I loved the Mickie James/Maryse segment (and I usually hate women's wrestling). The hair apray in the eyes angle, and the fact that it was an interview that was done away from the ring, but not in the back, gave it a real old school feel.
Now if only Bob Caudle or David Crockett would have done the interview in front of the old baby blue backboard with Mid-Atlantic Wrestling written diagonally acroos it, that would have been perfiect...

I was thinking the same thing about Jimmy Garvin and "Sharp Dressed Man" That would have been cool if he had shown up. Brian Kendrick was my pick to be Jerichos partner but with his losing streak I doubt it. SIx man tag had me wondering if besides setting up for US title match at ppv but also to settle short feud between the Colons. Anyone know the whereabouts of Beth Phoenix? As far as Cena, HHH, and Orton goes who cares b/c i sure dont

It sure made me wonder what I'd be hearing if I went to a live ZZ Top show this summer. Do they actually play their guitars anymore?

The opening was pretty corny, though the crowd ate it up. It seemed like maybe something was supposed to come after hobbit, but he forgot it. Just got awkward there.

I hope they stick with the interview pad in the arena. I think it's a nicer touch than always being backstage. Mickie had the line of the night on Miz.

Otherwise it was just kind of there. I feel bad for Kendrick since he'd be better served to take the night off than do that match. I also re-evaluated what I think about Chavo. I was feeling really bad for him, but I truly think he loves his role right now. He just seems like the kind of guy who has a crazy sense of humor. Remember Pepe from WCW? I wouldn't be shocked if he's pitching half this stuff the more I think about it.

What happened to Beth btw?

I see Stone Cold owes the govt over 20 grand. Do they send Irwin R Schyster to collect?

Yesterday was terrible. I know things were gonna go down-hill when ZZ Top did not come ringside in the opening segment and Santino had to join them for several segments.

I think the Shaq show is gonna be awsome. The boys can really have something to work with.

I was also surprised that Fox and Mendes won. Indeed Fox and Mendes have shown that they can pay dues and work hard. So I see it as a trigger pull for better things for them both.

Kevin -

What was with ZZ Top? Were all of their segments filmed like a week ago at an undisclosed location or something? Even worse, they just talked the lyrics to their songs while pretending to play the guitar.

You know things are going bad when someone as talented and as funny as Santino can't save you ...

"While last week’s guest host Seth Green livened up the show"

not really mate...

Anyone know where Evan Bourne is and why he isn't part of the 6 pack challenge match for the U.S title? Did Big Show really hurt him last week?

RESPONSE FROM KE: Bourne said on his WWE blog that his neck was hurting for a few days but he's OK now.

I feel the babyface turn will happen for DiBiase during the Tag Team Title match. Jericho will enter the ring alone. While Rhodes, Jericho and DiBiase are stairing at the ramp waiting for Jericho's partner, Rhodes will attack Dibiase, hug Jericho and walk out with him as a Tag Team Champion. Legacy is DEAD!

Well Kev i found Raw dry and boring..... nothing exciting happened and Chavo jobbing to Hornswoggle. is travisty..

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought Raw was weak.

Kev, I think by far you are the best of the pro wrestling bloggers that I read. However, the article was pretty short. BUT, that isn't your fault. Its RAW's. RAW is so horrible right now its almost impossible to watch and I am sure must be a pain to review. To be honest, i've been turning the channel during any main event that consists of *insert members of Legacy* vs *insert Cena or Trips*

It looked like ZZ Top was stuck in a broom closet only to be set free right before the main event. If they were going to come out they should have at least been given a chance to perform one of their hits live as other bands have done over the years including Fozzy.

Speaking of Jericho, here's a prediction. His tag team partner this Sunday will be: Cody Rhodes. Remember when Ted DiBiase, Jr. told Rhodes and Hardcore Holly he had a mystery partner and it turned out to be Rhodes. I've a feeling lightning is going to strike twice.

The Mickie/Maryse/Miz confrontation was good. Maryse's facial expressions are great but the perfume spray makes her come off as the French Canadian version of Angelina Love.

after watching brian kendrick lose to Lawler I said to my wife "he's getting canned tommorrow." I'm glad I'm wrong, but really, why even have that match?

I just wanna thank KE for his continuous coverage of wrestling. As for last night, ZZ Top was quite boring. Almost like seeing them in concert. Santino is always ridiculously entertaining. I was over shocked at Jericho saying his partner just might be Orton! Although, what a great partner selection that would be, I do believe Orton can do 2 matches at NOC. If that is the case, he will be tag team champion, and then lose it to Cena, who has again become a crowd favorite. Not to mention the constant reminder that 12 Rounds is still #1. Only fitting, this long endured setup, that Cena will be Champion! In closing, I'm over excited that RAW will be live in Las Vegas on 8/25, and I have 2 tickets. Kevin Eck rocks!

I didn't like ZZ Top as the guest hosts for Monday Night Raw. I felt like they served no purpose at all. I also think it's about time for HHH, Cena, and Orton need new opponents. I am curious to see who will Jericho's partner at the Pay-Per-View this Sunday.

Raw has officially jumped the shark! The whole Donald thing and now guest host crap is just horrible. Seth Green put up a great performance but at the end of the day the guest host has been a huge bust! And now next week we get to hear Shak stumble over his words! Great!! Or even better we will have a Shak and Hornswaggle main event!!

Kev,
Do you have any thoughts on why we don't see heel commentators anymore in WWE? I think the fact that we have to listen to both Lawler and Cole gush over the same superstars with the same worn out lines contributes to why so many people dislike faces and cheer heels.
J.R. is different though. He always brings new material and thoughts to a match.

RESPONSE FROM KE: My guess is that Vince wants all the focus to be on the stars. So, the referees don't have names anymore and the announcers don't have personality anymore.

Highlight of the night was Big Show picking up/Kofi jumping from the ground into the ring. Ridiculous strength/athleticism from those two.

How ridiculously hot did Kelly Kelly look in those denim shorts.

If Raw wasnt so short on babyfaces, this would be the perfect opportunity to turn Triple H heel. Partner him up with Jericho.

I was looking forward to Monday night RAW when I found out ZZ Top was guest-hosting, then found it to be extremely disappointing.... Think they need to find a new general manager and quick.

My thought upon seeing Jericho again on RAW then the comment about Orton at the end was that someone from Legacy will be Jericho's tag team partner but I don't think it will be Orton. The other thought after reading on some other sites that Jericho was seen out and about with Kelly Kelly, is that maybe he's showing up more on RAW to be with her.

My final thought re: Night of Champions - I think Triple H is going to be given back the belt. Now I'll admit, I am a Trips fan, but considering 7/27th is his 40th birthday - what better birthday present than for the family to give him the belt back ??? You have to admit Kevin, it is a thought.

Anyway, Kevin, keep up the great blog. I haven't written in for awhile, but I love reading your blog and the comments received.

Raw was almost unwatchable. Felt sorry for ZZ Top. Will always like the smart-aleck Trips the best. Thought Lawler looked pretty spry for an old man.

ZZ Top did themselves no favors going on live TV and not actually playing anything themselves.

WWE did them no favors feeding them bargain basement lines and production values.

If WWE wants more maintream acceptance, they will need to put a little more thought into what they do on a regular basis. Wouldn't hurt them in general either.

The WWE product is very mediocre at best overall these days, even with some very good wrestling talent on the rosters. They need to get out of their rut for real and not just rely on cheap gimmicks to try to keep things interesting.

I'll probably tune in Raw next week, but I'm starting to give serious thought to just dropping it for a while.

Raw is SO boring. I use a DVR to watch and basically fast forward anything to do with Orton, Cena, and HHH nowadays. Orton has become stale with HHH and Cena.

Big Show completely destroyed EVERYBODY. He is awesome. I wish he could have another World title run like he did in 2006 with the ECW title. He was dominant for the second half of that year and that's when he started to become a more brutally violent Big Show that we see now.

Less Big Show/Vicki Guererro love affairs. More rabbit punches.

Ken,

I agree with your thoughts on Kendrick. Same goes for Chavo Guerrero who keeps losing in silly matches to the Leprechaun. Wonder why WWE doesn't just dress Kendrick & Chavo up as Doink the Clown impersonators and make a new tag team comedy act...

I guess the third member of the ZZ Top made the wise choice to stay home when they taped those cheesy backstage segments. No wonder Santino was subbed in...They could have at least performed "Legs" live at the top of the ramp with all the Divas dancing to it. Instead, ZZ Top drove out in their car at the end, shook a few fan's hands and then probably went back to their hotel before the main event bell rang.

Seriously, ZZ Top? Way to target that key nursing home demographic, Vince.

RAW is horrible and has been for some time. I don't really understand this whole guest host idea, and I understand even less the decision to have a band like zz top being host. Raw is supposed to be more pg and for kids right? How many kids out there know anything about zz top? MY main problem with the entire WWE these days is that they don't seem to have a clear cut direction with the product, is it for kids, teens, adults, I'm not sure because they are all over the place and seem to hit on target, which ends upo alienting everyone. I think it's time for Vince to step aside and let Shane or Stephanie handle the family business. Vince has had his time and has made wrestling what it is today, but with every episode of RAW like the one we had to sit through this week, it's clear that a change is needed.

I haven't my watched my recording of Raw, and after reading Kevin's entry and these comments, I am not going to. This guest host concept has already run its course, in my opinion. Where authority figures are concerned, the storyline potential is quite limited when there is a different person in one week and out the next.

I'm surprised you didn't give the platform interview with Mickie James, Maryse, and that other guy more praise for its total "old school" mentality. Tell me that interview segment wasn't straight out of 1988 when Craig DeGeorge or Sean Mooney had the mic, and the superstar would come out for an interview, but an interested party would cause a distraction, then an arch-rival would attack the superstar from behind.

I remember in the first few months I started watching regularly, I saw Honky Tonk thump Brutus Beefcake with his guitar, and then a few weeks later, the main event for SummerSlam '88 was set up by the same nature.

Good stuff, good memories, and I was happy to see Mickie & Maryse fit it so naturally into today's environment.

That was my highlight of the night!

I am just wondering, Eck. Did anyone in Raleigh actually see ZZ Top in the arena? After watching RAW, I noticed all their segments appeared to be in the can, which means they could have been shot anywhere.

"The Cena-Triple H comedy during the opening segment was more corny than funny, especially Cena’s stuff."

SHOCKER

I'm betting if they don't announce Ziggler as Jericho's partner on Friday night Smackdown then it will be Cody Rhodes as Jericho's partner. Creating a program between Rhodes and Dibiase.

At 59 years old, King is a much better wrestler than Flair was at the same point in their careers. I think Lawler's career is underrated because of how much of it was spent in Memphis, as opposed to a bigger promotion elsewhere. Any way, if I had to see Flair challenging for titles and getting major ring time on PPVs well into his 50s and past his prime, I can handle a few minutes of a legend like Lawler. Still, sucks to be Brian Kendrick these days.

Kevin;
Why, why WHY is the WWE continuing this Guest Host garbage? I must be an idiot because I cannot understand it at all. It's only a cheap way for some lame celeb to hype their upcoming stuff and is an insult to all of us who tune in for the matches and what used to be a quality show. The last few weeks have been just awful with the exception of Ted DiBiase's turn at hosting. I have never seen such a boring, inane and meaningless mess. I am more and more impressed by TNA trying to step up their game (Victory Road being an exception-granted). It is painfully obvious that Vince has to have competition of some kind or he thinks troweling out crap like he has been is OK. What do you HONESTLY think would happen if TNA decided to try going head to head with the 'E at this point on Monday night? What do they have to lose??

"the announcers don't have personality anymore"

You can say that again!

Brilliant idea!

It was nice to see the Diva's platform interview. The only thing missing was Ted Dibiase offering a kid $1000.00 to dribble a basketball 15 times. Overall the show sucked and I found myself hitting fast forward all the way through. As corny as Impact is I have to say that I look forward to watching the show. I can no longer say the same about any of the WWE shows

I am on strike from Raw! The Big Show is the most pathetic wrestler. I am SICK of HHH. Cena is so mediocre; I never feel like I'm missing anything with him. Orton is boring. The women's division is a complete mockery. The only reason to watch is for MVP and Kofi Kingston. I will not return to Raw until Shawn Michaels comes back!

Mark Henry and Chris Jericho...I haven't seen a "Giant Swing" since Don Leo Jonathan!!

I was just reading a review of the upcoming DVD "Rise and Fall of WCW". The match list lists

War Games Match
Team WCW- Sting, Lex Luger, Ric Fair & Arn Anderson vs. Team n.W.o.- Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & a Mystery Partner
Fall Brawl - September 15, 1996

How the heck can they have THAT War Games Match and not the first one...Horsemen and Dillon vs. Dusty, Nikita, Road Warriors, and Ellering? THAT's the match that set the bar...not some nWo retread!

Like Jericho said, I think his partner will be Randy Orton.
This will cause the babyface turn for Legacy, allowing them to feud with Hart Dynasty.
Maybe Legacy will also cost him title.

I guess we have to wait at least another week for that "Stomp a Mudhole in Hornswoggle and Walk it Dry" match.

I can wait.

I am late on this but I disagree about Lawler defeating Kendrick. Lawler is a legend and I love it when he gets in the ring. If the WWE can still from time to time hype Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, it can give Lawler who still wrestles a lot of indy shows the same hype. I actually wish Lawler would wrestle more often.