMania against Michelle, who would be seeking revenge after suffering a broken collarbone and a concussion in a match against Phoenix last fall. It was a given that WWE would get Maria on the card in some form, as the cover girl for the Playboy issue that comes out in March always appears at WrestleMania. But couldn’t WWE just have made her the guest referee or something for a Phoenix-Michelle match? …
It was amusing that the “pee-in-the-tea” incident was referenced in the interaction between Regal and Jericho. …
After hearing Hardy’s entrance music a second time, I definitely think WWE should go back to his old music.
Comments
Hey Kevin,
Have you heard anything about Eminem coming to wrestling? I heard it a couple months back, but havent heard about it since.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: The rumor was out there but Eminem's representatives said it wasn't true. I have read that WWE was contemplating trying to put together a celebrity battle royal featuring "celebs" such as Kevin Federline.
Posted by: RobB | February 26, 2008 8:08 AM
If it wasn't for The Rock, there is no chance either Rocky Johnson or Maivia would make the Hall of Fame. Nobody gives a darn about those two, just The Great One.
That Umaga-Batista match should be hardcore, or have something on the line, like loser has to leave their brand, instead of it being just a plain old singles match.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I agree. There has to be a stipulation. It can't just be a Smackdown star vs. a Raw star for bragging rights.
Posted by: John | February 26, 2008 10:30 AM
What is the possibility of Kane filling the match against Umaga and Batista fighting suprise entrant The Rock? His presence at the HOF would prob dictate some involvment why not a match?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Kane is a possibility, but I think there is a better chance that it's Batista. There is a zero percent chance that The Rock will wrestle, but he might make a special appearance.
Posted by: Ted DiBiase | February 26, 2008 11:23 AM
Rocky Rocky Rocky
Posted by: DMc | February 26, 2008 11:44 AM
The Jericho-Hardy match was amazing! I also think they did a good job of making Hardy look strong by not tapping to the Walls of Jericho and kicking out of the Lionsault. I am definitely looking forward to seeing a Jeff Hardy title run.
Posted by: Geckle | February 26, 2008 12:34 PM
On a Wrestlemania side note, I just read Mayweather is getting 20M for his part in the show on Fox Sports at MSN.com I'd let Big Show kick my butt for 1M, but no one would want to see it.
Posted by: D. Marsh | February 26, 2008 12:50 PM
2 thoughts:
1) if I have the booking pattern figured out right, at next week's RAW there will be some point at which Cena will be standing over a fallen Triple H and Orton, holding the title, with JR wondering if this is what we'll be seeing when the smoke clears at Mania. It does seem to be Cena's turn in the rotation to do this bit.
2) whatever happend to the build they had between Mickie James and Beth Phoenix (all the crying and such?) I guess that in the end, the women's division will always follow the direction of whoever is posing for Playboy next...sad
Posted by: glen | February 26, 2008 1:09 PM
I liked RAW last night, but the tag team match and DH smith's match were low points in interest. With Jericho and Hardy now in MITB it should be most interesting to see who comes out on top. Though with the ending of RAW Kennedy doesn't seem a far stretch either. Is Finley after Mcmahon's pot o' gold or what?
Posted by: mr. bronson | February 26, 2008 6:07 PM
Kevin,
I wouldn't for one second question your take on anything wrestling related, but I just didn't get the same vibe from the Jericho--Hardy match.It definitely seemed on more than one occasion that they were not on the same page. There were some moments of hesitation before moves, and Jericho half-hearted several forearm shots that wouldn't have broken an egg. Maybe he didn't look that great to me because Hardy was so outstanding. The powers that be should give him even a bigger push than he's getting now while he is in his prime and relatively healthy. His style of wrestling wears mightily on the body. Also the brooding character act is getting a little old. If he could inject a little personality and maybe even turn heel-- that would definitely be worth watching.
Posted by: V.C | February 26, 2008 10:12 PM
I echo Glen's sentiment. WWE women's division is so bad. Other than the money, I don't understand why Beth Phoenix and Mickie and Victoria don't just leave and go to TNA. Then WWE could retire the Women's Title and then just make the rest of the division roll out and shake it like the Nitro Girls used to. Thats the only reason they are there anyway.
Posted by: Lee | February 27, 2008 8:32 AM
-When Randy was thrown over the top rope during opening of raw, I thought "darn this is what happens when you put HHH on the scene" but I think they are still using Randy as a solid champion and makes you look forward for the match.
-If Carlito and Santino are going to team up, at least they can use same outfit color (Carllito has an alternative Black color). This sounds even more reasonably to Cody and Hardcore, the tag teams champions.
-It would be cool if Some day in the future, we can see Kennedy and Hardy in a title program. Maybe I feel this way because they have pretty similar bodies and Kennedy is great with the mic.
-congratulations for your article about Nash. It was commented in many wrestling news webpages.
Posted by: Gaston | February 27, 2008 11:10 AM
oh, and about Hardy's entrance...well, I think my theory of "wait because they will edit it next week" is now dead and gone.
Yes, the new one is crap...
Posted by: Gaston | February 27, 2008 11:19 AM
"I don't understand why Beth Phoenix and Mickie and Victoria don't just leave and go to TNA."
Those three ladies don't want to go backwards, maybe?
Posted by: chris | February 27, 2008 6:32 PM
Chris...Backward is having your talent wasted. These women are the only worthy wrestlers on the WWE roster. The rest of the female roster is an embarrassment to the industry. My contention is WWE is backward in its use of the women's division. If all you want are a few women to come out and jiggle for a minute or two, then just call them what they are...eye candy. TNA has a solid women's program. WWE has playboy photoshoots.
Posted by: Lee | February 28, 2008 8:09 AM
Backwards is also taking a big pay cut....
Posted by: Marko50 | February 28, 2008 8:04 PM
Mickie WAS in TNA she left for WWE and from things I read her dream was to be in WWF/E and did not like TNA that much. WWE'S womens division is okay but nothing what it was from 2000-5
Posted by: DOG | February 28, 2008 8:09 PM
WWE'S womens division is a joke! im sure mickie's dream was to wrestle not to just collect checks and be in a dead end. tna just got a solid womens division by the way.
Posted by: dank | March 2, 2008 8:49 AM
Man, glad I found your blog. No one in the DC area media even cares about pro wrestling since they canned George Michael.
Why do the eggheads at WWE keep mucking up the intro songs? I LOVED Hardy's big open song and now it's a mush.
And look what they did to Findlay. His trademark "I love to fight" is gone, replaced by some kind of Irish funeral march.
Glad somebody else noticed.
As for Wrestlemania, it sure seems like the writers are struggling. For a while, with Cena, Jericho, TripleH all out with injuries, things were kinda sparse. I'm getting tired of the H-Cena-Orton wars. When they were all injured, Jeff Hardy got the big push for WWE champ and now that's gone cold.
Ba in DC
Posted by: BA | March 6, 2008 6:10 AM