I just can't believe the tag team match at summerslam isn't with Rhodes and Dibiase. Marella is funny, but not pay per view material. And it is going to make a joke out of Kingston (win or lose) who has some real potential.

Eck, why wouldn't WWE include in Summerslam the best tag team in years, the only two who have made the titles actually mean anything at all?

I hope they make a really good show out of the Kane Mysterio angle. It has good potential.

On a smackdown / ECW note, THE Brian Kendrick should feud with John Morrison. Those two guys are great. Throw in Shelton Benjamin and you have a great triple threat match would for the US title.

I really hope Cena turns heel at summerslam - kind of like the way Stond Cold turned at Wrestlemania.... i forget which number. 17 18 or 19???

It's about time they put Punk’s straight edge lifestyle into his title reign, as it's a great thing in this day and age plus it worked well with JBL, who I swear has gotten so much better since the draft.

Loved the Kane swerve, but Kev, do you think that Rey will wrestle without a mask like in WCW since he was so against it? I think it would add something new to his personna.

Ever since Marella got into with Stone Cold, he has constantly been a bright spot on Raw. Give this man some serious props, as people actually care for him, even though he loses a heck of lot more than he wins. The guy has some serious charisma.

Kev, if RKO is hurt, I hope Cena turns heel and says "Jericho is right, performing for you guys and doing the right thing, gets you nowhere, as you boo me and cheer a guy like HHH, who goes around with a sledge hammer".

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I don't think WWE would make the same mistake WCW made by taking the mask off Rey. You see all those kids in the audience with Rey masks? There's no way.

Long time reader, first time commenter - love the blog by the way.

Last nights show was very good in my eyes. I like how Adamle said he would let the wrestlers do as they wish and only interfere when necessary.

I'm also not very interested in the Cena Batista feud. I agree with you entirely when you say they put it together only a few weeks ago. Sure WWE have tried their hardest to work in legitimate reasons why these guys should hate each other, but it could have been so much better if they built up an original storyline and let it build up over time.

Finally, love the reference to Jericho spilling coffee on Kane. I remember laughing so hard at that storyline.

When Cena was pushed into Batista at the end of the match, wouldn't the contact make Batista the leagal man in the match? I thought that was an angle for them to keep the belts.

Hey, 'Easy-E', how was the small market Salisbury show this past Sunday? 5 pm was a strange start time.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I wasn't there. If anybody went, let us know how it was.

Kevin, I'm not sure I didn't prefer Jimmy Valiant as the Boogie Woogie Man. He did team with Laser Tron and did get his head shaved in a feud with "Number One" Paul Jones.

i was surprised that RAW ended at 11pm last night. i wonder why??

I missed the Kane/Y2J match. So I am watching that on my DVR. My 5 year old comes down stairs and tells me that Kane had Rey Meysterio's mask. And I swore he was mistaken. I figured it was Kane's old mask, and My son couldn't tell the difference since in his 5 year old mind Kane never WORE a mask.

I was shocked to see he was right.

I would like to see a Kane/Rey Program. The only question is, after Kane inevitably does the job to Rey, where does he go from there? He can't possibly EVER be seen as a monster after having lost to Rey.

To me it's just like the example KEV gave last week. How can you see the Great Khali as this big monster after having jobbed to Finley and Hornswoggle?

But then again, I never thought Kane could be portrayed as a monster again after doing the Kane-a-rooni in the ring with Booker T once too.

I, like just about everybody on this board are itching for a Cena heel turn. It'll break my son's heart, but he'll get over it.

Kev, I know you are a card carrying member of the "I Hate Cryme Tyme" Association, but what do you think is keeping them out of a program with the World Tag Champs? They are really the only other legit tag team on Raw right now.

Kev - 1 quick Non-Raw Related question please... Do you think the WWE could/would ever try to attempt the concept of Wrestlemania 2 where it was one event from 3 different locations. Especially now, with 3 different brands? Why or Why Not?

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I think the three locations at mania was an experiment. I don't see them doing it again. And for the record, I don't hate Cryme Tyme. It's just that they were brought in to basically be a comedy act and I didn't think they were funny. The racial stereotyping bothered me as well. I like them better since the association with Cena and less "money money yeah yeah" segments.

Kevin,

I think your impressions of the Cena/Batista match are dead on. They are trying to book it as a big huge deal, but there is absolutely nothing at stake and there is absolutely nothing to gain for either to be in this program right now...UNLESS there is a hidden agenda that will come out at the PPV. This could be the trigger for one of them to turn heel, but I am actually considering a different outcome. I like the thought of outside interference from someone playing a part in the match resulting in some sort of no contest or count out that doesn't require anyone to lose face...at the same time, continuing to build for that to be a Wrestlemania match and sending these guys in different directions again for a while longer.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I agree that there could be an inconclusive finish and then the two go off in different directions. Then they could revisit it for WrestleMania claiming that nothing was settled in their first meeting.

I think Vince decided to go with Batista and Cena for Summer Slam instead of Wrestle Mania because he knows the two of them will probably botch something up like at the Royal Rumble a few years back.

I don't think those text votes the WWE has are legit. A hell of alot more people don't like Cena then 27%.

I don't want to see JBL in a title match at a major PPV. He is great on the mic, but he is so awful looking in the ring anymore. He should go back to SD! and announce after Foley leaves following his latest hissy fit.

i thought cena was the better star , like most people, because he has had many more title reigns than batista , cena also had a much harder path to the top, batista was hhh's lacky and got help when ever he needed it, cena had to go through everything alone, i think it would have been a better story line if they built up on how batista always took the easy way out at the start of his career.

300 ft is absurd. No way someone gets thrown the length of a football field and survives with a re-broken collar bone. If Orton's crash is legit, and the details exaggerate, I apologize, but I instantly thought it was a work when I heard it.

Very predictable RAW in my opinion. Whenever there is a surprise and someone lays out exactly what the majority of people are thinking (a la Adamle and Kane, "I know it's your mask, Kane") you've gotta know there is a swerve coming a mile away. I guess thats the problem with swerves these days, either you see them coming like a mack truck or you they just seem to make no storyline sense at all (a la TNA). The funny thing is, this particular swerve did both.

Hey Kevin, I love reading your blog. It's one of the best out there.

The Cena / Batista "feud" is boring me. The writers haven't given it enough time to develop and it feels rushed. Hopefully they've got a plan to drag this out and build it up for Wrestlemania.

I liked that CM Punk got some mic time last night. He's strong on the stick and I thought I could hear the crowd getting more behind him the longer he spoke. Hopefully he gets a clean win Sunday without interference from Randy Orton.

I hope a Cena turn is coming soon. I thought he was acting a little heelish after the match with Batista, with the walking from the ring and looking disgusted and all. Batista's comment about fans 15 and up thinking he was better than Cena was funny...

The Cena/Batista feud couldn't have been blown more badly on purpose. It wasn't going to be a 5 star match by any means, but it was the last big "fresh" match the WWE had left, and will have for quite some time. Everything was set up perfectly, the Cena roundhouse that connected with Batista, followed by the pull-a-part, with apologies the following week. There was a truce, but friction was planted. It could have been milked for months, maybe even coming to a head during the Rumble and ultimately a showdown at WM25. But instead, it's been thoroughly rushed, every interaction last night just felt forced, right up to Batista recycling jokes about Cena's fans. I was happy to see Batista publicly admit he was disappointed in the buildup to this match.

It's a shame the WWE doesn't value women's wrestling. Instead of the high quality women's matches TNA regularly gives, the WWE pushes out its next Playboy bunny and watches as she nearly breaks her neck because she shouldn't be within 300 feet of a wrestling match.

The Kane swerve was just a big FU to the internet crowd and lacked logic. Santino is beyond hilarious, but if he wins the IC title on Sunday, it will further prove the WWE no longer cares about secondary titles. The JBL/Punk segment was excellent, perhaps they're finally learning how to book this guy. After the great months of character buildup for Jericho, it was disappointing to see him as an afterthought in a throwaway match. The Noble/Regal feud could have been so much more.

A few matches i would LOVE to see...

Cena vs. Punk

Miz vs. Cody Rhodes

HHH vs. Undertaker

"It's a shame the WWE doesn't value women's wrestling. Instead of the high quality women's matches TNA regularly gives, the WWE pushes out its next Playboy bunny and watches as she nearly breaks her neck because she shouldn't be within 300 feet of a wrestling match."

Please. Those girls are now the exception not the rule as most of the WWE Divas are now at least passable and lot of them are pretty good.

Salinas, Christy Hemme, and Velvet Sky aren't exactly great, either. In fact, they're about as bad as the WWE poorest females.

The solid Knockouts division is treated as amazing and groundbreaking because the rest of TNA's show is a confusing mess while the Knockouts are booked logically (and as a result, the Knockouts get more viewers than Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, and Booker T).

300 feet would be a football field that is ridiculous and untrue, he'd be dead.

Just a few points, if you remember 3 months back, a wrestling reporter know as Dave Meltzer said that Orton would be out 6 months. Orton then said that it would only be three. Now he needs 3 more. Could it be that this story was fabricated to discredit Meltzer? He's nowhere as respected as our very own Kevin Eck but Dave is right quite often.

My friends and I follow the results of all those polls at the ppv's and 100% of the time, the losing choice is what actually happens. Pretty lame way to make-up swerves.

Finally, everyone mentions that if Santino wins the IC title that it'll shame and discredit the belt. Does anyone remember that Santino's first match was him winning the title from the (at the time) undefeated Samoan Bulldozer Umaga after a cheap interference by the now-defunct Bobby Lashley? What's so different now?

Santino Marella is the best thing going in wrestling today.

I know the Cena Batista thing has not been given enough time to bed in, but it will increase buys for SummerSlam for sure so WWE do know what it is doing - it will piss off dedicated wrestling fans - those that comment on here and such, but for the average wrestling fan - the interest will be enough. I hope this match has some form of inconclusive finish - and held off for Wrestlemania. When you consider the top 3 matches (in my eye's) - Cena v Batista, Hardy v MVP and Taker v Edge are not for any title, it shows the strength of the show. Surely the strongest SummerSlam in many a year? Though it does go someway to devaluing the belts.

Anyway, how do you think the Kane Mysterio thing will pan out? Not sure if I would like a feud between them or not.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: At least Kane-Mysterio is a fresh match-up.

When did Rey become tortured and scarred beyond repair? Has Kane kidnapped him or something? Are we supposed to believe that Kane was referring to Rey while he was manhandling Cole and Lawler? I agree with Joe Barber's comments on the matter.

JGavin says:
"Santino Marella is the best thing going in wrestling today. "

WHAT!!!???!!!! Are you forgeting a certain Edge. Or even Orton. Heck, Noble is a better performer than Marella. And that's just in the 'E. In TNA, there's Styles, Kaz, Daniels/Curryman. Even divas and knockouts are better than him. Sure, he is a very funny character but the best thing in wrestling, please. He doesn't even make it on my list.

I second that. Santino's the best thing currently going in this industry. He's a timeless heel. Wish he'd get a few convincing victories now and then.

I could definitely see a Randy Orton sighting at SummerSlam.

I went to the house show on Sunday... it was pretty good. The sound was a little off because the arena was so small, everything echoed. I was in the front row ringside and could barely make out anyone's promos, which is a shame when you have Matt Striker, Santino, and Jericho on the mic. The audience got to vote by text on the stipulation for the Punk/Jericho match, either No DQ (which won) , 2 out of 3 falls, or Falls Count Anywhere.Come to think of it, falls count anywhere makes no sense if there isn't even a tron set up. Anyway...

Kane def Matt Striker (pretty much recycled from last week, minus the wedgie)
D'Lo Brown def. Charlie Haas
William Regal def. Jamie Noble (Pretty much used the next night)
Snitsky def. jobber
Kofi Kingston def. Santino Marella (IC title)
Mickie James def. Katie Lea (women's title)
John Cena def. Rhodes and DiBiase (2 on 1 handicap match)
CM Punk def. Chris Jericho (WHC, no DQ)

I was suprised that Batista wasn't there at all, but other than that... Any questions?

Why did DiBiase and Runnels (I'm sorry, Rhodes) get destroyed last night? Why don't they have a match at SS? How can we have a Cena-Batista matchup without any real build-up? Is Orton really hurt?

Well the rumor going around is that Orton is coming back Sunday to lead a faction with DiBiase/Runnels and their first heat-building moment is to provide a beatdown during the Cena-Batista match that will result in a no-contest. This will create fresh feuds and allow for a Cena-Batista rematch down the road.

Ordinarily I hate it when major PPV matches start new stories rather than conclude them, but this could definitely work.

Please. Those girls are now the exception not the rule as most of the WWE Divas are now at least passable and lot of them are pretty good.

Salinas, Christy Hemme, and Velvet Sky aren't exactly great, either. In fact, they're about as bad as the WWE poorest females.

The solid Knockouts division is treated as amazing and groundbreaking because the rest of TNA's show is a confusing mess while the Knockouts are booked logically (and as a result, the Knockouts get more viewers than Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, and Booker T).
-------------------------
You missed my point entirely. Yes the Knockouts is the most, OK, only, logically booked part of TNA, but that's only part of the reason it stands out. They're actually given time to put on good matches, something that hasn't happened in the WWE for years. It stands out because it's far and away better than WWE's version.

Since you mentioned the Valiant Brothers I'll chime in . I too grew up watching them . While not possessing the greatest ring skills , they were always "entertaining".
Luscious Johnny's mike skills were on par with the best .

1. Hey Eli, the Salisbury show was your standard house show. It was good, but nothing spetacular, although, when Cena hit the room, it was the loudest I've heard that place in over 8 years.

2. Kevin, the Mysterio mask in the bag might explain the new mask that's on WWE ShopZone: http://www.wweshop.com/Product_detail.asp?cat=cat-reymysterio&productId=17-00330
I haven't seen Mysterio wear anything like this yet, so it would make sense if they ran angle where Kane did something to his face. What do you think?

Anyone remember a few PPV's back? Batista and Orton talking about Evolution.

Maybe Orton's new injury is a swerve and Batista is going for the heel turn with interference from Orton. Cue Evolution music.

Since I was down in OC for the weekend, I went to the event in Salisbury on Sunday night. Paid 20 dollars for a ticket and it was fun, but nothing amazing or extraordinary. Some of the wrestlers who were there were Kane, John Cena, Santino Marella, Regal, DLo Brown, CM Punk, and Chris Jericho. CM Punk vs Jericho was the main event in a no-DQ match which Punk won. Cena got the biggest ovation out of everyone there. The event wasn’t event close to being sold out and the sound system at the Wicomico Civic center was pretty bad as you couldn’t hear anything the wrestlers said. There was no elaborate entrance set up or any big screens, but I guess that is b/c the arena is rather old and it was a weekend house show. Overall though, the event was pretty fun and I thought the wrestlers who were there put on an enjoyable show. It was interesting seeing a scaled down WWE show in a smaller venue instead of seeing one at the Verizon Center or the First Mariner Arena (though I did see an WWE event a few years ago at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, which was also interesting as it was at a baseball stadium).

The other questionable item about the Randy Orton story is the claim he has only been riding a bike for a month. Who takes up motorcycle riding while recovering from a broken collarbone and mere months after becoming a father?

"You missed my point entirely. Yes the Knockouts is the most, OK, only, logically booked part of TNA, but that's only part of the reason it stands out. They're actually given time to put on good matches, something that hasn't happened in the WWE for years. It stands out because it's far and away better than WWE's version."

Sorry, but the women's matches on Raw lately haven't really been all that different than what's been on Impact. They often both get about 5 minutes unless it's a Beth Phoenix or Awesome Kong squash.

The exception is when the Knockouts get the main event slot since they outdraw the TNA World champion as far as ratings.

One more question, Zack, at Sunday's Salisbury show who did the in-ring announcing? I can't imagine it was Lillian Garcia. ( not that you could hear anyway ).

After reading the results of the card, now I wish I could have made it there just to see Snitsky earn a victory.

I repeat, Santino Marella is the best thing going in the industry today. While I would never discount the talents of most of the wrestlers you mentioned, none of them is as solid as Marella is in the ring or on the mic. Most of the time when wrestling writers try to use humor it either only appeals to 8 year olds or it's not really that funny at all. I think Cryme Tyme is supposed to be funny. I think Eric Young is supposed to be funny. Santino Marella is plain funny funny no matter what context you put him in. And, he does it week in and week out with no repeated catch phrases or repetitive in-jokes. He is consistantly entertaining, yet still maintains a heel repsonse from crowds. He is a prime example of what is so lacking in wrestling, a heel that you literally love to hate. To boot, his in-ring skills are as good as anybody elses in that company right now. He made Mickie James look great this past Monday, yet believable. Yeah, so maybe he could use a few wins now and then. However, to really put the likes of Jamie Noble or CurryMan (another questionable attempt at humor) or Kaz over Marella is borderline ridiculous.

Santino Marella = 2008 Version of Crash Holly

I think WWE is wisely hesitant to plan marquee matches like Cena/Batista too far out. It's too risky. A lot can happen over the period of months, not the least of which is injuries.

Having said that though I don't find Cena/Batista all that intriguing at this point. I doubt Summer Slam will provide any closure for this particular feud.

Kevin, I also loved the CM Punk/JBL segment on Raw with JBL taunting Punk's straight edge leanings. Next logical step for this would be for Stone Cold to show up, diss Punk's credentials compared to his, offer him a beer, and then show Punk some respect to help get him over when he respectfully declines.

Hey Eck,

Has there ever been an Undertaker / Chris Jericho fued? I can't remember one and I think I would have if it had happened. Another big matchup that WWE hasn't done.

That said, if Undertaker and Shawn Micheals are in fact legitimately coming to the ends of their careers, I hope they have a big time match at WM25. They teased it at the past two rumbles, and it would be fantastic to revist that fued from 97 or 98, whatever year it was.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I can't recall a Jericho-Undertaker program.

Mr. Eli, it was Tony Chimmel doing the ring announcing with Kelly Kelly serving as the "hostess" for the night.

Mr. Eli-

Tony Chimel was the ring announcer for the show, and Kelly Kelly had some kind of hostess gig going. I could barely hear, but I had the best seat in the house, until all the six-year-olds crowded the barricades during the last two matches. Anyway.

Mysterio used to wear masks like the one in the wweshop link to the ring, then remove it to reveal his typical mask.

AMC, couldn't agree with you more, as we have seen time and time again that injuries can strike at anytime and take away not only a huge Mania match, but all the time that goes into the build up.

I do feel that this match will be better than most because I really think Cena will turn Heel which combined with his association with Cryme Tyme, could be a stellar heel faction unless Orton is faking it and teams with Cody and Ted, but either way, I think the match will be interesting.

On a side note, I hope Jericho goes after HBK, leaving him on the shelf and continues with the "I ended the Heartbreak Kid's career" story line which would culminate with HBK and Jericho in an Iron Man match at Survivor Series, as that would be a real show stopper (no pun).

Santino is a jobber. And for Daniels( Curryman) to be able to portray to tottllay different charcters is amazing. And another thing, Marrella is no where near as good in the ring as Kaz or even Jamie Noble. Marrella just plain out sucks.

More on Luscious Johnny V. When Brutus Beefcake first came on the scene in 1984, J.V. as his manager did all the talking for him for quite awhile. Once things went sour between the two, J.V. donned the tights in a series of matches against Beefcake. Later I read the Luscious One was a standup comic in the Pittsburgh area. He did have that quick wit, not unlike the Brain.

Hi kev gr8 blog , I thnk raw rushed the cena/batista angle coz they running thin on heels I hope orton returns soon if his injury is legit as he cuts the best promos and has the in ring talent 2 back it up also I thnk its abt tym john morrison receives a singles title push