Kane was referring to himself: The Big Red Machine, the monster who beats the crap out of people and inspires great fear. He thinks he has lost his edge, so he's going back to basics.

The lightstand mishap was a nice touch. Honestly, I wondered if it were unscripted until the "fan" made the evening's theme clear. Cute.

Raw is better with no general manager, commissioner, executive assistant, executive vice president, chairman of the board, what have you.

Cena's shtick has always been a big bore to me. His physical strength amazes me, though.

When I suggested that CM Punk defeat some mid-card talent in non-title matches, Snitsky was not whom I had in mind. He could take notes from Edge about how to make The Go To Sleep look credible. Heck, he could take notes from JBL.

Kelly Kelly is now on Raw? The "board of directors" should fire Teddy Long for letting ECW's top draw get away.

I thought I was the only one who cared less about Cena and Cryme Tyme destroying that limo. loving the Kane segment though

Kevin- I thought it was odd how Cole kept repeating that the fatal four way winner would go on to the Bash for a title shot-- but never mentioned Punk by name- foreshadowing that Punk might lose the belt before that, or maybe adding a few to the match next week if McMahon doesn't thing Punk is big enough to carry half a main event? It's not like they haven't announced matches 4 weeks out with the participants named. And how stiff did the GTS look on Snitsky?!?

Destroying the Limo did indeed suck. No satisfying smashed glass(too much safety glass, not enough shatter). Kept waiting for someone to do somthing to the horns, but noooo. And poopy..srsly just stop. I was sort of enjoying the smash job and thinking back to the attitude era and how many cars got smashed up back in the day, then he sprayed the word poopy and it just ruined it.

Randomly inserting Kain into the people trying to chase Punk better have a darn good payoff because his gimmick just isnt worth the air time anymore.

Is the crowd actually popping for Punk? I cant decide if they are chanting CM or Cena.

Poor Kofi, steals 2 wins from Y2J then gets roughed up by a nobody like Haas before Burchill spikes him. Not building him up this way to be honest.

How long till Orton is back? Never thought I would be HAPPY to see him back. In fact, I'd take just about anyone right now to get rid of JBL.

I think Vicki Guerro right now, to her credit, is the most hated persona in the WWE. Eddie from above must be snickering.

I wish people would cut Michael Cole some slack. I know I'm in the minority, but I think he's the best play by play man in the buisness, over JR and Tenay.

The Sun-Times blog has already reported that Batista V Cena is the main event at the next Wrestlemania so a Biatista heel turn is obvious.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: No disrespect to the Sun-Times Blog, but to no one can say with certainty in July what the main event will be for WrestleMania. Cena vs. Batista also was the plan at one point for this year's WrestleMania, but it didn't happen. I do agree that the plan is Cena-Batista next year (it is an obvious matchup of top stars who have never had a program together), but nothing is for ceryain until it happens.

It was a decent show. I like where a few of these new feuds are going.

I think you can add Kelly-Kelly to the "strange segments" because of the lack of a GM as well as the make a title match at SummerSlam.

I love the fact a wrestler can walk up to another and get a match the same night like Snitsky did to CM Punk without a GM butting in saying no.

Kane IMO and its not a stretch is playing up an Undertaker return.

I think what Cryme Tyme & Cena did last night really wasn't much of a statement for JBL, it was to show these guys may be forming a stable and hopefully going heel with it. I assume that has something to do with the CTC(Cryme Tyme Cena).

Good Show, stay away Vince and take your Kids on Vacation.

I like the way the WWE is going with RAW! I was expecting JBL and Cena to fight for the number one contender's match,and hoping Bataista would be 2. Kane was an unexpected extra bonus! By having the Animal win, it gives the Cena/JBL feud a chance without the championship in the way,and we get to see where this Kane(one wrestler I NEVER boo because of his in ring ability) storyline ends up. I think he was talking about Undertaker, if so I'm ready for him to come back to the ring!

And one last comment, the fan running out and mimmicking Batasta's entrance was halarious!

(what happened to last week's smackdown post?)

Kevin; I was watching the ending segment with Kane last night, and my first thought was that it might be the start of a storyline leading to Undertaker's return (hopefully on raw). any thoughts?

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Undertaker seems kind of obvious, which is why I'm hoping it's something else. Kane-Undertaker angles have been done to death (no pun intended).

I just hope this Kane angle is leading to something interesting for the show and his character. I don't think Kane can ever be as effective without the mask,but at least they appear to be trying, which is encouraging (if anything, Kane could've snapped at the fact that he got beat by a spear from Batista, which isn't even his finisher).
I liked the opening segment between Vickie and Punk; I think Punk is surprisingly strong on mic (definitely ahead of Jeff Hardy in that department). The thing I didn't like was seeing him get lost in the ring once everyone else showed up to talk. Being that he's the champ it would've been nice to see him get in a few lines towards all those potential competitors.
And the whole Kelly Kelly thing ( "we have contracts?" ) was really weak, especially so soon after having the draft and trying to make this whole brand split appear meaningful.

Is Kane aware that JR was drafted to Smackdown? That is my guess for the dead/alive bit.

2 weeks from now they'll scrap the whole angle is my 2nd guess.

Good points Kev...Vickie might be the most over performer in the entire company...I haven't seen anyone get heat like that since (maybe) the McMahon-Helmsely Era.

Agree wholeheartedly on Batista...even his promo was pretty good.

Anything that leads to another HBK-Jy2 classic like WM19 I'm all for...Finally, Snitsky is absolutly terrible, in every sense of the word.

I thought last night's RAW was definitely a 10/10 on the storyline side...I am dying to find out (pardon the pun) what Kane's cryptic repeated lines meant at the end of the show. I am still waiting for WWE to go out on a limb and turn one of their cash cows heel. As unlikely as it is, I think a Cena heel turn would be brilliant...unfortunately, Vince would never risk the possibility of seeing a decrease in gold spinner belts. The viewing audience is dying for a true shocker of a heel turn...sorry, but Chris Jericho and Kane don't cut it.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Couldn't agree more on Cena.

I too noticed Batista's drop toe-hold, Kevin. I was surprised because Batista in motion often looks a bit awkward to me, yet he executed that maneuver with the speed of a cruiserweight!

I think Kane was talking about McMahon at the end of the show. Also, I liked how WWE tried to hide that Steph's pregnant again by only showing her face. Just thought that was funny.... Thoughts?

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: McMahon and Undertaker are the tow most obvious candidates. I'd rather it be McMahon, but I'm really hopoing it's something completely different. Maybe it's The Ultimate Warrior (that's a joke, by the way).

I just thought spray painting "JBL is Poopy" on the limousine was an advertisement for WWE Kids Magazine. It will be the next issue's cover.

When is William Regal coming back? If there is no General Manager and no McMahon in charge, then there would be no one to stop him from returning despite getting fired at the hands of Mr. Kennedy. Considering the man from whom he won the King of the Ring tournament is now World champion, it could make for an interesting scenario.

In reading all the comments about Kane's angle leading to Undertaker's return, I have to scratch my head and ask, "How could Undertaker be perceived as dead?" He lost a match, and walked away from it afterwards. As far as WWE programming is concerned, it is Vince McMahon whose "dead or alive?" status is in question.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I agree thah McMahon makes more sense -- especially with the family members talking about his privacy and all -- but I'm keeping in mind that Kane was irrational and over the edge, so it might not have to be logical. I don't know why Kane would care about McMahon any way. I'm hoping this is a way to introduce a new character.

Kelly Kelly on Raw was not really a surprise to me. The need another Diva who is a face. Melina out injured, Ashley gone, it was either bring Kelly over or take a heel and turn her face. But I think that is stretching it a bit with no Beth Phoenix. Layla was over there to so I wonder what is going on in the Diva's division. Kelly is getting much better in the ring. Her moves are very familiar to Torrie Wilson's moves. Both have almost the same looks too but Torrie is still more beautiful not to take anything away from Kelly Kelly.
Kane's heel turn was good and it was about time. He was so stale even in ECW as the champion. Still can't figure out who he was talking about.
I love the heat Vickie is getting, she has to be the most hated personna in the entire WWE.
Was kinda shocked to see Stephanie on the screen.
Batista seems to be getting better in the ring as was mentioned. Doing more cruiserweight type moves. Almost as good as Kane's drop kicks.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: It wasn't a shock to see Kelly Kelly leave ECW. I just wish WWE would have given some explanation, even if it was as lame as her contract expiring on ECW.

First off, Kevin, thanks for this blog. Every morning after an event I look forward to reading what you have to write. Your efforts have made me a smarter smark.

The "chaos" angle is working, if entertaining me is the goal. While watching the opening segment I predicted Batista would come down and through in his hat, but I didn't expect Kane, an appreciated surprise.

I was happy to see it followed with a Rey match but it's too bad that Santino's character is so jobbed out, he can be entertaining.

I'm kind of sick of seeing Jillian. It would be better if she came out maybe once a month. But if I'm supposed to hate her, job well done.

I kind of like Cena aligned with Cryme Tyme. Their respective characters make sense together, although I hadn't thought about before hand. As much as I enjoy watching things like limos destroyed with baseball bats and spraypaint, I would have enjoyed a wresting match with that air-time even more.

With the top faces on Raw giving CM Punk a good rub, I'm not sure a match with Snitsky does much to prove he World Title worthy, although I do like Punk as Champ.

Kingston is fun to watch but I like Burchill better as Captain Jack Black.

The fatal four way for number one contender was good. I'm glad neither Cena or JBL won. Cena doesn't need it and JBL is past his prime. Kane's little "episode" was fun to watch, but I was really hoping he would break some more things. I thought he was talking about Vince

I liked Raw last night, it proved that it is the #1 show in the wwe. Vickie is the most hated persona in the brand, which is good. Also the opening part was great, except for the fact that the five guys in the ring, there were four faces and one heel. Which means a likely batista heel turn. At the end of the show Kane rampaged every one and repeated "Is he alive or dead". I personal believe he was talking about taker, because taker is called "The Deadman" and because of takers gimmick. But it could have been talking about Vince Mcmahon, or even kane himself. Next weeks raw will be a great one. As for Vickie she could turn face now that edge and her are over.

The timing may be coincidental, but James Mitchell was just released by TNA. Bringing him into the new Kane angle would be a nice addition.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: It has always surprised me that James Mitchell never worked for WWE. BTW, Rellik also was desaeler. That's released spelled backwards.

To whoever said Punk's GTS looked stiff, it actually broke Snitsky's nose. Didn't Kane do something else like this just before See No Evil came out?

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: May 19. For God's sake, please don't say May 19 around Kane.

I think Kane's question of "Is he alive or is he dead" is referring to Taker than it is McMahon. I find it hard to believe Kane to give two donkeys about McMahon.

I honestly hope the question "Is he alive or is he dead" hints to Taker possibly coming back as the American Badass because I think the Deadman persona is less flexible than the American Badass persona. They could possibly give the story that Taker took the time off the "humanize" himself into the American Badass persona and thus Kane's question of whether he's alive or dead

If Snitsky suffered a broken nose, I may have to qualify my earlier comment about credibility: I meant that Snitsky landed on his feet prematurely, thus making the Go To Sleep into two, choppy actions (1. Snitsky goes ove Punk's head 2. Punk knees Snitsky) instead of one fluid movement.

I'm liking Raw a lot more now. But damn, we get a show with Layla, Kelly, Snitsky, Santino and Haas (he is talented but it was random) wrestling but when is the last time HBK wrestled on Raw, or Y2J, or how about Holly, Noble, or the new tag champs.

Burchill is being wasted in the WWE. Hopefully he talks the belt from Kofi and gets a push to the moon. He has two crap finishers. The Curb Stomp looks like a kick to the back from him, and he's a lot more talented than having a Miz-like Neckbreaker as a finisher.

I thought it actually made sense for Kane to challenge for the belt. Two weeks ago both Kane and Punk were in ECW and Kane was the champ, not Punk. It would be logical for him to think he deserves the belt.

I too was pleasantly surprised when Batista executed the drop toe hold but then he leads his spear with his right shoulder mere moments after Kane slammed that same shoulder into the steel post.

Anyone notice that the I Love Micki Knuckles sign didn't last too long -- maybe 2-3 commercial breaks?

Kevin,

Last night, Kane failed to win the right to win back the belt that Edge, who last defeated Undertaker, held.

Therefore, obviously Undertaker is making his way back first by "possessing" Kane, and the first glimpse of that is what we saw last night.

Doubt it has anything to do with VKM, though I think that will be insinuated for intrigue along the way.

It's not really a surprise that Shawn Michaels hasn't wrestled on Raw in awhile. Don't get me wrong, I really miss seeing him wrestle on a more regular basis. However, I can understand the reasoning.

After Wrestlemania, they had to be careful with him as the table that collapsed wasn't set up to collapse as it should have been. As a result, they kept him doing mostly talking up until Backlash. At Backlash, they ran the faked knee injury angle. So he couldn't wrestle without giving away that he faked the injury, which wasn't supposed to happen until right before Judgment Day.

The first week after Judgment Day, Batista and Jericho wrestled for a shot at Michaels at One Night Stand. The next week, Shawn and Jericho wrestled on Raw. That was the chair incident.

One Night Stand saw Shawn losing to Batista in the Stretcher Match. The next night, Michaels did not make an appearance and Jericho dedicated his match to Shawn. The following week, we had the JeriTron incident that gave us our Y2J heel turn.

Since that time, they've played up the eye injury.

Who knows, they might be covering for something in real life.

But to answer your question, the last time Shawn wrestled on Raw was May 26. Jericho wrestled just last week for his IC belt rematch.

Holly hasn't wrestled on Raw since the Raw prior to NoC. Noble has yet to wrestle. And the new tag champs "wrestled" and beat jobbers the night after NoC, which would make that last week.

I have a phenomenally good memory and WWE.com results archives to give me exact dates. :)

Could Kane be referring to his father, Paul Bearer? It was never clear whether Undertaker let him suffocate in that cement.

The "Is he dead or alive" statement may have nothing to do with wrestling. Kane is said to have a contract to do a sequel to See No Evil, in which the character supposedly died. This could all be leading up to a movie plug.

New predictions for storylines:
A new Money Inc. starts up with JBL picking up Dibiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes to fight Cena and Cryme Tyme...then Cena fights JBL and Cryme Tyme fights for the tag titles @ the bash.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Makes sense to me.

KELLY KELLY WAS DRAFTED TO RAW FROM ECW IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT ON WWE.COM IF ANYBODY IS A REAL WWE FAN THEY SHOULD KNOW THIS!!!

RESPONSED FROM KEVIN ECK: Unless there was a second supplemental draft, that's not right. The only women moved in the draft on wwe.com were layla and maria.

Check it out:

http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/wwedraft2008/7505418/

Or here is a twist.... You know how much Cryme Time loves "money, money"... and JBL has lots of "money money"... Perhaps a Cryme Time heel turn against Cena with them joining up with JBL because of the "money money"?

They sure know how to bury the new tag team champs don't they... by not having them on the show.

And what did Beth Phoenix do to get buried?? If there is a wrestling god, let her please come to TNA to battle Awesome Kong.

As much as I want Kane to be asking about Paul bearer or a plan to bring in James Mitchell with Rellik or Festus again sporting the Kane Mask (IS HE ALIVE OR DEAD?)..I really think kane was just wanting McMahon back to make sure the Chaos stops so there's no 4 ways for titles.

Kelly Kelly probably is part of the Chaos with no one to enforce contracts, I was hoping ECW said something about her but it fell apart cause the commentary doesn't hit ya over the head with "CHAOTIC CLUES"...Taker could return as the OVERLORD or Stone cold could be the LANDLORD..somehow, I feel the phrase "Lord of the ring" being used..

However, with no one enforcing contracts, I do hope that Regal returns to beat Punk unfairly and takes on younger talent for titles while punk,cena,and orton eventually chases the title and Regal ends up fighting Batista instead leading Batista to turn heel due to the chaos in all his matches.

Chaos in every match without rules for months could turn everyone as crazy as kane and come off like ECW extreme rules matches..No referee or anyone around the ring is safe, including new talent planted to help doubleteam or be brought into the ring.and beaten up for sympathy.

I like Shawn's idea for the cryme tyme heel turn, but I couldn't see them working with Jbl. Fans wouldn't take to kindly to that turn of events.

Could it be Paul Bearer that Kane is on about when he says ''Is he Alive Or Dead'', Just thought it could be. Also Cena and Cryme Tyme would make an awesome stable, but they would have to turn heel aswell, im just excited to see if they do anything on raw this week, that could turn them more towards a potential stable and heel turn.

i got SD spoilers and undertaker didnt return to disrupt the wedding, hhh was the only one who disrupted