The RAW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The RAW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Real sorry this is late, but I’m getting a lot of mid-term work and assignments and stuff at the moment which is keeping me very busy, but feel free to complain all the same. That sounded sarcastic, but it wasn’t meant to, really complain if you want.

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RAW began this week with a GONG!

The Undertaker came out and his fire took its sweet time coming on, unsurprisingly. And he took his sweet time getting to the ring. I think it was like two minutes or so. He cut a promo about Shawn having a dark cloud above him, namely his obsession with Taker and his streak and that this obsession will end up costing him his career. He said his career would Rest In…and then came HBK in his winning Mr. Camp 2010 outfit.

HBK said he didn’t have the right to finish that line, and he admitted the dark cloud was hovering. HBK said that because Taker intefered in his match last week, this showed fear, because he didn’t have to intefere, whereas Michaels did at Elimination Chamber. Shawn said Taker is scared of how close he came to losing last year which is why Taker demanded Shawn put his career on the line. Shawn said he wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t know he could win. Taker said he didn’t know if Shawn was showing confidence or desperation. Shawn said he wasn’t desperate, and he wont take a count out or DQ, so he wants just that, a no DQ match, and he promised to beat Taker. Taker then told him Shawn could be the greatest of all time, but that he would do all in his power to end his career. Taker cut a more human promo than he has in a long time there. Shawn says post-Wrestlemania, the dark cloud will be back but this time it will be on Taker. This was a great promo segment, but I thought the no-DQ stip would be better on the Hart/McMahon match, but we’ll see what happens.

Alicia Fox, Katie Lea Burchill, WWE Divas Champion Maryse vs Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim and Eve Torres
Alicia Fox and Gail Kim had as good a segment as you’ll probably see in a divas match. Other than that this was a pretty standard divas match in that it was sloppy and lasted three minutes. Eve got the win again, with her pretty cool rolling armbar on Maryse. I wonder if she wears a shiny green gi when she trains jiu jitsu. 3/4*

Hornswoggle was backstage with Criss Angel until the Bellas came in and asked to be his assistants. They asked for a demonstration when he said no. He then put a thread in his mouth and pulled it out of his eye. That’s entertainment. Then Jillian came in. She sang. Everyone hated it, and Angel magically turned off her voice. Earn those paychecks ladies.

WWE Unified Tag Team Champions The Miz & Big Show vs John Morrison & R-Truth, Non-Title Match
Miz before the match said that Morrison and Truth didn’t deserve the shot, and compared them to Luger and Bulldog, and that they’d much rather face an actual team like The Bushwackers. Absolutely no idea why they’re giving away this for free. Perhaps in case they decide they’ve overstacked Mania and need to cut something. Morrison and Truth cleared the ring early and hit a double baseball slide on Miz. But then the match was ruled out of control. For about thrity seconds of chaos. Right. After the match, they beatdown Miz and shoved Show’s head into the post. Morrison said that that was how real of a team they can be. What? Losing tag team matches? Score. At least they didn’t give it away for free. N/A

Cool Batista and Cena package that led to a Cena promo backstage. Cena said Batista was right last week when he said that Cena can’t beat him. Cena said all he can do is go out there and beat Batista.

Backstage, Evan Bourne thanks Criss Angel for his MITB Qualifier. Skip Sheffield walks in followed by William Regal. Regal called Sheffield a muppet. They did a magic trick. Angel guessed the number Regal wrote down. Epic shit. Really like the Sheffield/Regal dynamic though.

They recap the most recent edition of Troubles with Legacy in anticipation of…

Legacy vs Randy Orton, Tag Handicap Match
Orton attacked from behind. I still hate the way Cody comes from the curtain backwards. Screw that. Orton had full control at the start, meanwhile, Cole failed on commentary. Eventually DiBiase cheapshotted Orton so Cody could take over. Legacy, however, continued to use numbers to get the advantage. DiBiase hit a nice dropkick on the outside. There was a lot of crowd support for Orton. DiBiase in general looked very good here. Orton also is starting to play his role of quasi-babyface better now, actually selling his beatdowns, and actually being dynamic in his comebacks and hope spots. Eventually the numbers worked against Orton though and he got pinned clean by DiBiase after Dream Street. They need to announce this one quickly if they want it at Mania so they can build to it. Other than that, pretty good for a handicap match. After the match, Legacy further beat down Orton  and mocked Orton by doing his arms spread pose over him on the mat. **1/4

Matthews was now backstage with BATISTA now without his douchey clothing unfortunately. He said Cena was paranoid, and gave his word that he wouldn’t get involved in Vince vs Cena tonight. He said he was pulling for Cena.

In the last 11 Wrestlemanias, if you forget about him being injured for Mania 23 (that did one of the best numbers for Manian recently just saying), this year will be only the second occasion that Triple H has not wrestled for a world championship, following matches with The Rock & Big Show and Mick Foley, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Shawn Michaels & Chris Benoit, Batista, John Cena, Randy Orton & John Cena and Randy Orton. Trips came out and they recapped him getting beat down by Sheamus. He said Sheamus did what Triple H himself would have done, and then he was interrupted by Sheamus himself. Sheamus challenged Trips to a Wrestlemania match and questioned whether he had the guts. Triple H said that Sheamus had a good first year, but he’s nothing till he’s made his name at Mania. Triple H made the point that he tried to jump on the biggest dog he could see to make his name at Mania (Ultimate Warrior) but he got crushed. He said the people that beat him at Mania went amazing places in their careers. He said that the list of people who lost went way further down though. Yeah Rock, Jericho, Orton. You’re nothing. Triple H said that before Sheamus takes that gamble, he better be sure. Sheamus went to beatdown Trips but he got clotheslined out of the ring. He missed the pump kick and they went flying into the ring bell area. Sheamus tried to flee but Trips jumped him. Sheamus rammed him into the announce table before getting spinebustered. Strong segment, and another big match for Mania. Card looks stacked especially if they can add Punk/Mysterio in there too. Strong promo from Triple H.

Backstage goofery with Santino and Criss Angel. Angel did another magic trick involving cups and a knife, Santino had to hide the knife under a cup, and Angel had to crush the cups without destroying his hand. I’ve seen this one before. Angel SOMEHOW SURVIVED.

Evan Bourne vs William Regal w/ Skip Sheffield, Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Christian was on commentary. But why would Regal get in here when he’s afraid of heights!? Quick simple match, Bourne got a knee to the face and hit the shooting star press for the victory. Not much of a match, but seeing Evan Bourne in there should be awesome. 1/2*

Next week….STONE COLD STONE COLD STONE COLD. Can’t wait. They’ll also do some Wrestlemania rematches, like Cena/Show, HBK/Jericho and Triple H/Randy Orton. And a Bret/Vince/Austin contract signing. Sounds like quite the show.

Criss Angel came out to be special guest announcer. He got the crowd worked up to be fair.

John Cena vs Mr. McMahon
There’s a chance this one might not get five stars. Vince of course looked ridiculous and walked ridiculously. Before the match Vince mocked Bret and told him to enjoy the match and told Cena that he would beat him. Vince made it a handicap gauntlet match. So he brought out KOZLOV !

John Cena vs Vladimir Kozlov & Mr. McMahon
I’ve missed you Vlad. Kozlov threw Cena around. Vince thought he had Cena so he tagged in and only got a two count.

John Cena vs Drew McIntyre & Mr. McMahon
McIntyre beat him down and hit an STO before McMahon tagged in and only got two again.

John Cena vs Jack Swagger & Mr. McMahon
We came back from a break to Cena hitting the five knuckle shuffle on Jack Swagger. Swagger took Cena down and slammed him. Swagger hit the Vader bomb twice and tagged in Vince. However, once again this only got two.

John Cena vs Mark Henry & Mr. McMahon
Henry begrudgingly hit the World’s Strongest Slam and tagged Vince in. Cena powered out of the pin though, so he got the ring bell, and made the match a no-DQ handicap match. Henry tried to stop Vince using the bell. So Vince tried to make Mark do the hitting. Henry threw the bell away and walked into a spear from Batista. This for some reason brought out Kofi Kingston and he ran wild but ended up powerbombed.

When Batista went back for Cena, Cena had supermanned up. Vince threw the ring bell away and tried to reason with Cena but Cena tried to FU instead and Batista speared him and hit the Batista bomb. This got the pin for Vince. 1/2*

Now I didn’t like this for a number of reasons. It didn’t really build to Bret/Vince, only the final image of Batista standing over Cena built to Batista/Cena and it buried a load of the mid card guys. It wasn’t even a good match and just seemed to be a poor way to end a generally good show.

The wrestling wasn’t amazing here, but this did build to Wrestlemania quite well. However, I was very much soured by the main event, so…

This episode of RAW earns a thumbs in the middle.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

The Smackdown Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The Smackdown Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

Show opens with a recap of Jericho/Edge and their feud so far. Spear.

After some titles (now with more BIG DAVE requesting eye contact~!) they promoted Edge vs Big Show. People who have suffered through sex with Vickie Guerrero collide!

Edge came out for a promo. They showed Edge beating Show’s tag partner Miz last week. He said he was concerned for Jericho because he keeps saying the same things, but the same thing keeps happening. Spear. Edge said this will happen every single week. Then Big Show came out. Edge said, that like The Miz, Show will get speared. Show said he was also here to find out who the #1 contenders to the tag titles, and that he will beat Edge. Show said he ate crap for breakfast. This was funnier when I didn’t include the context of the comment. Edge promised to win at Mania and to spear Show. He stepped for one and Show flinched. Show charged and Edge lowbridged him. Good segment, Edge proving his versatility in promos.

Drew ‘No Heat’ McIntyre said that Teddy needs to set the record streak. Teddy said that Vince has made it so that Drew is undefeated and his record reflects the same. So Teddy says that Kane has apparently magically qualified for MITB and that Drew has another qualifier against Matt Hardy.

Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre vs Matt Hardy w/ Justin Gabriel, Non-Title Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
As per the previous segment, McIntyre is announced as undefeated. The effect of this is kind of lost when he is then shown in footage losing. No idea how Matt Hardy is still over but I’m sure he’s not complaining. These two had the very average match that two very average wrestlers would have. Nothing bad, just as I often find with these two, nothing spectacular either. Drew worked over Hardy’s midsection to set up for..well nothing it would seem. I’m not one to get on about physiques but Hardy has lot of his body definition and seems bigger than normal. The finishing segment was a little sloppy but was a nice idea, with McIntyre reversing the twist of fate into his futureShock DDT but Hardy back body dropped out and then McIntyre tried to jacknife Hardy and he got rolled up for a Hardy victory, with another ringside tantrum. As I said decent, but nothing great. I also can’t see why Hardy is in Money in the Bank when he’s done nothing, but he’s always over with the crowd so there you go. Gotta feeling there’s a midcarder missing out on a paycheck somewhere though. Not sure what’ll happen with Drew as surely Kofi Kingston or somebody of that level needs a MITB spot. We’ll have to see. *3/4

Slam Master J admired JoMo’s parkour. Yes. R-Truth walked in with David Otunga, and they seemed cool after their pull apart on NXT, Truth said Otunga was just a bit of a hothead. Some tension remained though. They smited Ziggles for taking their MITB spot, but they will challenge for the #1 contendership at Mania. They exchanged names, concluding that Unified Tag Team Champions would be best. Surely this would only cause confusion if they were to wrestle the actual champs. Oh right they meant…

Shelton Benjamin vs Dolph Ziggler, Meaningless MITB Competitors TV Match #1 of 10,000,000,000 for the next few weeks
Ziggler shouted things and got slapped and went for his sleeper hold (note: non-one buys it) early. The story of this match framed at the start by Grish was that they were going to try and out-athlete each other, but Dolph would take opportunities just to grind down Shelton. The commentators reinforced the joke I made in the title of this match by paying little attention to the wrestling and talking about all things MITB. Benjamin got a nearfall off a nice German suplex. Ziggler went for a sleeper hold but Benjamin suplexed out of it. Benjamin hit paydirt after catapulting Ziggler into the corner. I enjoyed this match, but it was too short and the crowd wasn’t interested. **

Jimmy Wang Yang vs Ezekiel Jackson
First squash match I’ve had to cover for a while. I will tell you this much. Yang did not achieve victory. They did give him more offence than a ‘local athelete’ would have gotten but Zeke’s debut ended with him hitting the Guyanage for the win. Zeke is an impressive man, but what are they going to do with him on Smackdown? SQUASH

Rey introduces TIFFANY to Smackdown and to look after Rey’s daughter. Earn that paycheck.

They hype up Vince McMahon vs John Cena. Money. Or not.

Luke Gallows w/CM Punk & Serena vs Rey Mysterio
Punk cut a promo to start proceedings. Punk says that Rey’s popularity is due to parents not looking after their kids properly. Punk looks a kid in the audience dead in the eyes and calls his parents neglectful. Beautiful. He says Mysterio is also a neglectful parent and that everyone is a coward like Rey for cheering his inteference ad cowardice. He tells Gallows it’s not his fault what happened last week, but it is Rey’s. He says Luke must make Rey answer for last week. Rey can usually pull out a good big man/little man match out of nowehere and I think he did again here, as Gallows, I always felt as Festus was a great big man, with added agility to make him a more entertaining agility, as he hit a nice flying shoulder block. Darren Young was shown watching backstage. Gallows got a nearfall off a belly to belly, and also a nice fallaway slam. Mysterio had his usual high flying comeback derailed by a lariat from his knees. However, Rey turned a sky high attempt into an X-Factor. Gallows continued getting nearfalls but Rey Used his storyline resiliency to keep kicking out and coming back. Serena distracted Rey from making the 619, but he eventually reversed a powerbomb back onto to Gallows to cradle the leg. Punk tried to beatdown Mysterio with Go2Sleep but Rey got out and kicked Punk down to escape. This feud is being built nicely and this was a real good match. **1/2

Big Show is backstage and has a reunion with Chris Jericho, and Jericho tries to pump him up. But Big Show says he’s trying to use him, and that he wont beat Edge for Jericho, but for himself.

John Morrison & R-Truth vs The Hart Dynasty w/ Natalya vs Cryme Tyme, #1 Contendership for the Unified Tag Team Championships at Wrestlemania, Triple Threat Match
This match was a combination of spots and a standard tag match, and it was quite good and could have been even better if given more time. Impressive spot saw DH Smith hitting rolling belly-to-belly suplexes on JoMo. R-Truth came in with the hot tag, and his offence makes for one of the better hot tags the company does. Tyson Kidd hit a nice springboard missile dropkick for a two count, but R-Truth hit his lie detector springboard forearm for the win. I predicted this team going to Wrestlemania last year, but its a shame that the two established teams couldn’t get a shot, but you gotta go with whoever’s hottest. **

Pointless divas segment backstage. McCool gets pure X-Pac heat from me, and if I wasn’t covering this show I’d probably turn off purely due to her. Vickie Guerrero got a Simply Flawless t-shirt from Layla and McCool and Vickie told Beth Phoenix that she’ll never get a Women’s title shot.

They run down the card for Mania so far. Looks so awesome. Can’t believe how things looked this time last year compared to right now.

Unified Tag Team Champion Big Show vs Edge
These two had the slow affair that you would expect. It wasn’t amazing but I attributed this more to Big Show and Edge needing to take it easy, but I don’t know whether I’m concerned or whether I respect Edge for taking on ten minute main event singles matches after coming back from an injury early. There was a lot of Edge getting mauled around the ring but getting out of moves. Edge eventually hit the spear for the win. The spear seems to be pretty over as when Edge was building to it the crowd went wild, and using it to pin the tag champions clean is a good way of getting it over, and getting Edge over, in case he’d lost any steam from being out so long. After the match Jericho tried to get to Edge but Edge unsurprisingly speared Jericho. Jericho left ringside to the crowd chanting spear. *3/4

This was another strong episode of Smackdown with little time wasted, with all but one match building to Wrestlemania, and lots of video packages and strong promos and angles that are all building to Wrestlemania. While RAW wrestling wise hasn’t been great, as a vehicle to get over Wrestlemania, it has been, and Smackdown is matching it in terms of that as well, so all smiles here, very much a thumbs up.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

The Smackdown Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The Smackdown Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

As Chris mentioned, I am covering for him while he gets hammered. No gimmicks tonight as I am on substitute teacher duty.

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Smackdown begins with a recap of the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber (sans Undertaker’s BURNING). Then to his usual thunderous boos, out comes new champion, suited and booted, Chris Jericho.

They go into a replay of Edge spearing Jericho and challenging him for Wrestlemania. Jericho started with a similar obnoxious promo to the one he tried to cut on RAW. He turned his attention to Edge, which brought the man himself out. Edge’s babyface heat has transformed between this show and the first RAW after the Royal Rumble. Edge congratulated Jericho, then started listing Jericho’s achievements, and following each of them with the word spear. This started a spear chant. How’d you like that Goldberg? Edge said he wanted Jericho to be the best he could be, with no bullshit excuses, and that if Jericho turned up to Wrestlemania not his best, that something would happen and he turned to the crowd, who gave him the spear answer he wanted. Jericho said it wouldn’t happen, and decked Edge, who shook off a codebreaker and then speared Jericho once again. Really strong promo segment, getting over the oneupsmanship and getting the crowd up for this program.

John Morrison vs Dolph Ziggler vs R-Truth w/ David Otunga, Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
I think it’s awesome that we get one more Money in the Bank match for Wrestlemania. Striker put over Morrison’s awesome effort in the Elimination Chamber, and they showed a highlight reel of Morrison’s efforts. Ziggler looked like he had lost a lot of body mass and was not anywhere near as toned as he was over the summer. They put over Otunga’s debut on NXT this week and showed a much more forgiving camera angle of his botched finish. The story before the break was Ziggler would leave the ring and try to leave Truth and Morrison to it, but he would get punished for taking a powder outside the ring, culminating with a slingshot splash to the outside. This made sense as the whole match put a lot of focus on Ziggler, which was necessary given the shock nature of the eventual result. Ziggler got a near choke out with the sleeper hold, which is not over as a finish. Morrison got Starship Pain and Ziggler pulled Morrison outside the ring and rolled in to steal the pin. As I said, Dolph was given a lot of focus in this match, and he had good facials and his moves were crisp. A good match as you’d expect with these three, with more story and less spots than I was expecting. I didn’t expect Ziggler to get in here, but he’s good enough to deserve another push. What will happen to Morrison and Truth is less certain though, perhaps there will be a Lucky Loser’s battle royal or maybe these two could have a run at the tag team titles. **1/2

They showed a video package of Undertaker vs HBK, and yes it was awesome. And I very much approve of Placebo’s cover of Running Up That Hill soundtracking it. Taker/HBK, streak vs career, may well be the biggest Mania match for a very, very long time.

Michelle McCool w/Layla vs Mickie James (c), WWE Women’s Championship, Vickie Guerrero is Special Guest Referee
I’d say I was pleased that awful wrestler, horribly voiced and charisma black hole Michelle McCool is once again Women’s Champion, but I’d be lying. I guess this mean that James’ title win was for storyline purposes only. Mickie controlled a lot of the match, but Michelle took over after a Layla distraction, as Beth Phoenix watched on backstage. Anyway. Vickie staged a theatrical roll out of the ring in an attempt to frame Mickie, leading to a disgusting visual of Layla rubbing Vickie’s ass. Anyway, as she got back into the ring Guerrero slapped James and McCool high kicked Mickie and rolled her up for the win. Actually a passable match, but I’m really not sure what that finish was supposed to be. *1/4

Kane vs Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre, Non Title, Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
McIntyre cut a promo beforehand reminding us he was undefeated and promising to win the Money in the Bank. These two had another dull match, but one slightly better than the one at Elimination Chamber. Finish came when McIntyre tried to sunset flip Kane, but Kane pushed away and kicked him in the head for the win. Not sure why McIntyre’s streak was wasted on Kane here, but Drew did a good job selling his anger and disappointment, so perhaps something will come of this. *1/2

Miz came out looking as usual like a douchebag. He pointed out that ShowMiz haven’t got Wrestlemania challengers yet, and asked Teddy Long to find him some. Teddy came out and put Miz in a match with Edge. Not sure why, but a fresh matchup is always cool.

The Smack of the Night was CM Punk becoming Mr Money in the Bank, which led to…

CM Punk w/ Serena & Luke Gallows vs Shelton Benjamin, Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
No Darren Young here. Fancy that. Crowd didn’t care one bit about Shelton beating down Punk and they didn’t pop for anything. CM Punk’s reactions were good here, continually looking up at the briefcase, but this was neither of these guys best work nights, but to Benjamin’s credit he got the crowd into the high headkick from Punk, that derailed his comeback. Gallows distracted Benjamin on the apron, who Rey Mysterio then pulled off the apron, this in turn distracted CM Punk who had Benjamin up for Go2Sleep, and Benjamin used the distraction to hit paydirt for the win. Not a great match, but Shelton is a MITB staple and this continues Mysterio and Punk’s program, so good booking. *3/4

RAW Rebound focused on Cena and Batista.

Edge vs WWE United States and Unified Tag Team Champion The Miz, Non-Title Match
A spear chant went up, as we began this first time ever match. They worked a relatively easy and basic match, which makes sense considering Edge has allegedly come back early from a bad match. Edge played his character well, “the ultimate opportunist” and a veteran type role, toying with Miz and stopping Miz getting anything, being one step ahead every time. Miz had taken control though by the time we came back from the break. Grisham was not good on commentary for long periods tonight, frequently tripping over words and getting names wrong. They showed Daniel Bryan watching backstage. This match was very strangely put together for a ten minute WWE TV match in that Edge controlled much more of the match than a babyface would, but it would make more sense that Miz bumped around more for Edge than the other way round. Edge got the win after a big time spear. A pretty good match all things considered, and Miz is turning into a very solid upper card heel, and now even on the wrestling side of things, starting to match his easily hateable promos. **1/4

This was a good episode of Smackdown, even if the wrestling was a little hit and miss. The programs and build to Wrestlemania were great though, as lots of angles and matches are moving along nicely. Nowhere near as good as some of the shows we’ve had between the Rumble and Elimination Chamber, but by no means a bad show.

This episode of Smackdown earns a thumbs up.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

Chris: Hey everyone and welcome to the second fully loaded edition of the Fatal Four Way where the WNW blogging staff team up to bring you our WWE predictions. Lets hope I can continue my flawless streak of predictions with the second WWE pay per view offering of 2010!

Chris: In my opinion Elimination Chamber is a really crappy name for a pay per view. No Way Out sounds a whole lot better, and since it had become an Elimination Chamber pay per view anyway, the name change seems pretty pointless. I will discuss these gimmick pay per views further in this week’s Smackdown blog! Anyway looking at this card, there are only four matches slated so that screams for at least one, maybe two matches to be added during the course of the event. As I mentioned in my Rumble Review I think this is a terrible way of pushing talent and advertising an event but there you go. I fully expect the tag titles to be defended by Show-Miz, maybe against The Worlds Strongest Tag Team, as well as something to go down involving Batista seeing as he is not on the card. Whatever happens only the advertised matches will count towards the WNW blog writers challenge as how can we predict something we don’t even know is occurring! Enough chatter on with the predictions!

Paul: So here we are for the next edition of what in honour of the blunt obviousness of PPV names these days I am unofficially calling “Prediction Blog of the predictions for WWE PPV matches by four bloggers of the blog section of the wrestling news website Wrestling News World”, not quite as catchy but maybe someday it will roll off the tongue. This year No Way Out has been rechristened Elimination Chamber for well, the elimination chamber matches. I’ve generally thought the build wasn’t what it should be, but it hasn’t been too bad for a show that most people look past, as we get closer to Wrestlemania. It’ll be interesting to see some new faces in the main events, but I’m also wondering what they’ll fill the card out with, with only four matches announced on WWE.com, and also what part Shawn Michaels will play.

Kendra: I’m very much like Richard in that I’m not big on gimmick matches and the Elimination Chamber is very much a gimmick match. On the other hand, I give Eric Bischoff huge props for this lasting testimony to his brilliance and it’s one of the best gimmicks around. I have completely enjoyed every Elimination Chamber Match I’ve seen and am looking forward to this PPV. Maybe I can redeem myself by picking some winners!

Rob: The Fatal-Four Way is back at it again as we get ready for the final PPV before Wrestlemania, WWE Elimination Chamber. We’ve got elimination chambers with plenty of intrigue and possible surprises around them. Edge was the shocker last year by losing one title and gaining the other, so there is no telling what might go down this time around. The undercard isn’t exactly eye-popping, but it has the potential to deliver a couple of decent matches. Let’s get to it.

Chris Predicts: Intercontinental Championship Match: Drew McIntyre © vs Kane

Ever since John Morrison won the triple threat match to qualify for he Elimination Chamber, these two have been embroiled in a pretty decent TV feud and I think this match should make for a decent opener (although I wouldn’t be surprised to see them open with a Chamber match as they have done in previous years) Drew McIntyre is becoming one of the most dominant and aggressive heels in WWE and I think a big win over an established veteran like Kane will go a long way in getting Drew over as legitimate in the eyes of casual fans. I had hoped this would be a filler match at Wrestlemania to put both men on the card and that still might happen. Either way, there is no way in hell Kane is going over here as he does not need the Intercontinental Title at this stage in his career and Drew needs to keep his momentum rolling.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre (Retains Intercontinental Championship)

Paul Predicts: Intercontinental Championship Match: Drew McIntyre © vs Kane

The rematch nobody wanted to see, and I am not looking forward to this. The horrible double count out that was on TV and haunted house shows doesn’t fill me with anticipation either. I can’t see them taking the title off Drew especially not for someone like Kane. Kane has also historically been used as a difficult to beat monster that nobody can get past, that a young guy finally gets past, as a way to get the new blood over. I expect this to be the same, although with Wrestlemania around the corner and no Money in the Bank match for the mid card guys to go into, you never know, this feud MAY CONTINUE.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre (Retains Intercontinental Championship)

Kendra Predicts Intercontinental Championship Match: Drew McIntyre © vs Kane

It’s nice to see Kane in a PPV match, but I highly doubt he’ll win. Drew hasn’t been IC Champ very long and Kane just hasn’t been pushed very hard lately. Personally I think Kane should be in the Elimination Chamber, but since the removal of his mask, he just hasn’t done as well with the WWE. I think this is horrible as Kane is one of my favorites and very entertaining in the ring and on mic, no matter his character – heel or face. While this match should be an enjoyment, I don’t see it being anything special as I believe it will won’t be booked as well as it could be.

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre (Retains Intercontinental Championship)

Rob Predicts: Intercontinental Championship Match: Drew McIntyre © vs Kane

This spot definitely could have been better filled up with either a tag title match or a U.S. title match, both of which have been built more thoroughly. MVP vs. Miz would definitely benefit from a planned PPV match, but instead we are given this IC title contest. I think we can guarantee an at least decent bout here given the fact that Kane is involved. He always works well in the ring and does his best to make his opponent look good. Drew has greatly matured during his feud with Morrison and that will continue into Sunday. I wouldn’t be surprised to see McIntyre get the clean pin over the Big Red Monster.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre (Retains Intercontinental Title)

Chris Predicts: Divas Championship Match: Maryse vs Gail Kim

This match finally takes place after the injured Melina vacated the title nearly two months ago. Maryse showed plenty of promise and improved a huge amount when she was on Smackdown but since moving to RAW has failed to impress, and has been involved in some truly awful matches. Gail Kim is one of the best female workers in the world, but as the saying goes you cant make chicken salad out of chicken shit and I think this match is going to be a stinker and probably completely kill the crowd. We haven’t been given enough of a reason to care about either competitor and whilst this would be the perfect opportunity for WWE to put a woman that could actually wrestle over on PPV but if you look at the potential opponents for Gail (Katie Lea, Jillian and Maryse) or for Maryse (Eve, Kelly Kelly, The Bellas, Gail) it’s a pretty good indication of where this one is going. Plus Vince is reportedly very high on Maryse’s look and sadly in the world of WWE Women’s wrestling that is what counts.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Maryse (New Divas Champion)

Paul Predicts: Divas Championship Match: Maryse vs Gail Kim

Well this is another match that will be awful. Maybe even comically bad in this case. Maryse can’t wrestle end of, and Gail Kim botches pretty much anything that moves. Aish. Anyway, I guess WWE really digs Maryse’s look and character (her character being pretty good I guess) she’ll get the title.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Maryse (New Divas Champion)

Kendra Predicts: Divas Championship Match: Maryse vs Gail Kim

This should be a decent match. Maryse has greatly improved in the ring over her time in WWE and Gail Kim is one of the best Divas in WWE. The problem is that I think WWE will go with what they think is beauty over the woman who can really throw a match. Personally I think Kim has everything needed to become Champion, but I don’t write for WWE. Sadly I feel Maryse will go over Gail Kim and feel Kim will again be buried in the middle of the Divas with no chance at gold.

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Maryse (New Divas Champion)

Rob Predicts: Divas Championship Match: Maryse vs Gail Kim

It is about time that Gail is getting recognized in a serious championship feud. The whole insulting in French thinking doesn’t make this very intriguing, especially when King is just drooling all over her bilingual talents all the time. Gail had a nice divas match with Katie on Superstars, but unless Maryse has significantly improved in the ring, this PPV match will probably be of less quality. Unfortunately, I have the feeling Maryse will be taking the title, although she is not deserving of it. Hopefully I get proven wrong.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Maryse (New Diva’s Champion)

Chris Predicts: Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Triple H vs Kofi Kingston vs Ted DiBiase

Looking at this match it is exciting to see some stars of the future having their first shot at the main event. I think Kofi and Ted will take their ring work to another level come Sunday night and I am looking for big performances from both of them. I think this match has been built pretty well on RAW, and I like how Sheamus is defiantly coming across as more dominant now (pity Randy still wouldn’t put him over cleanly) I think the biggest story of this match will be Ted eliminating Orton and the subsequent aftermath of this. Kofi will probably be taken out early on, if his recent showings are anything to go by, and as I mentioned Ted and Randy will take care of each other so that leaves Triple H, John Cena and Sheamus. I think what would work best here is for Sheamus to outsmart both men and let them tear each other apart and pick them off. Cena has his feud with Vince/Batista to attend to at Wrestlemania and whilst I fully expect to see Sheamus vs Triple H, I certainly hope the Irishman is still holding the belt come Mania. Sheamus has grown on me as a champion and taking the belt off him here serves no purpose whatsoever other than to give Triple H another landmark Elimination Chamber win. I also think having Sheamus pin both Cena and Triple H, however dirty the tactics, will go a long way to establishing him as legitimate in the eyes of the fans.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Sheamus (Retains WWE Championship)

Paul Predicts: Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Triple H vs Kofi Kingston vs Ted DiBiase

Now this one I do find interesting, as to who will walk out champion. Triple H has won here the last two years straight to go into Wrestlemania title matches, and he also doesn’t randomly need the title again at least for a couple of months yet (or perhaps to beat Sheamus). Randy Orton could be a possibility if they really want to get behind Ted DiBiase. I’m kind of ruling out Kofi as another filler guy. Cena is kind of possible but I don’t think they want to bring the title into his and Batista’s inevitable Mania match. I think Triple H doesn’t need the win here and can go onto challenge anyway. I think that Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase will either go into a three way with Cody Rhodes, or a three way with Sheamus, with Sheamus having the title, but what I most expect to happen is for Sheamus to get the shock win here and have Triple H beat him at Mania. Just because that young gun Triple H really needs this push to cement his spot.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Sheamus (Retains WWE Championship)

Kendra Predicts: Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Triple H vs Kofi Kingston vs Ted DiBiase

I’m trilled to see Ted and Kofi in this Elimination Chamber. I feel both of them have great futures ahead of them, because of or in spite of Randy Orton. Honestly, both deserve to be main event talents and have been proving that over and over. Even in saying this, I don’t see either of them winning this match. I do see more problems arising between Ted and Orton, escalating the dissension in Legacy and hopefully leading to their feud. I also don’t see HHH or Cena winning this, but they should add some interesting flavor to the entire mix of seasoned and younger wrestlers in this match. In the end I see Sheamus winning and retaining in this match. It’s been predicted that he’d hold the strap going into WM and I don’t see any change in that plan on the horizon.

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Sheamus (Retains WWE Championship)

Rob Predicts: Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Triple H vs Kofi Kingston vs Ted DiBiase

If I were to pick one EC match that I am more looking forward to, this would not get that honor. The most interesting intertwined story in this chamber is that of the dissention between DiBiase and Orton. It is very difficult to see exactly where this storyline is going, but hopefully we get a much clearer picture after Sunday. I would love to see DiBiase eliminate Orton with a rollup or something, causing the Viper to be infuriated and take out his frustrations. Either way, I can’t see either of them winning the match. Don’t expect Kofi to last too far after getting ripped apart by Orton. Cena is embroiled with other issues at the time and he probably won’t win either. That leaves us with HHH and Sheamus. It seems at this point that creative is set on going into WM with Sheamus as the champ, but Trips’ ego could interfere with those plans. Nonetheless, I think Sheamus will retain, and I hope it isn’t in some sort of cheap fashion.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Sheamus (Retains WWE Championship)

Chris Predicts: Elimination Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Title: The Undertaker © vs R-Truth vs John Morrison vs Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

Something I forgot to mention in my WWE title pick was that I expect to see Edge on guest commentary for both chamber matches as whilst I do not think he will wrestle at the show, he will defiantly make his presence felt. The big story behind the excellent build up to this match is John Morrison’s kayfabe leg injury. In my mind we will get some sort of backstage skit where a doctor advises Morrison not to compete but he will try and gut it out only for Shawn Michaels to take him out on the way to the ring and force his way into the Chamber match (just as Edge did last year) Whilst this is a tough break for Morrison, it gives us the tantalising prospect of at least one Morrison vs HBK match on the next couple of weeks of WWE TV as well as setting up the big Undertaker vs HBK II clash at Wrestlemania. I think this match is going to be really awesome and probably worth the price of ordering on its own. I expect some big performances from Truth and Punk to make up for the banged up Rey and Taker whilst I think it is an impossibility for Chris Jericho to wrestle a bad match. I think Rey and Punk will take care of each other whilst Taker eliminates whichever of them is left standing and Truth before Michaels and Taker duke it our for ten minutes with Taker eliminating Shawn only to turn right into a Codebreaker from Jericho for the title winning pin. This is an exciting match up an I cannot wait to see how it goes down!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho (New World Heavyweight Champion)

Paul Predicts: Elimination Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Title: The Undertaker © vs R-Truth vs John Morrison vs Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

This one is difficult to predict as with the alleged current plan, it seems like Jericho is the only option. However, there are two things to consider. Jericho, until he beat The Undertaker (which is admittedly a big deal) had no momentum, and it is also so obvious, that it probably wont happen, because WWE are dickheads and wont let it. The other option is (I’m ruling out R-Truth, John Morrison, CM Punk and Rey, because at this moment in time at least, they are not Wrestlemania champions) is Undertaker retaining, but I don’t see that happening, unless WWE is going to make Taker and Shawn keep going past Wrestlemania, with both allegedly wanting to take time off like they did last time. So I’m going to take a risk and not go for something not in the match like a Shawn win, and just plump for Chris Jericho.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho (New World Heavyweight Champion)

Kendra Predicts: Elimination Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Title: The Undertaker © vs R-Truth vs John Morrison vs Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

I also believe this Elimination Chamber has a nice mix of seasoned and younger wrestlers. Even though Morrison is not as injured at he announced on Twitter, I wonder if something is going to happen here with HBK. HBK has been trying so hard to get into this match, this could be an easy switch for him. I wouldn’t put it past HBK to either push Morrison for his slot in the match or force his way in somehow. I will be completely shocked if we don’t see HBK involved in some way. About the wrestlers who are actually slated to be in this match, I can’t wait to see how R-Truth fares in this match! I also hope Rey doesn’t push himself too hard and injure himself more. The same goes for Taker. I see Jericho, Punk and R-Truth carrying a lot of this match and in the end Jericho taking the win. If Taker and HBK are going for round two at WM and they’re grooming a Jericho and Edge feud, then this is a perfect way to start it off. Of course Edgewill want to go after the title and he’s raving mad at Jericho right now. It just makes the most sense. But then again, when have any of the wrestling companies booked matches in ways that make sense?

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho (New World Heavyweight Champion)

Rob Predicts: Elimination Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Title: The Undertaker © vs R-Truth vs John Morrison vs Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

The number one issue we have to look at here is the condition of John Morrison. After what happened on the most recent edition of Smackdown, it is very possible that he might not participate in the title match. Also, as I write this there are only four scheduled matches on the card, and with Batista and HBK both absent, I predict that a match between the two to determine who will replace Morrison in the chamber. If that happens, I see HBK getting the nod as the replacement, making this group of six that much more interesting. Morrison won’t win, and we can count out Truth as well. Punk is a long shot considering his involvement with the Straight-Edge Society, and it would be tough to give it to Mysterio with his current condition. That brings us down to Undertaker, Jericho, and a possible HBK as a replacement. I feel like if Shawn were involved he would get so caught up in going after Taker that he would lose sight of winning the title. But that is all speculation considering he probably won’t even be in the match. If it comes down to Taker and Jericho, I think I would give it to Y2J. Michaels-Taker could be for real with the both of them taking time off afterwards, and Jericho-Edge is getting to be one of the hottest feuds going. I’ll give it to Jericho, making him a 6-time champ.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho (New World Heavyweight Champion)

Chris: That is all for another edition of the Fatal Four Way. Now before anyone says anything yes I know we all have exactly the same picks but on paper this PPV looks pretty easy to call so lets see if we are right. I should have my Elimination Chamber review up in the wee hours following the pay per view (as long as my guest blogger is able to write at that point) As always I sadly wont be able to be a part of the Live blog as I order the WWE webstream and trying to watch that and take part in a Live Blog on a 14” laptop screen is a visual nightmare. However non premium members can follow my live reactions on Twitter: www.twitter.com\WNWsChrisJacks I hope you all enjoy the show and have a great week!

Paul: Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens to Shawn Michaels, and to see where we’re left going into Wrestlemania after this show. Hope you guys have a great whatever you’re doing, and until next time, I have been Paul Smith.

Kendra: It’s nice to see WWE elevating some of their younger wrestlers to main event status. They really need to prepare for post WM when a number of their old workers take time off or retire completely. This is a very exciting time in wrestling and WWE. We have not seen a turnover like this since The Rock, Austin, HHH and Angle pushed their way through to become main event talents. It will be interesting to see which of these younger wrestlers will be around for the long haul and these Elimination Chambers are a big step in the direction of these wrestlers becoming the starts they’re destined to be. I can’t wait to see how they fare in these dangerous matches.

Rob: We are officially one PPV and five weeks away from Wrestlemania, and the Elimination Chamber will go a long way into painting a clearer picture for what that will look like. Of course the Elimination Chamber does not look as intimidating without blood, but that’s the world we live in today. I’m looking for some quality matches this Sunday and some good storyline building for the grandest stage of them all. Later.

The RAW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The RAW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Some stuff to talk about here. They’re dropping the Survivor Series. I understand a lot of people are upset about this, and I can see why; a lot of people have fond memories of the Survivor Series (I was too young to take in this show when it was in its pure form of all Elimination Matches with all the big players involved). However, the Survivor Series hasn’t been what it started off as for a long time, and especially in recent years, it’s been just another PPV. What is stupid though is WWE blaming this on the name not being a draw any more. I think it still was. A lot of people bought the Survivor Series still for the history and the nostalgia, what got it a poor buyrate was the stupid way they built to it, with lots of Hornswoggle crap. Oh well, we will have to see what next November brings.

Some TNA talk now. I checked out Against All Odds from last Sunday and I was left with mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the world title match and give The Pope a clean tournament win and a good push is also good, but a lot of the tournament matches felt like Impact TV matches to me, which isn’t what you want from a PPV. And the less said about 3D/Nasties the better in my book.

The move to Monday nights. This will certainly be interesting. I ranted when they did the first time, but TNA shut my mouth last time, with lots of surprises and a good rating, so I wont make any bold predictions of failure this time round. What I will say though is that they are wise not to be expecting to be beating RAW instantly, as it will be a couple of years (in my estimation) before they can even hope to be close to competitive in the ratings. Also, for those thinking TNA will storm the way they did on January 4th, I will also say, that a lot of interest has dwindled in the company since then, because of the way certain things have been booked.

I also wanted to say thanks to the commenters on the comment board for sorting their stuff out, and cutting out all the personal crap. Some good wrestling discussion was to be had last week, and long may it continue.

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RAW is live and rolling from Des Moines, Iowa the home of everybody’s favourite ROH jobber ‘Sugarfoot’ Alex Payne.

On with the show.
We start the show with a musical deal of a different kind this week as RAW celebrates President’s Day with a local girl singing the Star Spangled Banner, and this is followed with the titles, now with more Maryse flicking her hair!

WWE Champion Sheamus vs Randy Orton, Non-Title Match
So these guys had a very very very run of the mill match, with Orton playing quasi-face again. The crowd went for it, but Sheamus, definitely in this arena anyway, isn’t over as a heel. Cody and Ted came down which led to Orton getting distracted and Sheamus taking over. The thing is, these guys have both a very methodical and frankly dull style of vanilla offence, and so when Orton did hope spots or his comeback the crowd weren’t into it because it wasn’t fiery babyface style. They did go for his stalking and mat pumping though. Orton posted Sheamus on the outside and Legacy intefered when they thought the ref’s back was turned, but the ref saw and this led to the DQ in favour of Sheamus. Bad match, even worse finish. 3/4*

After this Legacy argued in the ring, and Orton RKO’d Rhodes, Sheamus pump kicked DiBiase and Orton RKO’d Sheamus, to a big pop. If they go for a threeway feud between Legacy, Orton would definitely work if they want him to be babyface.

They recapped all of the Cena/Tista/Vince/Bret stuff from the last couple of weeks. This was good stuff but as always the WWE makes everything seem really epic with video packages.

After this, Bret Hart came out. Bret said that if Vince had shown up this week, Bret would have been waiting for him, because he came to finish things tonight. The crowd ‘what?’d’ him until he talked about beating Vince up, which the crowd liked. Bret ran down Vince as a liar. He said he wanted one last victory at Wrestlemania, but it wasn’t to be. He thanks the wrestlers and the fans and even John Cena. And he says goodbye once again, not to much of a reaction. So the crowd didn’t buy it, much like I’m not. I swear he did the Wolfpac sign on his way out but I might have been dreaming.

Bret was backstage and he said goodbye to Kofi, Jack Swagger, Alicia Fox, all of whom were very nice to him. Bret says to Primo to say hi to his Dad. He says bye to Evan Bourne and Gail Kim.

John Cena asked Bret if that was it and Bret says it was the end of the line. Nret tried to get into his car but apparently some woman went into the car as Bret was getting into it. Gail and Evan came in and Cena brought a doctor through. They show Bret getting put onto a stretcher and taken a way by an ambulance. INTRIGUE. Was Vince behind this? If not, then that woman is an idiot.

WWE Unified Tag Team Champions Big Show & The Miz vs MVP & Mark Henry, Non-Title Match
ShowMiz have a new mashup theme, its not bad, but its nothing on the Big Show/Jericho one. I thought Henry and MVP weren’t a team any more. The heels tried to work on MVP but Henry came in and hit his finishing slam on Miz but Show broke the pin. MVP reversed a Miz pin attempt into a crucifix to win. Not much of a match, but its cool to see them tie together the Miz/MVP stuff with the new tag team championship reign. I assume that this makes Henry and MVP #1 contenders, because if not, that was a truly baffling way to go here. 1/2*

The did you know was that the only guy to win more than one Elimination Chamber match is Triple H, who has won four. Interpret that as you will.

Next up was The Jerry Springer Show on RAW, with intimate relationships revealed. Oh dear. First up was Kelly Kelly, well as far as intimate relationships go, this could take a while. Apparently Kelly is pregnant and she says there’s a lot of possibilities for who the baby’s Dad could be. Santino is prime suspect apparently. Christ. But wait- somebody had to finish the job when Santino was sleeping. Michael Cole stands up but wait so does The King. Jerry makes paedo about jokes about King which was beautiful. Santino referenced Grand Master Sexay  as a bad reason to have The King as a Father. The Bellas came out and announced that Brie is a man. Then Chris Masters came out. Kelly couldn’t resist herself. Oh dear. And out comes Eve. They did the oh snap stuff and had a pull apart, but it turned out that Eve had been with KHALI. Imagine that. Or probably don’t. Jerry has paternity test results. Its apparently Hornswoggles. Jerry says this is nuts, but I’ve seen porn that says otherwise. Jerry says this is madness, and clears off. King says that this was a charade, and Runjin Singh says this has been a waste of time. And then they bring out Mae Young, to reveal Jerry’s intimate relationship. Please no. A midcard mess of a segment that was so much for WWEPG. Not like they could have had a wrestling match or something here apparently.

Kofi Kingston vs Ted DiBiase
They had a one sided match with DiBiase getting absolutely nothing for two minutes fifty five of the about three minutes this went. They were playing up the idea that after beatdowns from Cena and Sheamus he was physically spent. However, he got a desperation victory after ducking under a Kofi mount attempt and dragging Kingston from the second rope, into dream street for the win. This match could have taken place inside an empty arena, the crowd straight up did not care. Interesting booking going into Sunday, but again not a good match. 3/4*

They announced Antonio Inoki as the next entrant into the Hall of Fame. As mentioned his founding of NJPW makes him a legend alone, nevermind his matches. They called Inoki vs Muhammad Ali a ‘mixed martial arts superfight’, not sure about that. However, he is a true legend of this business.

They did an awesome hypejob explaining the Elimination Chamber, the nature of the cage, and the rules.

Jerry Springer’s Final Thought. Jerry (still with Mae Young’s lipstick on) did the hard sell for Elimination Chamber, then walked away with Mae Young. Don’t judge him.

John Cena came out for a confrontation with Batista. Before this got under way they showed the video of Batista owning Cena after RAW two weeks ago. Cena called out Batista, but DaveYe Batesta appears on the screen. Batista said Cena wants none of him, and that when they do come face to face he’s gonna wish it was a bad dream. Cena says Batista is only acting tough. Batista said its funny how Cena keeps talking when Batista isn’t there, and he’ll be at RAW to see how much Cena talks when he’s there in person. Cena said if Dave wants some, that he can come get some. And then it was time to play the game.

Next week will be Jewel and Ty Murray. I’ll try and care by then.

John Cena vs Triple H
The lack of crowd interest in the early going here really hurt the feel of this match. And while the crowd got into some things including the nearfalls, the interest this match usually has was nowhere to be seen here, and it hurt overall what was the usual good match from this pair. It was physical and it was back and forth and was without too much downtime, which when you consider the endless battles Randy Orton had with these men, was a Godsend. Cena repeatedly went for his version of the STF, but he couldn’t get it til the third or fourth time, but Trips made the ropes. Whats funny is that the staleness of the main event scene is largely attributed to these two, but they always have a far more entertaining match than any other main event combo. Anyway, what was turning into a great match ended with Sheamus running in a pump kicking Triple H as he was going for the pedigree. He missed the same move on Cena, but an eye rake led to him getting it anyway. He then hit the Razor’s Edge on Hunter. **1/2

Sheamus standing tall in the middle of the ring over two of his challenegers is a good final image to take us into Elimination Chamber. RAW was odd this week. Wrestling wise this was a total one match show, and even that match didn’t have a finish, which under the circumstances was understandable. The Elimination Chamber was dual-focus of the show, and the announcers talked it and its participants regularly, which is a good move when TLC was barely promoted due to an oversaturation of guest hosts and the only way the Survivor Series main event was hyped was through comedy. However, the wrestling here was a big let down. I was also disappointed at a lack of follow up in the Shawn Michaels storyline. However, if he is to play some part as a surprise at Elimination Chamber, keeping him out of sight and out of mind is probably a good move. I am perplexed at where the Bret Hart thing is going, but that is definitely better than being annoyed at a lack of direction. So for creating some intrigue, but not following up with good wrestling…

This episode of RAW earns a thumbs in the middle.

Match of the Week:

ROH Man Up

ROh World Tag Team Titles: The Briscoes vs Kevin Steen & El Generico, Ladder War

So you might have heard of this match. The Briscoes and Steenerico had many great matches in their feud in ROH, and this really cemented that feud as a true return to great tag team wrestling in ROH, a long time tradition for that company when we look back at Aries/Strong, The Briscoes, The Second City Saints and many others. This was such a brutal match and when you put those damn Briscoes in any match…well you’re certainly in for…something. This is another out and out spotfest, however, with a little more story than last weeks. Hope you enjoy guys, if you remember all the hype at the time this happened, and you never got to check it out, do it now.

Part 1

Part 2

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

The RAW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The RAW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Okay so, as I promised various things to talk about.

The Royal Rumble has been done for eight days. I actually, unlike Richard, really enjoyed the show. I think that while the Rumble match wasn’t as great as others have been, there were several little points in the match, like Punk’s early spree, Shawn superkicking Hunter, the marking out to do with all things Edge, that gave me a good feeling coming out of the show. Additionally, for two old guys with busted knees Undertaker and Rey had a great match, Miz and MVP put on a half decent impromptu title match and Ezekiel Jackson had a far better match than a guy of his skill and level had any right to have. And I’m really glad I was wrong about the women’s match. It was the perfect payoff to the whole angle to have Mickie beat Michelle so convincingly and quickly. I thought that Michelle would win and I am so glad I was wrong.

Speaking of what I thought, gotta say, not enjoying the irony of the winner of the Blog Writer’s Challenge ‘09, being dead last at the start of the 2010 competition. Not a pleasing feeling. However, I hope to come roaring back with my divine predictions and I have some idea of where I think they’re gonna go for Elimination Chamber and Wrestlemania, so we’ll have to see how on the money I am.

So my old blog home of ECW will be leaving our screens, to be replaced by WWE NXT. I think the best thing out of all of this is the removal of the ECW name. Don’t get me wrong the show has it’s weeks, but it was in no way the original ECW and the original deserves to have some legacy that can’t be confused with became of ECW2.0. WWE also gets a chance to give us a whole new concept, and I can only presume that the new one will get a similar 0.9/1.0 rating. That number must be the hardcore WWE fans, who watch Superstars as I don’t see any reason for people repeatedly tuning into the two shows that are irrelevant to the general direction of WWE, so I can only assume that its a section of viewers who just really love WWE’s brand of wrestling. And I can’t see NXT and the concepts (such as a reality Ultimate Fighter/Tough Enough hybrid) being proposed for it increasing the rating that allegedly caused the killing off of ECW. Without star power and without a relevance in the general WWE universe so to speak, you’re not giving more than that hardcore WWE fanbase reason to tune in. I am going to be open minded, however, and see where they plan on taking the show.

I also said last week I was going to talk about Jericho/Hurricane’s arrest, but the whole thing has blown over and I don’t really think I have anything to add to what has been said.

Anyway, the blog is in a different form this week as my computer apparently hates me and died when I originally wrote the report yesterday, just before the Cena/Vince/Bret stuff, which is a long ass section of writing, especially play by play writing to have to be redone. I wrote the blog in a more opinion/analysis based style and if this gets a hugely positive response, I will switch to this style permanently, as it is certainly easier for me to write every week. But if people want the minute-by-minute analysis and description to stay, by all means make your voice heard and you will get your wish.

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RAW is live and rolling from Lafayette, Louisiana hometown of no-one big in the wrestling world as far as I know, feel free to correct me though.

On with the show.

Show started with a summation package of Bret Hart since his return to WWE, i.e getting his ass kicked left, right and centre. Then we got titles, theme tune pyro, yadda yadda yadda. We see a NASCAR spinning backstage, that came into the arena, and it was not our guest host for the week Carl Edwards, but Hornswoggle. SWERVE. Kelly Kelly introduced Edwards, in a voice and tone so irritating, that I was begging for the return of Tiffany to my blogging endeavours.

Edwards came out and got a cheap pop for the Superbowl and pimped out the Daytona 500 next Sunday. A mention of his friend John Cena brought out Sheamus. Sheamus noted that as WWE champion, he is THE ALMIGHTY OIRISH OVERLORD OF MONDAY EVENIN’ RAW and that he demands Edwards give him the last entrance in the Elimination Chamber. What he got instead was Christian.

Christian came out and introduced himself, and Lawler said it had been a long time since Christian hadd been on RAW. Eight weeks Jerry, eight weeks. Christian made sports references, and he said he felt offended that Edge didn’t consider him for a Wrestlemania main event, but realised why when Vince announced ECW was folding. He mentioned the new and shiny NXT and said that all the ECW wrestlers would become free agents and not unemployed as Sheamus had suggested. Anyway, Christian said he was trying out RAW to potentially sign there and wanted to get his toes wet by wrestling Sheamus. Edwards liked this idea and he made the match for RIGHT NOW.

WWE Champion Sheamus vs ECW Champion Christian, Champion vs Champion Non-Title Match
They had a short seven minute television match, but after the usual formula of long opening segment and coming back to a crappy match after the break that we’ve seen lately, this was very refreshing. They kind of worked a long match formula, but crammed it in. Sheamus took over by ramming Christian’s arm into the ring post on the outside after eating a springboard move. This played into the finish, as he posted Christian again later on, and this allowed him to hit the bicycle kick/Razor’s Edge combo for the pin. This was your usual Christian match, which consequently made it a lot better than your usual Sheamus match. **

TO THE BACK~! next for some backstage story stuff. Triple H and Shawn Michaels were backstage and Shawn said that while he had been distracted lately with The Undertaker, he thought it would be cool if DX could go to Mania together for the first time. HHH said that actually, he had qualified for the Chamber, unlike Shawn, and that he wanted to win the title and go to Wrestlemania as champion.

Meanwhile Ted and Cody had a confrontation. Ted said he was proud of qualifying for the Chamber and Cody said he only had to beat Mark Henry, compared to Cody’s battle with Cena and that he didn’t think Ted could win in his position, which Ted refuted. Randy Orton came in and questioned both of their claims, and announced Ted Dibiase vs John Cena later and that he himself would wrestle Cody.

Luke Gallows & CM Punk vs DeGeneration-X vs The Miz & Big Show, Triple Threat Elimination Match for the WWE Unified Tag Team Championships
Pre-match CM Punk said it was sad that even in times of joy like Superbowl victory and Mardi Gras that Louisiana turned to drugs and alcohol. He then attempted to convert Jared the Subway Guy, by force if necessary, to Straight Edge. DX interrupted though.

The match was decent, and I enjoyed a lot of the spots, but in the second fall with The sXe guys gone, it was a bit sloppier and they didn’t all seem on the same page workwise and it made the match feel a bit stuttery at times. The first fall came when Punk had HBK up for Go2Sleep but Shawn got out and Punk turned round into Sweet Chin Music. The second fall ended when Triple H got a hot tag and as he RAN WILD on Miz, Shawn blind tagged back in and Hunter confronted him about this, leading Miz to ram Shawn into Hunter and roll up HBK for the win and the titles. I was interested in Punk and Gallows as champs, but Miz and Big Show leads to more possibilities I suppose, with both guys doing funny promos together, although where this leaves MVP, I’m not quite sure. I guess Miz will finish with him, probably by retaining the title. As I say the match was good not great, but I enjoyed some of the spots, specifically Serena taking out Miz and Miz running into a spinebuster from Triple H on the outside. **

Backstage Miz and Big Show celebrated their win with Show saying how this team already beat his previous one as he and Jericho could never beat DX. Miz said together he and Show could run the WWE. He said they are The Miz Show and they are awesome. Show prefers ShowMiz as in showbiz. Me too.

Shawn Michaels was backstage and he was hunting maniacally for Teddy Long. He found him and demanded to be traded to Smackdown and to replace somebody in the Elimination Chamber, so he could win, go to Wrestlemania, where he would give Undertaker his rematch, and he could end the streak. Teddy said that while he would love to have Shawn, the Chamber is full. Shawn was in full on desperation mode and when he was told the bad news grabbed Teddy angrily. Hunter stopped him doing anything, and asked is this how far his obsession had taken him? Shawn said his career was over and superkicked Teddy long before stalking off angrily. I like where this is going, and I am intrigued by Shawn’s character direction. Nice one WWE.

Jillian Hall vs Gail Kim
The Divas title match will be on PPV. Fantastic. Maryse was on commentary for the mere seconds this nothing of a match lasted which Gail Kim won with the falling boot to the chin. After the match Maryse played nice to Gail Kim before saying mean things in french, but shaking Gail’s hand afterwards. N/A

They announced the first inductee for the Hall of Fame will this year be THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN TED DIBIASE. And about time too.

Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton
Cody got a jobber entrance. There wasn’t much to this but this was okay because it was more meant to be an angle anyway. They shoved each other and in the end Sheamus distracted Orton and Cody snuck up on him and hit CrossRhodes for the shock victory. After the match Sheamus pump kicked Orton but backed off after Cody came back into the ring with a steel chair. This Legacy breakup or not breakup is intriguing but I need a more solid direction soon or as a fan I will be frustrated and not in a good way. 1/2*

Backstage Carl Edwards went back on an earlier segment where he said Jerry Springer would make three singles matches next week between the participants of the Elimination Chamber, and went ahead and made them here. He made Sheamus vs Orton, Dibiase vs Kingston and HHH vs Cena. He slightly overdid the delivery on this as he tried to make it sound like it was the biggest deal, but it just isn’t.

I wont rate Cena vs Dibiase as it wasn’t a match as advertised. Basically Dibiase came out and got mauled and tapped to the STF on the floor. Cena looked generally more angry than normal coming to the ring and during this in general. He said he didn’t care why Batista attacked him last week, he just called him out. When Batista didn’t come out, he called out Vince instead, who did come out, with ten security guys.

Vince said the only reason he likes Cena is because he draws, and Cena interrupted him saying he’s all about the money whereas Cena actually loves the business. He started talking about loving ‘the moment’. This was all kind of cheesy but due to his delivery, Cena pulled it off and got pop from the live crowd. Cena said Bret wanted a match with Vince at Wrestlemania, and while Vince claimed Bret didn’t want that, he accepted the match. Vince telling Cena to shut up was very funny.

Vince addressed Bret as being in Calgary, and he showed a video package of the stuff last week to show why Bret might not want any of Vince. Bret hit the ring and ground and pounded Vince. The security came to the ring but Bret fought them off and grabbed a steel chair. Vince decided to change his mind on the mania match and ran away. Bret started destroying the TV equipment and the announce, in reference to his post show stuff at Montreal. Not sure the crowd recognized this. He stood in the ring looking pissed as his music played, before posing for the crowd as the show went off the air.

I sit here shocked that RAW for the first time in forever, put together a two show streak of really good programs. There was a mix of good wrestling, decent promos and some great segments that furthered storylines. I actually feel bad for Luke Parks, my predecessor, as I feel that if he’d given it another month or two, these recent RAWs could have made him change his mind about his decision.

This episode of RAW earns a thumbs up.

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Match of the Week: This is a new feature, where I will give you some video orgasm, in just a random out of my collection of favourite wrestling matches, linked – for your pleasure – below. It wont always be WWE, just so you know.

Match of the week number one by the way will be:

Kota Ibushi vs Jigsaw vs Nick Jackson vs El Generico

Ibushi is a Japanese indy superstar, Jigsaw is a big player in CHIKARA and former member of The Vulture Squad in ROH, Nick Jackson is one half of the Young Bucks or Generation Me and El Generico is the very same former one half of the ROH Tag champs. This is a semi final match from the Rey de Voladores tournament, a high fliers mini-tournament held every year at CHIKARA’s big King of Trios tournament. This match is just an out and out spotfest, but a great one at that, and you can buy the show this came from (I very much recommend you buy all three nights of this tournament which includes appearances from Bryan Danielson, Austin Aries, Al Snow, Dave Taylor, Eddie Kingston, Mike Quackenbush and many more) at Smart Mark Video, and the DVD is CHIKARA King of Trios Night 2. The match is in video form below:

Part 1
Part 2

There may be a ad beforehand, but its worth sitting through.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

The RAW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The RAW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Not too much pre-game tonight, as I have to borrow a friend’s internet access here, which is also why this blog is real late, because I’ve had internet problems since Tuesday morning, and although they were originally supposed to be solved today they just haven’t been, but next week I’m gonna catch you guys up with my thoughts on the Royal Rumble, my lack of prediction success, the second death of ECW, WWE NXT, and the Jericho/Hurricane situation plus any other big wrestling news that transpire. Also, I’m gonna introduce one of the new features I told you about in my first RAW blog.

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RAW is live and rolling from Nashville, Tennesse

On with the show.
Jack Brisco memorial screen starts us, before the usual look back through time thing. Then our RAW title screen now with more Gail Kim pointing! Yeah.

Tonight Bret talks to Vince! William Shatner is our guest host! Things happening!

And here comes Edge.

I remember when this dude was Gangrel’s cronie, and now he looks like a star. He’s back, he says. But he’s not just back, he’s back in the main event of Wrestlemania. He reminds us of him getting injured during his tag title run, and how he may never have been able to come back. He says he watched the Slammy awards and Jericho thanking him for getting injured. He saw Jericho mocking him and the room (?) got very silent, and it wasn’t because Dennis Miller bombed, it was because he promised that he would be back for Wrestlemania. He realised that he is the Ultimate Opportunist, he promised he would prove the doctors wrong, and he did. He promised that he would enter the Rumble and win. He said Jericho has a Slammy, a mugshot on TMZ but Edge has a main event at Wrestlemania. Burn. He says two years ago he faced the Undertaker and lost. He says that unlike HBK if he wants Undertaker, he can have him. He however says, that he could have a match against a guy who’s unbeaten at Wrestlemania, or a guy whos never wrestled at one. He’s gonna wait to make his decision, and the one thing he knows is that he’s going to Wrestlemania.

Sheamus is now out.

Sheamus accuses Edge of mouthing off and says a lot has changed, which Edge acknowledges saying RAWs been taken over by an evil Ronald McDonald. Sheamus says that he could beat Cena which Edge couldn’t do at Mania, and that he beat Orton last night. Edge says he made a career out of beating Cena, but Sheamus says that was a long time ago and he will walk out of Elimination Chamber as champion, and he wont break a sweat beating Edge, and he tells him to run off to Smackdown before he rips his head off. Edge stands to Sheamus and Sheamus gives him a micshot and floors him with a forearm. He gets ready for the push kick, but he misses and Edge takes him down and does some ground and pound. He preps for the spear and gets it, goreing the LIVING SHIT out of him. Love that move.

So Edge smiles, walks away with Sheamus left lying. Cole discusses the Elimination Chamber, and we get a video package for it. Scary.

Cena is walking backstage! Walk boy. He will try to qualify for the chamber next.

John Cena vs Cody Rhodes, Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
What is with the walking out semi-backwards thing Cody does? Its less noticeable when he comes out with Ted but it kind of looks like he’s talking to someone in the back on his way out. So it looks stupid. Anyway, Cody gets a two off a side-Russian leg sweep and works over Cena with the basics. Cody cuts off the five moves and gets two off a rollup, but Cena picks up where he left off with the protoplex and the five knucks. Cody blocks the FU and hits a short-arm clothesline and a front suplex for a two. Cody goes up top and hits a moonsaul, without looking behind him which looks very fake. Anyway, Cena kicks out of that and hits the AA from nowhere. Well that was blunt.
Winner: John Cena

Opinion: As decent a three minutes as you’ll get with those two. *1/2

We get a segment looking back at Survivor Series 97.

Matthews asks Vince if he’s seen Bret Hart yet? Vince says no-one will see him because he doubts he’ll show up. He goes to his office and is surprised by someone barging into his office off camera. Its a Canadian, and Vince asks if he has something to say. And it’s Shatner. Burn. As a fellow Canadian, Shatner can’t wait for Bret Hart to embarass Vince tonight. And he walks off. Thanks for showing up.

Jack Swagger vs Triple H, Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
So wonder who’ll win this. Fresh matchup though, maybe a first time ever? Correct me if I’m wrong. Anyway, no follow up to Shawn kicking him out of the Rumble? Of course not. I mean Cole mentioned it, but there should be some interaction presumably. They mat wrestle until Hs makes the ropes. Swagger does press ups but Mr Helmsley isn’t impressed and knocks him down with punches and a high knee smash before taking Swagger over the top to a break. Back in, and Swagger gets two off a DDT. I personally feel that Swagger could be a cool way of injecting a new face into the title scene, and they need a couple of extra bodies in the Chamber to work the early stages of the match anyway. Hunter hip tosses his way out of an abdominal stretch and lowbridges Swagger to the outside. Swagger smashes HHH into the apron and back inside eats a powerslam for two. I like it when Triple H actually gives the younger heels some stuff. Makes him a far more tolerable babyface. I remember in like 2003/2004 and he would just bury pretty much everybody. Swagger goes for the Vader bomb but Triple H gets his knees up. Swagger does one of the eternal dont’s in wrestling by ducking after tossing H to the ropes, so he takes the facebuster, but Swagger kicks out of the spinebuster. Triple H goes for the pedigree but Swagger powers and back body drops out. He hits the Vader bomb again but Triple H kicks out at the last second. Belly to belly gets Swagger a two. He rams the midsection the corner and poses on a bodyslam, so Triple H counters to a pedigree.
Winner: Triple H

Opinion: Not too concerned by the result as it was a foregone conclusion. Short and sweet little match there and proof that when he wants to Triple H can wrestle a good TV singles match. The Swagger thing is bizarre because he’s been getting owned in 30 seconds in the lead up to the Rumble, but every now and then a guy like Cena or Hunter here will make him look really credible. **3/4

RKO vs HBK for a place in the Chamber is next. We get a really weird thing with Shatner doing a spoken word version of Sexy Boy. Shatner’s visuals were fucking weird. He then does The Time Is Now. I never actually knew the words to that. He then does Booyaka 619 and The Game. It was like one of those cheesy CD ads, but still surreal.

Especially when transitioning to SUPER SERIAL SHAWN BACKSTAGE~!    Trips comes in and wants a second to talk but Horny interrupts. Hunter shrugs him off and asks what was up with last night. He says he would have done it too, so no worries. WHAT A PAYOFF. This fucking company. Shawn is still spaced out that he didn’t win the Rumble. Hunter says that Shawn is losing it. Hunter says that all Shawn has to do to get to Wrestlemania is beat Orton tonight. He thanks Hunter, but you can tell his head was elsewhere. Apart from the lack of payoff regarding the Rumble, a good segment to continue Michaels’ downward spiral.

Randy Orton vs Shawn Michaels, Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Had a bit of a moment watching Shawn’s entrance. Weird to think that when Shawn came back in 2002, it was initially potentially gonna be a one shot deal. Well look what happened. Anyway, Shawn Michaels feud with Orton at the end of 07 was one of the few times I’ve been entertained by an Orton feud. Orton is somehow looking less skinny this week. Shawn fires off with chops, and hits a neckbreaker. Orton, however, takes a powder. Orton tries to take advantage by going for the draping DDT but Shawn blocks and hits a high cross for a two. Shawn hits his usual corner bump off an Irish whip. Orton hits his side headlock backbreaker. Orton stomps away at Shawn’s core. As soon as Michaels looks like coming back Orton hits his big dropkick. And then THE CHINLOCK. This is what I came to see. Orton puts Shawn on the top rope. Shawn blocks a superplex and knocks Orton down. He then goes and hits the big elbow. And those sounds guys start tuning up the band. Orton slithers under the superkick but rins into an atomic drop and a chop (twice) before the flying forearm, the kip up but Orton rolls him up as he’s doing it for the win.
Winner: Randy Orton

Opinion: Actually enjoyed this match and it’s cool that Shawn got taken advantage of during the kip up because after the forearm Orton knew that was coming so he knew just when to go for the roll up. **1/4

Shawn is really pissed off at the end of the match. I am actually interested to know how Shawn is gonna get to Wrestlemania now.

More SS97 nostalgia as we look back to Bret screwed Bret. They show the Mania package from the Rumble. The song really sucks for it.

Orton is backstage and Ted congratulates him and apologises about last night. Orton squares up to him and scowls before walking away.

Mark Henry vs Ted DiBiase, Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Mark Henry, someone I desperately don’t want in the Chamber. Bizarre pop though. Anyway whichever of these guys gets in will at least be interesting as for a new face. Henry mauls DiBiase to start with, taking him to the outside. DiBiase rams Henry’s arm into the ring post. He drop toe holds Henry into the steps. I fear a countout here. Thankfully not, as back inside DiBiase works over Henry’s injured arm. DiBiase kicks Henry in the face but ends up getting mauled again. He gets his boot up on a charge though. Henry catcnes him on a high cross attempt and DiBiase hotshots Henry’s arm on the ropes. DiBiase then pins Henry with a short arm DDT. This could be interesting.
Winner: Ted DiBiase

Opinion: Nothing amazing, nothing that bad though. This match is more notable for the result. *1/4

Big Show and Kofi are warming up backstage as they will be the final qualifier. Cole and Lawler take time out to talk about Jack Brisco’s passing. Rest in peace.
They show a video package.

Diva shit backstage. Maryse is really looking forward for that championship match with her. Maryse says Mickie and Michelle are embarrassing, and that she and Gail are grown up women and they should show what real women can do it. She says something I can’t understand. Gail and Kelly say this is weird.

Miz and Show are chilling backstage making jokes at Shatner’s expense. The sXe society walk in and complain about the lack of tag title shot. The two teams argue about who gets the shot and Show says they give bald people a bad name. Shatner walks in and theres a graphic joke I don’t understand. Shatner climbs on a chair and makes a triple threat title match for next week on RAW. That works huh. Jokes I don’t understand follow. Maybe I should watch American TV to understand these things.

Triple H consoles HBK backstage, and he tells Shawn to move on. He says there are plenty of other guys for Shawn to compete with at Wrestlemania. But Shawn says not for me and walks away. DX seemingly unconcerned at their triple threat tag match next week.

Kofi Kingston vs Big Show, Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Cole actually acknowledges Kofi getting ambushed at last year’s elimination chamber. Big Show has a new t-shirt. Before the match starts, The Miz comes out for some reason. Apparently its for commentary. Not much happens match wise its basically just Kofi getting mauled. He ducks out of the way of  Show charge and Show crocthes himself on the top rope and Kofi kicks him off the apron. During the break Show speared Kofi. This seems to be more about Miz on commentary. Speaking of which with Kofi on the outside, Miz starts yelling at Kofi. MVP comes out of the crowd and chases Miz away. Kofi hotshots Show and Kofi goes up top he falls off the top rope and completely fucks a dropkick. He hits more dropkicks to chop down Show. He hits the boom drop. This gets two. Kofi struggles his way up to his mounted corner punch and eye rakes his way out of a chokeslam. Show went for the KO punch, but he took out the ref. He throws Kofi out but the ref is out. Show calls for another ref. And that ref calls for a DQ. Show seems really concerned about this ref. However he is really pissed off that he got DQ’d. He didn’t mean to do it. He does have a point. Well thats an awesome way to build up Kofi.
Winner: Kofi Kingston (DQ)

Opinion: Well that sucked a whole load of dick in every way. 1/2*

We recap Vince screwing Bret 2010 version.

Carl Edwards of NASCAR will host next week where there will be a triple threat match for the tag titles. King is in the ring to introduce his ‘bff’ William Shatner. The Bellas of course bring him to the ring. There is an actual trekky in the crowd. Shatner trips on his way into the ring and asks if King is ok. This is weird. shatner thanks the crowd for having fun. Shatner introduces Bret Hart. Man I’m such a mark for this guy. He looks better in jeans rather than the shorts. He doesn’t look happy though. He doesn’t give his glasses away either, he wears them.

He says he’s had a month to think about everything and put it all into perspective, he says he came here for all the right reasons, and he tried to come and make peace. He says he was naive to think he could put everything behind him. He says he was wrong and he doesn’t like it. He says tonight he came to talk to Vince, not to make peace, He tells Vince to get his ass out here. He says he doesn’t like to wait.

Vince eventually strusts out dancing like the retard he is. He feigns surprise that Bret is there. He wants to get a few things off his chest, and he’s never regretted anything he’s done to Bret. Bret congratulates him on his honesty and says that Vince is the world’s greatest liar. He goes through all the lies Vince told last month. He says that Vince couldn’t lace up Stu’s jockstrap. He says that when Cena called Vince pathetic, and Bret says that he knows all about pathetic. He felt pathetic, in a wheelchair after his stroke. He told himself that someday he’d get out of his wheelchair and never feel pathetic again. He says when Vince screwed him on January 4th, he felt pathetic again. He says he wrestled constantly for Vince, and thought that someday Vince would appreciate him, but he never did. Bret says that this stick of chewing gum (referring to a couple of weeks ago) has enough flavour in it to kick Vince’s ass right there and then. Vince rolls through Bret’s nicknames and calls it all a crock of shit. Vince mocks Bret being a Canadian hero. Vince says Bret isn’t a hero. The crowd is not pleased. Vince says he can’t understand what the people see in him. Vince thinks he’s pathetic. He says he has no personality compared to Austin, Michaels and Perfect and that he’d be a midcard footnote if not for his opponents personality. Vince says he has no charisma, no command over the English language, a hound dog looking face, stringy crappy hair (assuming its his) and that he dresses like a hobo. Bret continually asks whether he’s finished. Vince says Bret deserves to be screwed. Great stuff, this. Vince says he was going to nominate Stu for the hall of fame, but he’s rethunk it and it’s not going to happen because he doesn’t deserve it. This takes Bret iver the limit and he beats down Vince. He goes for the sharpshooter but Batista hits the ring and pulls Bret away. Bret is downed on the floor until Batista holds Bret’s arm at Vince’s command. Vince screams at Bret. He gets his receipt for 12 years ago by spitting in Bret’s face. And with this RAW goes off the air.

Overall, a great RAW, especially comparing it to the ones from the past few months. Lots of good wrestling, not too much goofy shit, and an awesome segment at the end there. They started lots of little things, as I am excited to find out what’s going to happen with Bret Hart, what’s going to happen with Shawn Michaels, and I’m a little excited for the tag title match next week. They also built to the Elimination Chamber, even if they did botch Kofi’s build a little bit. All in all, one of the best RAWs in a long time.

This episode of RAW earns a thumbs up.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

Chris: Hey everyone and welcome to this brand new feature here on WNW: The Fatal Four Way, where Kendra, Paul, Rob and I all team up to bring you our monthly WWE pay per view predictions. I came up with the idea to do this for a couple of reasons, primarily for you, the readers, to have just one place to go to read our picks, making life much easier. It will also be far easier to keep track on the WNW WWE blog writers challenge this way as well as providing yet another innovative and interactive feature that is totally unique to Wrestling News World. I really hope you enjoy this debut edition and please feel free to leave some feedback and your picks via the comment board. A big thank you to WNW South African correspondent Brandon Van Reenan for once again designing a superb logo for this blog! Brandon currently studies Graphic Design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa and if his work for WNW is anything to go by, is in for one hell of a successful career! I couldnt find a way to change the fonts when I wrote this out but Paul and I will be in Italics, whilst Rob and Kendra will be in standard text!

Chris: I think WWE have done a really solid job building the Royal Rumble. All of the feuds leading in here have been built really well and the card is solid. This show is usually one of the best of the year and I am expecting big things from WWE, especially since TNA has really been bringing their A Game (at least on the pay per view side of things) for the last few months. I haven’t really enjoyed the build for the actual Rumble match as I hate that wrestlers just seem to randomly decide to take part, I think I mentioned last year that I felt 2007s qualifying matches were a really good way of doing it. What I do like however is the fact that this is one hell of a star studded rumble with major names involved and I am sure WWE looks set to surprise us and swerve us with a few returns and surprise debuts along the way! So without further ado lets get this underway!

Kendra: I’m so thrilled to be joining the WWE PPV predictions this year! I love writing about TNA, but my love of wrestling doesn’t end there. I grew up watching McMahon TV and it holds a dear place in my heart. While I’m thrilled about joining the boys, predicting big matches like the Royal Rumble truly intimidate me! But more than that I’m very excited about joining the boys in predicting WWE’s 2010 pps!

Paul: So, it’s that time of the year again, one of the most exciting in the WWE calendar, the Royal Rumble. This year we have had some kind of miracle and the Rumble itself has been well built as a story. I know mind blowing right? Anyway, I’m always excited for this event, but this year more than ever the undercard leaves not just something but a lot to be desired. I’m not feeling any of the matches, except weirdly the women’s match, but I’m very scared that that is going to end up not going the way that it really should. Anyway, enough chatter, let’s get to some predictions

Rob: Welcome to the first mega prediction blog of 2010! I’m Rob Manisero, your WNW ECW/Superstars reporter and I’m here with my cohorts in crime of the Blog Spot to deliver some Royal Rumble predictions. The card has shaped up to be pretty decent, with some interesting title matches and a star-studded Royal Rumble bout. I expect a couple of shockers as well as the road to Wrestlemania officially begins!

Chris Predicts ECW Championship Match: Christian © vs Ezekiel Jackson

This match had one of the best builds of any title match I can remember for a long, long time. The homecoming battle royale qualifying matches made ordinary TV matches important and gave a reason to tune in and watch ECW every week. I was surprised with Big Zeke going over, especially considering the talent that was in the battle royale but I am not opposed to it. Zeke so far has looked solid in the ring, is decent on the mic and plays the monster heel role to perfection. I am unsure if Regal will accompany him to the ring, seeing as how he is in the Rumble but if he does, expect some interference which may get broken up by Kozlov. I honestly cannot see Zeke going over here as I think it is too early to make him champion and by having Christian retain here (perhaps all the way to Wrestlemania) it will make the moment someone does finally defeat him, that much more significant!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Christian (Retains ECW Championship)

Kendra Predicts ECW Championship Match: Christian © vs Ezekiel Jackson

Ezekiel Jackson is one big man and really could be Champion of ECW, and I really don’t think he has enough time behind him as a singles competitor – even though he‘s been backed by Regal. I just feel that the Champion on a show should be someone developed and deserving, but obviously WWE doesn’t feel the same – read Sheamus. Anyway, as I don’t see either of the other two major championships changing hands and Christian has been ECW Champion for quite a long run, I think Jackson actually has a chance. If Regal wasn’t there to support him I wouldn’t give him a shot at all, but with Regal there I think Jackson might just be able to carry the title and add a new spark to ECW.

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Ezekiel Jackson (New ECW Champion)

Paul Predicts ECW Championship Match: Christian © vs Ezekiel Jackson

Ever since I stopped blogging ECW, my patience for the program (knowing I don’t explicitly have to watch it) has been getting lesser and lesser. I have not enjoyed seeing Ezekiel Jackson as the focus of the show lately, and that match from last week where he tagged with Regal, went on FOREVER, and does not give me high hopes at all. However, I’m gonna go out there and say that Zeke wins the title. Christian has done literally all he can with the ECW title, and now if they want to push Zeke, they need to give him the title, and they need to do it on a big PPV. I’m not pleased with it, but I’m going there. Let’s just hope it will be quick.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Ezekiel Jackson (New ECW Champion)

Rob Predicts ECW Championship Match: Christian © vs Ezekiel Jackson

One definitive good thing can be said about this match: it has had plenty of build. Between the over-the-top challenge and the interactions between Zeke, Christian, and Regal in the past couple of weeks, the build has been well done. Now it all boils down to whether or not Zeke can deliver a solid match. He has the look, but taking the strap off of Christian now would just be the wrong thing to do. I expect an at least decent match and a good showing from the big man.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Christian (Retains ECW Championship)

Chris Predicts Women’s Championship Match: Michelle McCool © vs Mickie James

I cannot remember a more controversial and talked about angle in WWE, since Vince faking his own death! On one hand I hate this, it is degrading and insulting to fabulous looking Mickie and sends out completely the wrong message to the millions of female fans watching WWE. However it has achieved something that the WWE women’s division has so completely failed to do in recent years and that is make people care about it again. People talk about this match, I see hundreds of tweets of support to Mickie saying they hope she kicks Michelle’s ass. And just look at some of the discussion from our readers on my Smackdown comment board last week. When was the last time anyone really truly cared about a WWE Women’s match? Now whilst these two are capable of good things in the ring against one another, I don’t want to see a competitive match here, I want to see Mickie go out there and beat the living shit out of Layla and Michelle for all the punishment and humiliation they have put her through and finally send out the right message to the fans. I am not one for good guys always win in the end, but this is one instant where they have to. Mickie deserves this and if Michelle walks out of the Rumble with the belt under ANY circumstances I will be furious!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Mickie James (New Women’s Champion)

Kendra Predicts Women’s Championship Match: Michelle McCool © vs Mickie James

On this one I have to go with my heart even though I will probably be wrong. I think this whole storyline is horrible and Mickie should hand Michelle her face on a platter. Mickie is not at all fat and I’m disgusted by this whole thing. On top of that she’s a heck of a lot better in the ring than Michelle. To top it off, the storyline could get much more interesting if Mickie wins. I’ll be absolutely disgusted if Vince panders to Taker’s girlfriend on this.

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Mickie James (New Women’s Champion)

Paul Predicts Women’s Championship Match: Michelle McCool © vs Mickie James

Well this one is a can of worms. The piggy James stuff has not been to my taste at all and maybe you think I’m a pussy who can’t take a wrestling angle, but when I consider all the backstage stuff and the fact that Mickie is trying to get a side career as a country music artist going, stuff like the cake and punch in the face two weeks ago has made me very uncomfortable. What’s most stupid is that the cool heel getting the better of Mickie ever week is almost telling the WWE children fans that this is what (Women’s Champion) a winner looks like, and this is what a loser, a so called fat girl looks like. It’s really stupid and the thing is it could all be made better if Mickie just beat the shit out of her here. I just don’t see it happening though. I’m sure this is just Vince burying Mickie for daring not to be stick thin and daring to try and do something else with her life, and right now is the final kick to the face while Mickie is already down. I don’t agree with this either, but I think Michelle, against all logic, retains.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Michelle McCool (Retains Women’s Championship)

Rob Predicts Women’s Championship Match: Michelle McCool © vs Mickie James

This angle has been just disgusting for the fans and Mickie. I do not know what she did to deserve this kind of treatment, but whatever it was she better win the title this time around. Hopefully in a huge beatdown too. Michelle just has not been cutting it as Women’s champ, especially her poor mic work. Mickie is over with the fans and she is a proven champion.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Mickie James (New Women’s Champion)

Chris Predicts WWE Championship Match: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton

I am very surprised WWE went with heel vs heel here but at the same time pleased because it gives us something different than the usual run of the mill title matches. This match has been built faily well on RAW despite DX overshadowing it somewhat. Sheamus has not been booked well since capturing the title, having constant squash and cheap disqualification matches. However last week on RAW he had a solid match with Cena, where he bested him and had him beaten only for Orton to interfere (and then John Cena took a turd all over the good stuff we saw but that’s a rant for another blog…) anyway for me what that match showed was Sheamus can go in the ring (as we all knew from his FCW days) and I think this has all the potential to be a very good match. The crowd are going to be heavily behind Orton but I cannot see any way he walks out as champion unless WWE pull a huge swerve and put Ted over in the Rumble but sadly that would be too creative (not to mention the fact Ted has been booked so badly he has not been able to get over as much as we all want him to!) I think Legacy will get involved but things may break down and the cost Orton the win and the victory. Randy Orton does not like to get beaten by many people but when his opponent is hand picked by Triple H, Randy may just have to swallow his pride and do the job! I don’t want to see a cheap DQ, I want to see a legitimate win for Sheamus to start building him as the real deal heading in to Wrestlemania.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Sheamus (Retains WWE Championship)

Kendra Predicts WWE Championship Match: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton

Even though I do not abide by Sheamus being the WWE Champion, it is what it is. Personally I would love to see Orton really smoosh Sheamus in this match. Orton might have been the new guy at one point, but he’s now a seasoned competitor and should give Sheamus quite the run for his money. But in the end I see Sheamus coming out on top with the title. Does this mean Sheamus will win cleanly? Not at all! I think Legacy, specifically Ted will somehow cause a DQ and while Orton might win the match, Sheamus will retain the title.

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Randy Orton Via Disqualification (Sheamus Retains WWE Championship)

Paul Predicts WWE Championship Match: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton

Heel vs heel is not a route best advised for a world title match, but as the title isn’t the focus of attention at this show, I guess they can get away with it. Orton has taken on the quasi face role here, and I can’t help but wonder how big of a reaction he will get, especially with people hating Sheamus for having the title in the first place. I don’t expect a good match here to be honest. Sheamus style is interesting when he’s got a good performer to go against, a guy he can swat down. Orton’s plodding, ‘methodical’ (read: boring) offence will not be a style clash that I think will work particularly well. I can’t really see Orton winning the title here, but I don’t see this being a clean win for Sheamus either. My prediction here is that Sheamus retains the title, even if he has take a loss by disqualification to get the ‘w’.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Sheamus

Rob Predicts WWE Championship Match: Sheamus © vs Randy Orton

To me, this match is screaming, begging, and pleading for a Legacy breakup. I want Ted to run down that ramp, presumably to distract Sheamus, and go straight for Orton. Randy will most likely be getting pops considering who he is facing. Sheamus is not the guy I would want as champion going into Wrestlemania, but for the time being, I cannot see Orton taking the belt either. Sheamus will win after Legacy, specifically Ted, inadvertently helps him out.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Sheamus (Retains WWE Championship)

Chris Predicts World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Undertaker © vs Rey Mysterio

I am really looking forward to this match! It is interesting that RAW is doing heel vs heel and Smackdown face vs face, definitely something quite unique! Undertaker and Rey put on a good show on Christmas Day and both of them are such savvy ring veterans, that put them together and you are guaranteed a quality showing. I hope this is given a decent amount of time, despite the questionable physical condition of both guys! This match is sure to split the crowd as both guys are immensely over and I am excite to hear the duelling chants. The only thing that has hurt this feud is Batista constantly inserting himself into the scene even though he is not part of the match. I really hope WWE keep Batista away from this and just let these two go out and entertain us for half an hour. We should see some crazy counters and reversals from Rey but despite his best efforts I see no way he is going over Undertaker here as I imagine Taker is set to head, certainly into Elimination Chamber as champion, if not Wrestlemania

Chris’ Predicted Winner: The Undertaker (Retains World Heavyweight Championship)

Kendra Predicts World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Undertaker © vs Rey Mysterio

While both of these men are uniquely qualified to work the ring and be Champion in their own ways, I don’t like this match. These men are just too different in the ring, both in size and technique. While Rey is one of the best high fliers, I see Taker’s size dominating this match and making it too one sided to be truly interesting. There’s no way Taker can lose to Rey – other than by some strange DQ.

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: The Undertaker (Retains World Heavyweight Championship)

Paul Predicts World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Undertaker © vs Rey Mysterio

This match has been built with Mysterio pretty much looking like nothing. HBK has looked straight past him to a match with Undertaker, he’s been getting decimated by Batista ever since he became #1 contender and he even lost the verbal battle in his confrontation with Undertaker. However, this could be pretty good build as what is Rey Mysterio? He is the ultimate underdog. All the same, I don’t think he’s winning the title here, not with his alleged dodgy knee playing a part as well. What I do expect is the entertaining big man/little man mesh of styles, especially with the ‘phenom’ twist Undertaker brings, and the lucha flair that Mysterio provides. So while I expect a good match, I’m still not betting against Taker.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Undertaker (Retains World Heavyweight Championship)

Rob Predicts World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Undertaker © vs Rey Mysterio

Now this should be a good match and hopefully it will be around 20 minutes of exciting wrestling. Rey is going to have to pull out all the stops and use his speed and high-flying ability to have a chance here. Batista might get involved but hopefully that won’t go down. Just like in the ECW title match, I just cannot see the challenger going over here. With the talk of Rey being hurt and having surgery after Wrestlemania, plus with the developing Shawn Michaels story, it just seems like the company might lean towards Michaels Undertaker Part 2 with the title on the line. Undertaker for the win.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: The Undertaker (Retains World Heavyweight Championship)

Chris Predicts The 30 Man Royal Rumble

Ok I hate Triple H’s annual quest to win the Rumble. It sucks up valuable TV time, when there is no way in hell he should ever be winning the event again. For months I was hoping and praying that WWE would use this match to put over either John Morrison or Kofi Kingston. However Kofi’s push has stalled due to Randy Orton’s ego and Morrison (despite being over as anything) seems a more likely bet for MITB at this point. I think, with it now looking unlikely that The Rock is coming back for Wrestlemania, that this is the perfect time to start a Cena/Batista feud by having Cena eliminate Batista and the enraged animal take Cena out of the ring. This could be the biggest Smackdown vs RAW match ever and defiantly something I would want to see at Wrestlemania now we have a clear heel vs face and Batista is no cowardly heel either which again is refreshing. I don’t care who eliminates Triple H, just as long as someone does, maybe Shawn for ironic purposes. I would be entirely opposed to Shawn going over, if the plan is for Undertaker to enter Wrestlemania as champion and then you would have the actual best match as the main event for a change! But The Rumble should be about establishing new talent rather than putting over someone who has already won. If WWE want to put over an established guy both Chris Jericho and CM Punk have very strong arguments for the victory. I am hoping to see some surprise returns here hopefully from RVD and a couple of legends but what I am really hoping WWE do is pull a not so much of a swerve here and bring back Edge and have him eliminate Jericho and win the Rumble, if Edge is not quite ready to return yet from injury then have Jericho take him out on Smackdown next week and demand “his” title match against Taker at Elimination Chamber and then bring Edge back again after that to challenge Jericho. It is perfect and Jericho deserves to main event Wrestlemania more than anyone else on the roster after being consistently the best performer of the last two years (as well as having to endure that awful Legends angle last year) Edge as a babyface would be great as well and can you imagine the roof blowing off the place when “You Think You Know Me” hits! For me this would be perfect and for once my far out there predictions do actually have some evidence to support them, just check out this inadvertently released picture that Netflix had for the Rumble DVD (It has since been pulled and replaced with the Rumble poster!)

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Edge

Kendra Predicts The 30 Man Royal Rumble

This is the first time I’m predicting the actual Royal Rumble Match for anything other than my own personal fun and it’s really tweaked me out! While I’d love WWE to take a huge leap of faith and book Cody Rhodes, MVP, Ted DiBiase Jr. or even Bryan Danielson (wouldn’t that be huge?) to win, I do not see it happening with the match being so stocked with bog names. Therefore I have to wonder if WWE will go with the obvious – HBK, HHH, Cena or Batista – or something more interesting like Kane or Big Show. But I have whittled it down to two people who would make the win interesting – Kofi Kingston and Chris Jericho. I’m sure Kofi makes sense to most fans as he’s so interesting and truly a rising star, but I’m sure some wonder about my picking Jericho. I just have a feeling that he would be an interesting swerve. He’s been a star for quite a while, but he’s never won the RR and I think it’s about time. The problem is that Jericho just pulled a dumb and drunken move by getting arrested with Hurricane! That again leaves me with no clue again. So I’m going with HHH. Maybe this will be the breakdown of DX!

Kendra’s Predicted Winner: Triple H

Paul Predicts The 30 Man Royal Rumble

I actually have been really impressed with the way that WWE has gone in trying to build up the Rumble match as actually being important. That hasn’t happened for a good few years and unlike last year when it was nearly a given that Randy Orton would win (so obvious in fact in the prediction blog from last year I felt it was too much of a safe answer and went elsewhere), there are several guys that could win here. You look at HHH, HBK, John Cena, Batista and Chris Jericho as the main event candidates and perhaps guys like Big Show, Kofi Kingston and CM Punk with an outside shot. There are many different guys who have all put their say forward and claimed that they can win the Rumble and that does make it more interesting, especially when there isn’t an obvious way to go. I’ve been mulling through various possibilities in my head. I thought on the outside way of things, following a shock upset from Rey Mysterio, CM Punk could win the title to go for hair vs title/mask but that doesn’t look very likely. I considered Shawn Michaels winning and going straight to Wrestlemania to face Taker, but I don’t really see that either. what I could see is John Cena perhaps winning to go on to face an Elimination Chamber winning Batista at Wrestlemania. And while I think we may see some combination of the aforementioned matches at Wrestlemania, I think it will be due to a Triple H win, going on to face maybe Sheamus, or maybe someone else, maybe HBK depending on the outcome at Elimination Chamber.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Triple H

Rob Predicts The 30 Man Royal Rumble

There is no doubting the star power in this year’s Royal Rumble match. A plethora of guys can easily win this thing, including HHH, HBK, Batista, Cena, and Jericho, to name a few. I would love to see a young guy like Kofi outlast everyone, but it looks like Orton sent him back down to the mid-carders. There is a really poor chance of a young guy being elevated here, especially with Sheamus already looking like the WWE champ for WM26. It will be interesting to see if it comes down to DX, and in my mind it probably will. Cena is always there, and considering he single-handedly made the WWE title match look weak with his superhuman antics on Raw, he is a definite favorite. Jericho is deserving of it too, but I’m hoping that a guy named Edge will take him out. That being said, I’m going to go with a DX ending and a HHH win.

Rob’s Predicted Winner: Triple H

Chris: Well there you have it, the first fully loaded edition of The Fatal Four Way is complete. As I said, I hope you enjoy this new feature and we will all be back again for Elimination Chamber next month as well as with our respective blogs in the week. I will also be reviewing The Rumble (hopefully immediately following the event if I can manage to stay awake!) and have something else special lined up for that as well so be sure to check that out. Thank you so much for your continued support of Wrestling News World and its writing staff!

Kendra: I really think this Royal Rumble will be one of the more interesting in past years. There’s a lot of big names in this year’s Rumble and that should make for a lot of intrigue and fun. I also see some new feuds starting from the Rumble Match. I just can’t wait to sit down to watch and live Blog with everyone!

Paul: So, there you have it folks, thats the Royal Rumble. Since Satan apparently put together my University timetable I wont be able to stay up to join and moderate you guys in the live chat, but I will be catching the show as soon as possible, and will give you my thoughts in the pre-game of my RAW blog. For now though, I hope you enjoyed this new style of prediction blog, and you should let us all know your thoughts. Until next time then, I have been Paul Smith

Rob: Well there you have it. This big-four PPV should definitely deliver and hopefully with my picks, which will give me an early lead in any sort of standings we might have. Until next time, here’s hoping we see Edge!

The RAW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The RAW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Only pre-game this week is a little note on the Mickie/Michelle stuff on Smackdown. This better pay off properly with Mickie beating the shit out of her, or this is absolutely horrible booking that is completely against the kid friendly ideals that WWE is trying to promote.

Also, I from now on will be attending a class immediately before writing this blog, and that class is called ‘Linguistic Variation and Change In The British Isles’, which as I’m sure you can work is infuriatingly boring, so you will know what to blame if I’m OTT angry at the show one week,

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RAW is live and rolling from Columbus, Ohio hometown of TNA’s Madison Rayne!

On with the show.

This week we start with our opening video now with even more Eve dancing pointlessly!

Mikey C tells us we are six days from the Rumble and tonight our guest hosts are James Roday and Dule Hill…I thought Roday was off the show. Anyway. Are we ready?

We recap the melee at the end of last week’s show. Can’t believe these guys are wrestling not in the main event. I like how it isn’t even mentioned that they are defending their titles on Friday night. Usual pre-match schtick as always from DX. Trips notes a lack of Hornswoggle, as apparently Shawn sent him home. To boos. Christ. Shawn wants Hunter to understand that if Shawn wins the Rumble he can go on to Undertaker. Hunter says that this is too much to ask. Triple H says the jokes are over, coz the Rumble means it’s time to get serious. HHH says he knows how much Taker means to him, but he wants the title. He says they could work together and throw the 28 other guys out, probably pretty easy (BERRIED!), but it will still come down to him and Shawn, but if he has to step on his dream to get to his own, then he’ll do it. Shawn says he understands.

WWE Unified Tag Team Champions DeGeneration-X vs Legacy, Non-Title Match
They now mention the title match. Trips and Cody start and Triple H cgoes for the pedigree, but its blocked. Apparently we’re gonna get news about the guest host after this break. James Roday is not here. Anyway, now it’s Shawn and Cody who hits a bodyslam and Dibiase distracts him from the big elbow, but Shawn crashes onto Legacy from the top rope to the outside. Cody hits a draping neckbreaker. Dibiase and Rhodes isolate Shawn and tag frequently. Dibiase hits a nice dropkick after Cody went to ground. Dibiase hits a snapmare and a kick to the face. Cody blocks a tag to Hunter but runs into a back body drop. Shawn wants the tag but he’s not there. Dibiase whiffed on the superkick so shawn took advantage and tags Trips in to RUN WILD. Spinebusters to both Legacy members and as he was going for the pedigree. Shawn blind tagged in. Cody pushes Trips into Shawn. Shawn hits the sweet chin music on Dibiase to get the win.

Winners: WWE Unified Tag Team Champions DeGeneration-X

Opinion: Decent way to build dissension between DX, and build to the rumble match but as a match that felt like it never got out of first gear. *3/4

We sneak peak Psych which will co-star John Cena for this episode. Everyone verbally blows Cena. Yayy.

In a little while MVP vs Big Show. Sucks to be MVP.

MVP vs Big Show
MVP gets on the mic. He tells Miz that he’s his #1 contender and that he can try and hide behind guest hosts and Big Show, but he can’t keep running away and that eventually he will have to face him, and lose the title. This brings out Miz. Miz references MVP’s ballin’ catchphrase and makes a prison gay joke. Miz finds it strange that everyone accepts MVP and can’t stand Miz. While MVP was having mug shots, Miz was on reality TV. What an achievement. MVP tells him the reason people dislike him is because he is a jackass. Miz is not a balla, but Miz would have a lot of ‘friends’ if he went to prison, and then he questions Miz’s friendship with Big Show. Ah gay jokes. Miz says he would like nothing more than to have their US title match right now. Miz says he wont because he has a friend that wants to make a statement. Miz is the Miz and is awesome.

Big Show mauls MVP early with headbutts and his usual offence. He then hits a corkscrew plancha. Well not really but its more interesting. MVP hits his Yakuza kick and goes for another but runs into the chokeslam.
Winner: Big Show

Opinion: Well they sure know how to build a title challenger. Not even really a match, but comepletely counterproductive booking. 1/4*

Apparently later, Mr McMahon has a decision about Bret Hart.

Legacy were about to argue backstage but Randy Orton comes in and stops. Orton says there’s been tension and as soon as they sort things out, Legacy don’t help Orton with Sheamus and lose to DX. Orton says he will beat Sheamus with or without them.

John Cena is backstage with Dule Hill. Cena is outraged at the lack of James Roday. Apparently he’s having an appendectomy. It’s not a nice surgery. Cena enjoyed the skullduggery of Psych. Cena tells Hill to make this his night. Miz walk into his office. Miz says they could have had Miz on the show not Cena. Miz says he is more famous than both of the stars of Psych. Hill makes a match for Miz vs someone later. This show is so mediocre.

Maryse vs Eve Torres, Divas Title Tournament Semi Final
Maryse gets on the mic. Ruh roh. She says the other divas are wasting their time and then some French. There were a load of fireworks, and Dule Hill is shown to be playing with them. He apologises. Maryse does not accept this apology. This brings out Eve. This show is a mess. Wow this match gets Antarctica heat. Eve gets two off a dropkick. Eve hits a flipping senton for two. She hits a poor bodyslam and goes up and misses a moonsault. Not quite as graceful as Kurt Angle misses them. Eve hits a Northern Lights for a two count. I know. Anyway Maryse hits the French kiss for the win.
Winner: Maryse

Opinion: Not good, but a couple of different moves compared to normal divas matches. 3/4*

Vince is struttin through the corridors backstage with a smile on his face.

Vince walks out and they recap the Vince/Undertaker stuff again. Vince says if Taker was here he’d call him out and dare him to call him a coward. Vince says there is no reason for him to bring Bret back and that he sold Bret to WCW. What? Vince says everyone had forgotten about Bret until Shawn told him to bring him back. Loud we want Bret chant. He asks are they sure? Vince immediately announces Bret will never again appear in the WWE. Vince says that if everyone thinks they know better than Vince, they must all be billionaires. Vince asks the crowd for reasons to bring Bret back. One says that its because he’ll take him down. He’s in the crowd. This is bizarre. Another guy says he’s awesome. The announcers cackle in the background. But this is just weird. Vince says that Bret is a part of the past, and that he is concerned with the present and the future. Vince gives his thanks and tries to leave, but here comes John Cena.

Vince says Cena can’t change his mind. Cena says he has a problem with Vince because he dissed Bret and treated Piper badly. Vince says his ‘ugly’ purple jacket is better than the orange crap Cena wears. Cena says in the building of Vince’s empire he had a lot of help. Cena gets annoyed thart Vince looks at his wrestlers as commodities. Cena says people don’t respect Vince because all he cares about is money and ego. Cena says he cares so much about ego that he brought Bret back to kick him in the gut. Cena calls him pathetic. Cena says next week he invites Bret back to RAW and that Bret deserves a chance to face Vince face to face. Cena says that if Vince doesn’t do it it proves that Vince only thinks of everyone linked to WWE as a commodity. Cena says that come Vince’s 90th  birthday Cena will be a used up piece of gum too, so he will find Vince and beat him up. Cena says Vince has to do the right thing.

Vince tells him to wait. Vince says he’ll invite Bret back next week. Vince puts Cena in a match against Sheamus. Quite enjoyed that segment.

United States Champion The Miz vs Kofi Kingston, Non-Title Match
So this guy still needs new music. They wrestle and Kofi hits an armdrag. Kofi hits a running crossbody but goes flying into a boot by Miz for two. He gets another boot for two. Miz hits a leg drop before going for a chinlock. Kofi comes back with kicks including a pendulum kick and he hits shadows over hell for two. Miz hits his double neckbreaker. At this point MVP comes in and this makes Miz run right into Trouble in Paradise
Winner: Kofi Kingston

Opinion: Decent while it lasted. I don’t get why Big Show had to beat MVP, as the part where that isn’t happening is good build for this feud. *3/4

Dule Hill and Carlito are in the production truck. Carlito is babbling. They bring up the matchup graphics and brings Carlito up. Hill puts Carlito in a random match. Against Kelly Kelly. Carlito calls Hill the best guest host of all time.

Carlito vs Kelly Kelly, Fucking Stupid Bullshit Match
Well I’m glad we’re getting good wrestling out of this. Oh wait no. Kelly doesn’t look pleased. Then Santino comes out. Santino has a copy of The Best of RAW 2009 DVD, and Santino is in it looking stupid a lot. Santino says he’s going to take Kelly’s place, and he will win the Royal Rumble. However, Swagger comes from behind. Carlito very casually leaves the ring and Swagger beats down Santino and throws him over the top rope. Before celebrating. Swagger plows Santino into the ring post before doing press ups and beating his chest. He steps on Santino on his way out.
Winner: N/A

They do the Royal Rumble stats package. I like.

Cena is backstage sucking Dule Hill off. Cena has a photo of Dule and James Roday. He’s on speakerphone and he says something about gentleman pecs. Then there’s Bezerker and Carrot Top jokes. Alicia Fox walks in. She wants a prediction on her match and Dule says she’ll win. Hill will be at ringside. Weird segment.

Gail Kim vs Alicia Fox, Divas Title Tournament Semi Final
Gail didn’t get an entrance, and Dule Hill is on commentary. Gail hits a kind of monkey flip and just tosses Alicia around. Alicia nearly hits a backbreaker on Kim for a two count. Hard Irish whip by Fox. She misses a big boot and walks right into a powerslam. Alicia gets two from a small package. Kick from Gail and Alicia walks into that falling boot to the neck. Gail wins. Dule now has to face the consequences. Alicia decks Dule. Nice.
Winner: Gail Kim

Opinion: Alright, but as always they botched every other move. The women’s division especially on RAW is just awful. 1/2*

Next week Bret confronts Vince. And it will be WILLIAM SHATNER as our guest host. Epic.

WWE Champion Sheamus vs John Cena, Non-Title Match
Providing there’s nothing at the end of the show it looks like this will get a while. They pose and lockup until Sheamus misses a clothesline and gets bulldogged for two. Sheamus clubs Cena down. Cena hits his sort of fisherman’s for two. Sheamus clotheslines Cena down. Sheamus hits a suplex for two.  Lots of general hossiness from Sheamus. He hits a running knee on Cena to the outside. This pace is making my balls ache. Sheamus misses another knee blocks the AA and hits a DDT for two. A powerslam gets two. Due to the general lack of him on tonight’s show I predict a Randy Orton run in. you’re not missing anything here by the way. Sheamus counters Cena’s STF to take him outside. Sheamus tosses Cena into the steps. Sheamus tells him to stay down.Cena gets in again at 9.36236233673. Sheamus misses an elbow and feels them FIVE MOVES OF….DOOOOOM! He shuffles the knucks. However, Sheamus blocks the AA and hits his uranage backbreaker for a nearfall. Cena has the STF but Sheamus gets the ropes. On the outside, Sheamus hits that huge bicycle kick. I actually really like that kick. Anyway, as predicted, Orton comes in and hits the RKO with Sheamus back turned for the DQ. Orton does his psycho thang. Cena gets hung in the ropes and goes for the draped DDT and Cena counters hits the attitude adjustment.
Winner: Sheamus (DQ)

Opinion: Really a hit and miss match, good at times but boring in others. The booking pissed me off. What good did it do to have Cena own the champion and his challenger. That’s so stupid. Cena is over enough that he didn’t need that heat going into the Royal Rumble. **

Okay so tonight’s RAW was not a good show. Dule Hill had some charisma, but all of the segments and most of the matches were all just absolute crap, except maybe the Vince thing, which was actually surreal in some places.

Before I give the rating, I’m gonna adjust my ‘thumbs’ rating system. As it stands I have a ‘thumbs up’ ‘thumbs in the middle’ and ‘thumbs down’. I am now adding a ‘thumbs of contempt’. Because tonight’s show was a thumbs down show. However, recently I have seen much worse shows than this one, and therefore I need a way of distinguishing between the two types of bad show. This was just a bad show. There was very little wrestling (and what there was of it was rarely good), a lot of the mic segments were stupid, there was retarded booking and just boring stuff left right and centre. However, there have been RAWs that have been mind blowingly retarded, that buried people, that had the worst attempts at comedy ever and had so little, little wrestling. So there you go, that’s how I’m rolling from this point on. As I said…

This episode of RAW earns a thumbs down.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

By the way guys, check out the Blog Spot this weekend where a new SUPERPREDICTIONTEAM will be coming together to kick off the new year and predict the Royal Rumble. See you guys then.

The RAW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The RAW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Watched TNA Genesis over the weekend. I honestly don’t think the switch to the four sided ring is that big of a deal even if it does take away one of the unique parts of TNA. I enjoyed Wolfe/Pope, Red/Kendrick and Angle/AJ, but I actually thought Kennedy did not look good at all. And sucks to be Daniels, jobbing out to Val Venis. Wow bad times. A very hit and miss show to me, but I guess we can wait to see as to where things like AJ’s heel turn go from here.

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RAW is live and rolling from Knoxville, Tennessee the home of Buddy Landel!

On with the show.

We open with a little video for Martin Luther King Day. No jokes here.

We then open with the title screen now with more Gail Kim pointing!

Next up is pyro and the sickening, infuriating sound that is Michael Cole’s voice welcoming us to THE NUMBER ONE SHOW BLAH BLAH. Tonight we have John Cena/Kofi Kingston vs Legacy. Our hosts are Don Johnson and Jon Heder. Sweet?

Out comes V-Daddy. As in Vince, not Viscera’s new gimmick. Recap of Vince kicking Bret SQUAW IN THE NUTS. Vince talks about decisions, such as bringing RAW to god-forsaken Tennessee and allowing Bret Hart to return to WWE and HUMBLING him. He did it for THE ROCK..uh, the fans, because he wants them to remember Hart as The Excellence of Execution, not a broken down old warhouse who needs to be put down. Vince says it’s his decision to put people down. He makes an analogy. Something about gum losing its flavour. Thanks for clarifying this obviously infinitely complex concept Vince. He says if he had allowed Bret to stay here, he would have ended up having to chop off his hand. This made marginally more sense if you watched it. He pulls a Jericho calling them all hypocrites. He kind of shoots by saying they want it hard hitting and that they want it all, and says that it was the fans who made the decision to ban Bret and- GONG.

The World Heavyweight Champion, The Undertaker makes his way to the ring. The lights turn blue. Vince says he wasn’t finished. This does not see to bother Undertaker. Undertaker sees it as his time. Vince doesn’t seem to be in a position to argue. Taker came to address Shawn Michaels, but since Vince is there, he came to tell him something. He says not many people that were around in Montreal are here now. He saw Vince’s fear then and he also sees it now. Taker points out that Vince screwed Bret twice. He says that Vince is terrified of the consequences, as he should be. Taker says Vince acted like a coward. Vince sheepishly disagrees and runs away saying it’s Taker’s time.

Taker says that like Vince, Shawn is angry, in denial and stubborn. Taker says Shawn proved that he is Mr Wrestlemania but he didn’t break the streak. Taker says that he will answer Shawn’s rematch request now, face to face. And out comes Shawn in DX garb. Shawn says he anxiously awaits his answer, and that he is all ears. Taker says Shawn came closer than everyone else, but still failed. He says a rematch would only result in more disappointment and that he has nothing to prove. Taker turns the match down. He says however, if Shawn is truly convinced that he can beat him, it’s on, tonight. Woah. But Shawn says no. Shawn says it has to be at the grandest stage of them all. Shawn says he will enter the Royal Rumble, win, and there will only be one champion he will face. Poor Rey. Taker says the rumble is Shawn’s only chance. Shawn says at Wrestlemania, the streak, the title, Taker’s soul, will be Shawn’s

Evan Bourne vs WWE Champion Sheamus, Non Title Match
Can’t see this going well for Evan, especially considering the jobber non-entrance he got. Randy is at the ramp. Sheamus mauls Bourne from the opening bell. Sheamus is distracted by Orton and gets the feces kicked out of him with kicks and knees. Bourne hits his double knees off the top for a nearfall. Sheamus hits a backbreaker. Then the Irish Curse. He throws him with the Razor’s Edge. Winnar.
Winner: Sheamus

Opinion: Basically a squash match and I will rate it as so. Sucks to be Evan. SQUASH.

After the match, Orton gets in the ring, and the two men staredown. Sheamus lifts his belt high and walks away.

DX are backstage. Trips says the earlier segment was some powerful stuff and Don Johnson walks in. They ask if Jon Heder is around, Shawn doesn’t know who he is. Shawn leaves. Hunter says Heder is an idiot and who cares whether he shows up or not. Johnson bumps into Carlito dressed as Napoleon Dynamite. Carlito HILARIOUSLY claims never to have seen the movie. Excuse me while I die of laughing. Or maybe just die. Christ.

We take an emotional look back to the ALL AMERICAN AMERICAN challenge from last week. Leave the memories alone.

Swagger has the mic and says last week was a fluke and he is an ALL AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN AMERICAN. He issues another one of his challenges, again to Santino. Santino is dressed as Sonny from Miami Vice. Santino says he would love to beat Swagger again but he is president of the Italian Don Johnson Fan Club, so he is busy tonight, but he has found a suitable substitution in Mark Henry.

Jack Swagger vs Mark Henry, ALL AMERICAN AMERICAN CHALLENGE
On a roll with the mat classics this week. Henry press slams Swagger over.
Winner: Mark Henry

Opinion: Christ sake. N/A

The Bellas and Jon Heder get out of a limo. Heder tells someone else to wait in the car.

Our hosts (pimping When In Rome), make their way out with The Bellas. Johnson says they are thrilled to be there. Heder says he knows what they are thinking. H ewants to hear it for movies. Johnson puts DX in the main event, shocking. Heder says DX is ok, but he wants something new. Boos. American Football reference. Heder brings out his close personal friend The Miz. Douchebags unite.

Miz says its nice to have actual celebrities and says thanks to Jon for putting him in the Royal Rumble. Miz says Triple H thinks Johnson should host alone. They bitch about grosses. Miz says Johnson much like Miz is now, everyone wanted to be him. Miz says no-one remembers Tubbs, which Johnson denies. Miz says Tubbs is MVP. MVP thinks he can compete on Miz’s level which Heder says is a Miztake. MVP comes out and actually gets a pop. MVP says there’s a Miami kinship between himself and Johnson and apologises to him and the WWE universe for having him time wasted by Miz and Napoleon Dynamite. MVP announces himself as in the Royal Rumble and announces his intention to throw Miz out, and asks why wait? Why doesn’t he do it right now, and wants to throw Heder out too. This for reasons I don’t understand brings out Big Show. MVP is trapped between the two and gets knocked out by Show. Big Show gets in the ring and high fives Heder. Big Show is Heder’s insurance policy. Johnson wants no part of a conspiracy against DX. Heder syas Miz and Big Show could be good friends. Heder makes a tag team match between DX and Big Show and Miz. Heder kisses Big Show. Leave the memories alone.

John Cena and Kofi Kingston vs Legacy
John Cena is announced as being in the Royal Rumble match. King recaps last weeks triple threat match claiming RANDY SAVAGE RKO’d Kofi last week. Wow. Cena and Rhodes will start. After Cena throws around Rhodes, Dibiase tags in and gets mauled and faceplanted for two. Dibiase brings Cena down and Rhodes tag in, and there is many punches and kicks. Dibiase chokes Cena with the ref’s back turned. This gets two. From here we get frequent tags and punches and kicks. Eventually hot tag and Kofi RUNS WILD. With jumping and stuff! He hits the boom drop on Dibiase. Dibiase rolls away from Trouble In Paradise and after an exchange clotheslines Kingston down, with Rhodes stomping away. Back from a break and Kofi is getting worked over by the frequent tag method and heelish antics. Rhodes misses a knee as they tease the hot tag but Dibiase gets in first. However, he misses a corner splash but this time Rhodes blocks the tag. Decent fundamental tag psychology here. Cutting the ring in half and all that. Kofi blocks a chinlock with a stunner but he just misses the tag. Kingston hits a backdrop but can’t capitalise. Cena gets the hot tag and EL FIVE MOVES OF DOOMIO. Rhodes blocks the AA and hits a side Russian leg sweep for two. Cena throws Rhodes out of a bulldog and hits the Attitude Adjustment but Dibiase breaks it up. Kofi got the blind tag and hit a crossbody on Rhodes, with Dibiase being in the line of fire but moving out of the way. Kofi gets the three. Dissension!?
Winners: John Cena and Kofi Kingston

Opinion: Basic stuff but I enjoyed it. Cena’s audience connection is clear when you look at how big the pops were for the hot tag teases. This transfered some babyface heat to Kofi. Interesting stuff. **1/2

Post match Cody is angry with Ted and he walks away from him.

Heder and Miz Show are backstage. Hornswoggle walks in to a pop, on a stepladder. Triple H turns up. Hornswoggle’s growling, apparently meant nobody likes Heder. Horny challenges Heder to a match. Hunter verbally bitchslaps Miz and Hunter makes it a trios match with Heder and Horny joining the respective teams. Horny nonsense closes the segement. Heder doesn’t know what happened. Me neither. Not hopeful for this main event.

POURQUOI!?

Maryse and Alicia Fox vs Gail Kim and Eve Torres
My general summation of the participants? They’d get it. Gail and Maryse start with SHOUTING. Gail hits a missile dropkick for two. Alicia distracts Gail which leads to Maryse kicking her out of the ring. Maryse hits a backbreaker for two. She tags in Alicia and they slam Kim down doubleteam style. Fox hits a better backbreaker for another two. Not looking forward to the Eve hot tag. Alicia misses a bicycle kick and a corner splash and Gail tags in Eve to absolutely NO HEAT. Eve takes a kick to the face but hits hip toss, botches a dropkick HORRIBLY, before redoing spot, actually hitting her, but it looking little better. She clotheslines her down and hits a handstand senton for two. Eve hits a hurracanrana armbar (WHAT THE FUCK) and Gail blocks Maryse’s inteference and Alicia taps. Wow.

Winners: Gail Kim and Eve Torres
Opinion: Generally horrible, but the finish was interesting. 3/4*

We look at Stone Cold on Chuck. Stone Cold looked like he continued his Shakespearean like acting career with this appearance.

Johnson is doing something to Kelly Kelly (earn that paycheck) while Heder is hyperventilating. He asks Johnson to take his place. Miz says he has nothing to worry about, apparently Big Show and Miz are already clicking better than Jerishow. Johnson tells Heder this is a mistake. Miz says Miami Vice things are a mistake. Heder says he thinks he’s gonna be fine. They give Heder a Flair-like robe. Dumb.

Rundown the Rumble card. Looks okay..just okay for now. It has the Rumble though which means it is win.

Vince is backstage with Hunter, telling him he’s not a coward. Vince says he might call out Taker. Hunter says McMahons always have to have the last word. Hunter says if Vince doesn’t bring Bret back he’s a coward. Shawn walks in, and so does Hornswoggle. He growls. They still have something to talk about later. Shawn doesn’t want to grab Hornswoggle. But Hunter does. nice guy. Hunter’s legs looked tiny there. Orton wrestles next.

Randy Orton vs Chris Masters w/ Eve Torres
I wonder how this will go. I’d actually forgotten Master’s was employed. I don’t watch Superstars I’m afraid. Anyway, Sheamus’ music hits. He comes to watch. Orton hits an uppercut and blocks the Masterlock. Orton punches away at Masters and hits a big boot. Masters comes back with a powerslam for two. Orton hits a side headlock backbreaker and telegraphs the RKO but Masters counters to the Masterlock. King said he doesn’t know if he’s ever seen anyone escape the Masterlock. That whole idea was a huge thing for ages ON THIS SHOW THAT YOU WERE COMMENTATING ON AT THE TIME. Orton struggles but can’t escape. Orton fades away but crashes into the ropes to get the hold broken. Orton hits a sudden RKO for the three.
Winner: Randy Orton

Opinion: Okay while it lasted. Was weird to see Orton tease losing like that. Too short to be of any real quality *1/4

Post-match, Sheamus runs in and lays out Orton with his bicycle kick. Guess Orton is the quasi-babyface for this one. Next up is Dynamite/Miz/Show vs DX. Deary me.

Guest hosts next week will be James Roday and Dule Hill, from Psych. Sweet, more random actors from shows or movies I don’t watch.

Big Show, The Miz and Jon Heder THE FLAME vs WWE Unified Tag Team Champions DeGeneration-X and Hornswoggle w/ Don Johnson
I estimate that by the time the bell rings there will be about ten minutes of actual show time left. That will surely be painful. I wonder how people like MVP feel when they see Hornswoggle main eventing TV shows. We join in progress to Miz eating a flying forearm and an an atomic Drop from HBK. Miz hits a sloppy double neckbreaker for two. He hits some mounted punches and stomps away. Big Show tags in. Big Show hits a big sidewak slam and walks over Shawn before tagging in Miz. Miz hits a running kick to the face, but Shawn comes back with chops. Shawn hits a falling clothesline. Hornswoggle tags in and does stuff that I refuse to commentate. Miz takes him down as Heder calls for the tag. THE FLAME TAGS IN and looks a little like an unfit Bryan Danielson. His ring work doesn’t quite match this comparison. Heder kicks him and bites him in the ass and tags in Hunter before taking a powder. Johnson rolls him back in and Trips punches him down. Show goes for the chokeslam,but eats sweet chin music before falling on top of the downed Heder. Shawn superkicks Miz off the apron, Hornswogle tags in, goes up for the tadpole splash and he pins Heder for the win. Five stars.
Winners: DeGeneration-X and Hornswoggle

Opinion: Dumb but sort of a little entertaining. If Horny had to get the pin, at least it was on Heder. *3/4

Hunter wants to tell Shawn the thing from all night. Hunter tells Shawn he needs to figure out another way to get the match. He doesn’t think it’s gonna work out going for the championship. This for some reason leads to Cena coming out. Cena announces his entering the Royal Rumble match pointin out that the last time he was in it, he won it. From #30 John. Big Show gets in the ring. Show has news. He will also be in the Rumble. He says the Rumble is designed for a guy like him. Despite him being eliminated from the last two twice. Show lays out DX but gets shoulderblocked out of the ring. DX throw Cena out, and Hunter throws out Shawn. Hunter says none of those guys will win the Rumble, but Triple H will.

Decent closing segment.

This was another hit and miss show for me. The story stuff has actually been pretty decent in building the WWE title match, and the Royal Rumble but at the same time I feel like the guest host concept (long since ran out of steam) is taking up too much time on the show, still after all this time and it’s detracting for everything. I don’t care enough about Crockett or Napoleon Dynamite to see them main event a TV program. The other thing is that the wrestling isn’t good enough. I think the promos have generally been of a decent standard, but there’s too many three minute matches, which bury the loser and don’t achieve much for the victors. When the best match on your flagship show is a decent, but fairly run of the mill random tag team match, there is serious problems with the wrestling aspect of your wrestling show. So while I enjoyed bits of RAW this week…

This episode of RAW earns a thumbs in the middle.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.