Listen it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t complain about Raw, Smackdown or ECW right? So while there was plenty I really liked about Raw there were a few things that I didn’t like and one major feud that is leaving me lukewarm after last night’s show. I’m going to save that for last. What I want to do is tell you who my top three stars of last night’s Raw were. And each one of the guys that I’m going to mention wowed me by their mic work. After that I want to tell you what match was the match of the night, and then I’ll tell you about a few other things that I liked and as I said I will end with something that is kind of pissing me off. But before I start I have to give it to the Memphis, Tn. crowd. This was a very upbeat lively group, and a crowd that seemed very HOT for John Cena. Okay so on to Raw and my top stars of the night.
Ric Flair was Raw’s top guy last night. His segment was just fantastic. You know I always enjoy watching and listening to a Ric Flair promo. Some are better than others. But last night Ric did what Foley has been doing on and off. He did a promo that seemed to come from the heart. You could just feel the passion that he had trying to get Foley to agree to a match. His delivery was perfect. I think this was Flair’s best promo in a long time. This man was just awesome. My second runner up and it was close was Edge. I was crazy about his segment. Mickie James and Trish were just about to start their Women’s title match when Edge and Lita came out and took over. Mickie left but Edge wanted Trish to stay. Edge then started his little rant. You know he’s the WWE champion who is sick and tired of being shoved in the background. I loved how he made a smart ass comment about DX being on the front of the Summer Slam poster because they have to be. It loses something here but believe me the way he said it was great. He then had made digs about John Cena and Trish also being on the poster.
But the best line at least for me was when he said Batista is on the poster before he gets injured again. Edge like Ric Flair delivered all of this smoothly and it just went along with his character. HE’S RAW and he’s not getting the attention he should be getting. Edge wasn’t done because he really started insulting Trish. Edge seemed to be a little jealous that he didn’t get the cover of the latest WWE magazine. That honor went to Trish. This got Edge going even more which was the perfect way to get Trish angry and for her to go after Lita. This was a terrific segment and after Lita and Trish got into it and then Edge planned on taking out Trish, it was Carlito to Trish’s rescue and I just knew this would set up a tag team match. And I was right and I could not wait to see it. But before I go into the matches my third star of the night was Mick Foley. I feel since Flair was on fire with his promo it was kind of hard to top him, but Foley almost did. Mick’s reaction and response to Flair was outstanding. Foley agreeing to an I Quit match against Flair at Summer Slam is now on. I’m not sure if this match can come close to what we got last night on the mic but I have to say I’m looking forward to seeing this one.
So there you have my Raw stars of the night. But as far as matches go, the match of the night was Edge and Lita vs. Trish and Carlito. By the way did you notice the facial expression on Carlito earlier in the show when Trish grabbed him and kissed him? I really like Carlito playing a face. He comes off kind of innocent, yet we all know that’s not really Carlito. But back to the match. Most of you know that I love fast paced matches with a lot of action and yes this had it. It was extremely nice to see Lita wrestling for a change and everyone involved in this match did a hell of a job. I have been checking on and off today to see if Trish is okay from that brutal Spear that she took from Edge. It looked like her body flipped and twisted. So far I haven’t read anything about her being hurt. This match was outstanding and I would have made it the main event match. And speaking of the main event I liked it very much. Hunter sold very well for Umaga. And it was a good back and forth match. I was thrilled Hunter lost because Shawn did the week before and I would have hated to Hunter get the sledgehammer and find a way to win. Also it seems like many on the sites are a little put off by Vince pedigreeing Hunter. That didn’t bother me at all. So he did Hunter’s finishing move, big deal. It was just a way as JR said to humiliate Triple H. It just seemed to all go together with the beating Hunter took in the ring. This match and my match of the night were the only matches that I really liked.
From here on things aren’t exactly rosy and I‘ll tell you why. I have absolutely nothing against Kane and I have said many times in emails and in my columns that WWE took a hot character and wrecked him. So I have to say I was very disappointed that we had this so called Number 1 contender match again for the IC title. I never expected Shelton Benjamin to lose I figured someone would run out and interfere and this person would feud with Kane. But that wasn’t the case and the two things that hit me for the Benjamin loss were either Benjamin is injured, or something with the drug program and a suspension is coming. Benjamin vs. Johnny Nitro for the IC title at Summer Slam was a perfect match; now with Kane in there it really leaves me kind of cold.
I didn’t care for Cena’s promo, not because of Cena but because of what was written for him. It was just stuff for him to say that was senseless. As far as his match against Viscera goes, it was nothing. The highlight and only highlight was Cena lifting big Vis and giving him the FU. And Randy Orton vs. Jerry The King Lawler was just what I expected it to be. Now Hogan was supposed to be there last night, and I’m sure many of you have read on WWE.com that he has a knee injury and that’s why he wasn’t there. And it’s not known if he will be able to have his Summer Slam match against Orton. Well there are so many out there speculating as to what is really going on. Let me share some of the things that I have read. 1. Hogan is legitimately hurt. 2. He’s not injured, and just wants a better payoff for Summer Slam. 3. He was able to plug Brooke’s video on NBC and that was what he wanted to accomplish. 4. He is refusing to put Randy Orton over by jobbing at Summer Slam. And finally 5. That he will be doing the match, Randy will win, but his injured knee will be the reason why he couldn’t beat Randy.
I have no idea what the truth is, but this Orton/Hogan feud never took off like Hogan and Shawn Michaels did for last years Summer Slam. I don’t think Summer Slam’s buy rates will suffer if Hogan isn’t there. Orton and Hogan have such little heat that their feud hasn’t really made a dent for this years pay per view. Randy beat Lawler adding another legends name to Orton’s list. But unfortunately Randy is in limbo right now, but at least the home town crowd had something to cheer about. And now for the one thing that really is starting to get to me. The idea for DX reuniting I figured was not only to turn Hunter face but to get the crowd going. And it seems to have worked. Week after week including last night the DX signs are all over the arenas. But in the last few weeks, well one week Hunter took off for the birth of his baby, but last week and last night DX is like non existent.
I understand that DX can’t keep getting the last laugh, the upper hand. And that’s exactly what they were doing every time they faced the Spirit Squad. And I understand that you can’t put DX all over Raw every week, I really do. But last night I was livid. First I thought I was watching some kind of school skit with the opening. Vince and Shane imitating Elvis wasn’t funny at all, not even a little bit. Then you had Vince and Shane in like three other segments. Okay fine but what didn’t make any sense to me was that last week Hunter was framed for the cigar situation. As he was walking out with the police he saw Vince and Shane talking about global warming which made Triple H immediately realize that he was set up by them. He made a comment like you want to play, okay I’ll play. Okay so what happens this week? Well instead of DX coming together and turning the tables on the McMahon’s. Shawn attacks Shane and then is arrested by the police, and Hunter sees this and calmly tries to talk the police out of arresting Shawn and it doesn’t work and that’s it its over. No ranting and raving from Hunter he accepts what’s going on.
What happened to those two wild and crazy guys that are always one step ahead of Vince and Shane? Why would Shawn go after Shane? Wouldn’t you think that HBK would have known better? DX started out so strong but in the last three weeks things have gone from really good to not so good. Vince has a way of killing something when it’s hot and that’s just what’s happening now. Hey I’m not saying DX won’t make a strong comeback because they will, but all of this could have be written so much better with a lot more thinking involved. I don’t expect DX to win and out do the opposition each week but you still need to put these guys together. Let them get in the ring as DX and do their thing and then take it from there. I’m so disappointed, because right now this feud is going nowhere.
There you have it a good Raw with some flaws but enough to put the show over.
Now tonight on ECW Kurt Angle is facing Sabu, this could be good. And on WWE.com it’s a go, Batista vs. King Booker for the World Championship is now official. I’ll be back either at the end of the week or over the weekend. Enjoy ECW tonight; I know I’m really anxious to watch it.
Email lindarobin3@yahoo.com