Psh... Have you forgotten Shawn Michaels acting tour de force on Baywatch? Or how about the classic Pacific Blue?

No interest in acting, eh?

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Wow! I had completely forgotten about Pacific Blue. I did see that. I think Triple H and Sable appeared on that series as well. Pretty awful show from what I remember. I didn't know about him being on Baywatch, though.

Hey, Kev.
I also thought about the so-called "Dusty Finishes" at the end of the program. Crockett was before my time (of being able to afford cable), but I sure remember Tony and the color commentator of the week pulling that - not that the broadcast team wrote that stuff, of course.
On the other hand, it's well known that JR's favorite show is "The Sopranos". You don't think...naw. Couldn't be.
I still don't care much for Orten. He tends to showcase headlocks in the ring way too much. His promos are intense, but it sounds like his dentures keep loosening up when he gives them. (Trust me on that one...)
I did get nostalgic over Fuji General. I'll probably get nostalgic next time, also - as long as it isn't any sooner than five years hence.
This is getting long, so I'll end with one thing more - what was the sense of the Backlash rematch of the Divas? Didn't understand the Backlash version to begin with as they didn't even give the participant's name in the promotional blurbs, but I saw even less sense last night.
Wonder if we get the conclusion of the match next week?

WWE needs to sort it's booking out. The Jericho turn needs to happen quickly or be called off as the situation at the moment is just boring and he'll still get massive pops whatever so its not even that important whether he's heel or face. They need to hurry up and make Kennedy face and place him in a fued with somebody bigger than Regal, even HHH. The Taker Edge Vicky Angle needs to end now, its so stale. CM Punks character needs a little tweaking so he can go main event with his MITB contract - or god forbid we might just see Edge steal it and use it against Taker to elongate their snorefest fued for another few months. Neither Taker or HHH's character work as a face people - Jericho and Kennedy can.

From what I read the live crowd just saw Regal come out and order the match stopped, so at least we didn't miss a clean finish. While I'm happy that this outcome makes it look likely we'll see a HHH-Orton match at Judgment Day, I agree that the way it was done was very unsatisfying.
As far as Jericho's segment, it was very well done, and I think Fuji Vice was a much better display of Muraco and Fuji's acting chops. The Michael Cole segment was truly disturbing.
At least Kennedy's beef with regal is for a somewhat valid reason, as his ommision from the KOTR tournament was glaring. After he finishes with regal, maybe he can feud with Hornswoggle, as he basically wasted a KOTR spot with his presence in it.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I also read that Regal just stopped the match. Supposedly, Triple H was acting like he was double-crossed like Bret Hart in Montreal. So WWE ticked off the live crowd in addition to the viewers. As for Kennedy not being included in the KOR, it was because he was filiming a direct-to-DVD movie.

I wasn't impressed by this episode at all.

To me, it was the episode where there were no finishes. HBK had nothing to say at the end of the Highlight Reel, and it just ended. Cade had nothing to say after being serenaded, and that just ended. And then the title match had no end. It seemed like they really didn't know how to finish any of these segments.

Not the best week so far for the WWE writers....

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I think the idea behind all of those things you mentioned is to get people to tune in next week to see what happens next.

i thought it was a good show last night, but you think they would have announced a match or two for the Judgement Day ppv in 3 weeks.

When i heard Trevor sing after he and Cade lost, i said to myself 'Garth Brooks he aint' and laughed a little bit

I couldn't understand a single word Santino said to Hot Rod.

It would have been fun to see Piper crash the Highlight Reel.

The TNA Highlander literally died with that clothesline. Its just Bradshaw being Bradshaw.

I enjoyed the fade to black ending. It was something different. There was alot of that tonight with Kennedy back, and Murdoch singing. The creative Dept. is finally being creative.

That match between H and Orton was really boring to me. 90% of it was chinlocks and punches.

It looked like Michaels was selling an injury to his right knee during the Batista match but walking Monday night like it was his left knee that was hurt.

To start, Kevin, I'm totally not talking about you here, but referencing comments I've seen on other sites. Why in the world is it that wrestling fans are adamant that the WWE or TNA can't possibly do something in allusion or homage to pop culture? Combined with the location of the show (New Jersey) and the comments that Santino made in his promo in the ring, I thought it was pretty clear that the ending of the show had a dual purpose. First and foremost, draw heat on Regal. Secondly, set up the rematch between Orton and Trips for Judgment Day. And finally, to pay a bit of homage to the finale of The Sopranos.

I may not have drawn that conclusion if JR and King hadn't kept announcing after the screen went black. Because they did, however, it seemed very much akin to the series finale of The Sopranos - and the technique itself is more widely used in film and television than people might guess.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Didn't they already play off The Sopranos ending by having Vince get blown up the same week the series ended?

Shawn Michaels not do TV? How can you forget his magnificent star turn as a villain in USA Networks "Pacific Blue"? I feared for every cop on a bike in that episode.

WWE has given the ball to Regal and now it's up to him to run with it. In his confrontation with Mr. K, he looked very dedicated to the part and I think he is going to make the most of his new gimmick just like Booker T did.

You've got to love "Fuji General". Muraco holding back his laughter was priceless.

JBL looked very believable in his match against Robbie, no doubt that had to be some sort of punishment match. When JBL stepped out of the limo you could see a fans sign that said "wwe vs. tna". Clearly the fan was lucky his sign received TV time but I thought it was kind of ironic that JBL's match had a little TNA flavor to it. Speaking of JBL, his Wall Street gimmick was written off by fans and a lot of the wrestling media as soon as it was introduced. I think it’s safe to say that he is having the last laugh. I dare say that his mic work has been great and his character seems genuine at times.
So why was Santino so angry before his match with Cody Rhodes, was it because of something that happened last week or was it because he was selling the Piper smack which aired after the match? It just seemed like that segment should have taken place before his match.

Man, is it me or is there some serious weight loss going on in the WWE? Triple H, Lance Cade, and Mr. K all look to have slimmed down quite a bit.

jt

I didn't like Robbie's backing off after JBL called him on. That looked like backward booking to me. Babyfaces should be brave, even if it means getting beaten up.

Is there heat between Regal and Kennedy? Regal stiffed the taste out of Kennedy's mouth with that left hand.

I couldn't understand a word that Santino said to Piper, either.

The main event was light years better than the HHH-JBL stinker, two weeks ago. I don't mind the finish if it gets Regal over as scary, unstable character, but I agree: don't do it again, anytime soon.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I haven't heard about any heat between Regal and Kennedy. Regal has always worked stiff.

I also miss TNT on USA. That show was a great forum to get to know the wrestlers and managers as well as build feuds. I recall the time Jim the "Anvil" Neidhart won the TNT Dating Game and his prize was a date with the Fabulous Moolah. How lucky was that?

"Didn't they already play off The Sopranos ending by having Vince get blown up the same week the series ended?"

They did, indeed. However, that shouldn't preclude the possibility that they did it again with the setting and the other references to The Sopranos. Additionally, as I briefly mentioned, it is a technique used in film and television. Generally, the use is to create suspense and the desire to know more - pretty good idea if, say for example, the WWE wanted people to check out WWE.com.

Did it have the chance of upsetting the viewers? Sure. But the viewers might want to take a second a consider the possibilities it creates, as opposed to allowing the frustration at the lack of an ending to a match. It's something new, something different, and something that sets up a great match for a PPV. Isn't that part of the point of the weekly show? Advance plotlines and build tension for the PPVs? If the answer is yes, and it is, that means the 'E did their job pretty well in my estimation.

Should they use the technique frequently? Certainly not. But once in a blue moon isn't the end of the world.

To : David Elzey , TNT on USA , now that brought back some memories .
Hey Kevin , here's a list for you , top ten reasons not to watch WWE:
1. Vince McMahon
2. Triple H
3. Sean Michaels
4. Hornswoggle
5. Khali
6. Mr. Kennedy
7. Jerry Lawler
8. Big Show
9.Finlay
10. Steven Regal
I bet your top ten for not watching TNA would be the equivalent of throwing darts at a dartboard :)

Jack is just jealous because the black screen at the end of Raw was more entertaining then any episode of TNA Impact in history.

That was the worst ending to Raw I have ever seen! The next day I went to WWE.com and there wasn't an ending to Raw, no results, Nothing!!! Vince needs to get a hold of Regal and tell him to cut this crap out. But I'm so glad every good guy won Sunday at Backlash except for the divas but they don't really matter don't you agree Kevin?????

Raw losing viewers how surprising if that stupid finish is the best that they can come up with

"Supposedly, Triple H was acting like he was double-crossed like Bret Hart in Montreal."

That's interesting. Orton's the one that should be PO'd. This was his return title shot.

"The creative Dept. is finally being creative."

I agree. Not interesting, but creative.

To the poster above, is your name really Mike or "Mark"?

While I didn't understand everything that Santino said to Piper, I know that his first comment about buying clothes at "Honest Ed's" was an inside joke for people living in Toronto. "Honest Ed's" is a well known bargain basement department store in downtown Toronto. I know that Santino grew up in the city and Piper lived there as well so they were probably just having some fun with each other.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Thanks for clearing that up. I'm glad that people in Toronto got the joke, because the other 4 million or some of us watching sure didn't.

To John : that black screen IS the best part of Raw .