Raw is up against the NHL Finals: Game 7.

I’m watching Raw on the left side of my TV and I have Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on the right side; picture and picture televisions are a great thing. Normally, I watch Raw live, as it happens. After witnessing the first four minutes with the DX pranks on Mr. McMahon, I decided that I would probably enjoy tonight’s episode better if I were watching the NHL as well.

Personally, I thought that the opening segment with DX and McMahon was terrible and if this is what we have to look forward to – a 41 year old and a 37 year old acting like teenagers – Raw will suck for a long time. DX works when the players are young and brash. If anyone is really up for a DX-like unit is someone like Edge or Carlito, not HBK or Triple H. By the way, I’m still waiting for the storyline explanation on why HBK and H are buddies again after trying to kill each other for the past 3 years.

What else happened tonight? The USA promo with the Dead Zone’s Anthony Michael Hall, Triple H and John Cena was quite funny. Maybe the commercial writers could get a job writing for the WWE. Sliming the Spirit Squad? I didn’t even hear anyone say, “I don’t know.”

Cena and Sabu? WWE is really pushing the ECW show and the Vengeance PPV. Good job. DX is screwing with Coach as I write this. I’m sure it’s hysterical, but the NHL finals game is quite good.

I forgot about Mickie James. She’s the best thing they’ve got on this show. She single-handedly won her tag-team match, beat up her tag-team partner, and then stripped a girl in the crowd. Then she yelled “Get that hooker out of here!” She’s comedy gold.

It seems as though Edmonton does not understand that when you are on a power play, you have one more player on the ice than the other team. Oh great, they pantsed Coach. That’s going to get ratings and increase the buyrates. Yeah. Ugh.

Speaking of Ugh – let’s talk about Umaga. The only good thing about that guy is his manager, Armando Alessandro Essss-trrrrrada. Unfortunately, Armando cut himself off while introducing himself – now that could get him some heel heat since he’s way over with the fans (including me). He should back Charlie Haas or some other guys and build a stable a la the Bobby Hennan Family (might I suggest “La Familia de Estrada”).

The Highlanders are coming to Raw. Magnificent. Perhaps they will become the new World Tag Team Champions and shock the wrestling world (because then Raw will remember that they have Tag Team championships).

Edge vs. Flair. Back when Edge was champ he had an excellent ladder match with Flair. When Edge becomes champion again on Sunday – it’ll be a good day. He is a very good wrestler who can wrestle almost anyone. Edge is selling like a champ for Flair. These guys have a good chemistry – but then again – it’s Ric “I could wrestle a broom” Flair facing the incredibly competent wrestler Edge. Edge isn’t great yet – but he’s close. Foley’s interference makes for some good video footage for the PPV on Sunday. What’s this? WWECW Champion RVD? ECW does not respect the separate brand thing.

The Oilers blew it. Carolina with the empty net goal. It’s over. Kornheiser is going to be unbearable on PTI.

The Main Event tonight: DX’s official reunion. I dislike it when non-wrestling events are the main event of a WRESTLING show. Alright, the game’s over so now I’m watching DX. Their entrance is unique (I’ve read about it, but I wasn’t watching it when it originally happened). I’ve seen clips when DX was around with the very young Triple H. This old-man edition of DX is a bit odd. Trips and his comment about who knocked up Stephanie – quite amusing. Dwarves – why do the WWE think that dwarves are the funniest thing in the free world? And they moon people… Great. Bleh.

(BTW – Give yourself 2 points if you got the “You Can’t Do That on Television” joke).

So many wrestling shows

All right, there’s been a lot of wrestling this past week. ECW ONS 2, Monday Night Raw, New ECW (Sci-Fi Edition) and Friday Night SmackDown! I’ll just give some overall opinions instead of doing a match-by-match analysis

ECW ONS 2
Purpose of the PPV: Getting the new ECW Legitimacy

• Taz and Lawler provided a good start to the PPV. Personally, I was quite sick of hearing Lawler go on and on about how crappy ECW was. Seeing him get choked out within a couple of seconds was a good finish to this storyline.
• Kurt Angle and Randy Orton had a pretty good match and I thought Orton excelled as a heel in this atmosphere. If only WWE audiences could give him this much heel heat. The new ECW crowd appreciated Angle as one of their own and Angle got to show off a new style. I think Kurt Angle: Shoot Wrestler Edition will do well in ECW if Paul Heyman gets to keep control of ECW.
• The Main Event: John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam. I’ve thought that Cena is much better as a heel than as a face. These two had a much better match than I thought they could. Cena losing his WWE Championship at an ECW event shows how much the WWE wants the new ECW to succeed.
• Did it live up to its purpose? I think that the ONS PPV did what it was meant to do. It showed off the ECW Wrestlers and established ECW as a strong WWE brand. They gave the ECW the main WWE championship.

Monday Night Raw
Purpose: Keep pushing ECW and the Vengeance PPV

• First, the show starts with Paul Heyman talking about how the decision stands and RVD is the new WWE Champion, then WWE sent their #1 Boy, John Cena, to ECW’s first regular television show to give the ECW a strong rating. Edge was also scheduled to appear. Raw threw together Vengeance on this show. I think there had been only one match scheduled before Monday night, and that was the Edge vs. WWE Champion (who I thought would have been John Cena, but I was wrong). The reunion of DX finally happened this past Monday. I don’t know how effective they will be, but it may be interesting. I think they need to draft some directionless characters like Carlito and Charlie Hass. I bet those two could act quite juvenile and it would be amusing.
• Did Raw achieve its purpose? I think it did. Tons of ECW on Sci-Fi promos and plugs and Vengeance was put together in one night.

ECW: Sci-Fi
Purpose: Kick off the ECW with a bang.

• Some sneaky camera angles try to keep the SmackDown! portion of the set off the air. The opening promo with RVD, Edge and Heyman ended up pushing the Vengeance PPV some more. I forgot to mention that Kurt Angle will be facing Randy Orton once again at Vengeance. I think that Vengeance has these inter-promotional matches because the WWE just didn’t have any ideas to put together this PPV. I imagine after Vengeance, the inter-promotional matches will cease until the big four PPVs.
• I’ve got to mention the Zombie. I think this was a message from the WWE to the Sci-Fi network. “If you make us do science ficition angles, the science fiction characters will get their asses kicked.” Effectively, the match between Sandman and the Zombie was a rehash of the Eugene / Sandman segment from ECW ONS 2.
• ECW lived up to its purpose. I just had to kick off the start of ECW. It was an uneven show, but still more solid than most Raw or SmackDown! episodes. I think the one-hour format will help out since it’s only one hour of material to put together. In ECW that could be 3 matches and 2 segments and you’re done.

SmackDown!
Purpose: I don’t know, I didn’t watch.

• By Friday night, I was more interested in watching my House, M.D. DVDs than watching more wrestling. The show is depleted without Orton, Angle, and Benoit (along with Lesnar, Big Show, Carlito and all the others who were good on SmackDown! but are all gone). Additionally with JBL on the mic, I don’t know if I want to hear it. I recorded the show, so I may watch it later.

So many wrestling shows

Alright, there’s been a lot of wrestling this past week. ECW ONS 2, Monday Night Raw, New ECW (Sci-Fi Edition) and Friday Night SmackDown! I’ll just give some overall opinions instead of doing a match-by-match analysis

ECW ONS 2

Purpose of the PPV: Getting the new ECW Legitamacy

• Taz and Lawler provided a good start to the PPV. Personally, I was quite sick of hearing Lawler go on and on about how crappy ECW was. Seeing him get choked out within a couple of seconds was a good finish to this storyline.
• Kurt Angle and Randy Orton had a pretty good match and I thought Orton excelled as a heel in this atmosphere. If only WWE audiences could give him this much heel heat. Angle was appreciated by the new ECW crowd as one of their own and he got to show off a new style. I think Kurt Angle: Shoot Wrestler Edition will do well in ECW if Paul Heyman gets to keep control of ECW.
• The Main Event: John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam. I’ve thought that Cena is much better as a heel than as a face. These two had a much better match than I thought they could. Cena losing his WWE Championship at an ECW event shows how much the WWE wants the new ECW to succeed.
• Did it live up to its purpose? I think that the ONS PPV did what it was meant to do. It showed off the ECW Wrestlers and established ECW as a strong WWE brand. They gave the ECW the main WWE championship.

Monday Night Raw
Purpose: Keep pushing ECW and the Vengeance PPV

• First, the show starts with Paul Heyman talking about how the decision stands and RVD is the new WWE Champion, then WWE sent their #1 Boy, John Cena, to ECW’s first regular television show to give the ECW a strong rating. Edge was also scheduled to appear. Raw threw together Vengeance on this show. I think there had been only one match scheduled before Monday night, and that was the Edge vs. WWE Champion (who I thought would have beeen John Cena, but I was wrong). The reunion of DX finally happened this past Monday. I don’t know how effective they will be, but it may be interesting. I think they need to draft some directionless characters like Carlito and Charlie Hass. I bet those two could act quite juvinele and it would be amusing.
• Did Raw acheive its purpose? I think it did. Tons of ECW on Sci-Fi promos and plugs and Vengeance was put together in one night.

ECW: Sci-Fi
Purpose: Kick off the ECW with a bang.

• Some sneaky camera angles try to keep the SmackDown! portion of the set off the air. The opening promo with RVD, Edge and Heyman ended up pushing the Vengeance PPV some more. I forgot to mention that Kurt Angle will be facing Randy Orton once again at Vengeance. I think that Vengeance has these inter-promotional matches because the WWE just didn’t have any ideas to put together this PPV. I imagine after Vengeance, the inter-promotional matches will cease until the big four PPVs.
• I’ve got to mention the Zombie. I think this was a message from the WWE to the Sci-Fi network. “If you make us do science ficition angles, the science fiction characters will get their asses kicked.” Effectively, the match between Sandman and the Zombie was a rehash of the Eugene / Sandman segment from ECW ONS 2.
• ECW lived up to its purpose. I just had to kick off the start of ECW. It was an uneven show, but still more solid than most Raw or SmackDown! episodes. I think the one hour format will help out since it’s only one hour of material to put together. In ECW that could be 3 matches and 2 segments and you’re done.

SmackDown!
Purpose: I don’t know, I didn’t watch.

• By Friday night, I was more interested in watching my House, M.D. DVDs than watching more wrestling. The show is depleted without Orton, Angle, and Benoit (along with Lesnar, Big Show, Carlito and all the others who were good on SmackDown! but are all gone). Additionally with JBL on the mic, I don’t know if I want to hear it. I recorded the show, so I may watch it later.

ECW ONS: Predictions

Hi all! This is Mrs. IA (as opposed to Mr. IA, the owner of this blog) providing some wrestling predictions from a casual viewer:

WWE Championship Match
John Cena- This is based solely on the rumor that Cena will be facing Edge in a title
match at Vengeance.

World Championship Match
Rey Mysterio- This is based on my intense like of Rey as a wrestler and his seniority
in WWE (as opposed to Sabu). I think ECW will get its own championship.

Angle/Orton Match
Angle- Orton is such a weenie (that is my personal feeling) and isn’t even 1/16 the
wrestler that Angle is—and I doubt Orton ever will reach Angle’s talent level.

Tag Team Match (Foley…)
Foley & Edge- I figure WWE needs people who will be around more and thus
would pick these guys to win.

Tazz/Lawler Match
Tazz- If Tazz doesn’t win, it’s going to look so phony—Lawler is pathetically out of
shape and doesn’t touch the awesomeness that is Tazz.

Tag Team Match (Super Crazy…)
Super Crazy- Please. F.B.I. over Super Crazy & Tajiri? I don’t think so.

ECW Wrestlers: “Superstars” No More

A couple of days ago I commented on how I found it strange how the ECW wrestlers were called “Superstars” on the ECW website (in the navigation menu), especially in light of Joey Styles’ Monday Night Raw Promo.

Today, I noticed ECW wrestlers are no longer called “Superstars.” The navigation menu now has replaced “Superstars” with “Wrestlers.”

WWE vs. ECW: Head to Head

Opening:
4 man announce team tonight with the Monday Night Raw team plus the ECW team of Joey Styles and Tazz.

RVD vs. WWE World Champion Rey Mysterio:
A decent match with some innovative spots. I liked the bulldog onto the chair spot. RVD getting the win? What does this mean for the ECW ONS PPV? I’m not sure. I guess RVD isn’t a full heel yet as he helped Mysterio up and raised his hand in victory in the respect-fest.

Kurt Angle / Randall Keith Orton Promo:
Kurt Angle gets to swear on cable. Good for him. The promo went a bit long, but added some excellent audio clips for their video package on Sunday. Orton trying to kill the legend of ECW is some decent motivation. Plus Angle trying to put over the idea that this is the first time Orton will face the new, ECW Kurt Angle. It’s got me more interested in the match up. I’m confused by Orton going back to Raw when I thought a Batista/Orton feud was imminent. The gutting of SmackDown! continues.

Mickie James vs. Jazz:
The Laree DDT is one hell of a finisher. I disagree with JR calling it an “impaler DDT.” Edge does an impaler DDT and it doesn’t look like that. I don’t see why it isn’t just call the Mickie DDT by now. Anyone else notice that Tazz almost gave away what happens on Friday – he corrected himself saying he is still a SmackDown! announcer.

John Cena Promo:
I don’t care. I switched to “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Paul Heyman Promo:
Telling people about the Sci-Fi spot. That’s good, because I wasn’t sure when the show was going to be on. Plus he goes over the ONS card; that’s helpful. Certainly some nice graphics. Heyman is certainly pushing the show quite well with the recap from last year – plus, a very nice editing job by keeping Kurt Angle out of the shots.

Kurt Angle pumps up the locker room.

Big Show pumps up the Raw locker room:
Why isn’t show talking about the time Angle shot him with the tranq? If they were truly one big family – why not one style of t-shirt? Additionally, I am quite annoyed that Lashley and Finley are in the same locker room plus Edge and Hardy are in the same locker room without them trying to kill each other. Eh, I’ll use my Etch-a-Sketch WWE Memory. (Shake, shake, shake). Okay, yeah – the WWE guys are a team.

Battle Royale: “To determine the ultimate supremacy in sports entertainment.”
Why the hell is Edge and Show getting along since they faced off for the #1 contendership? (Shake, shake, shake my Etch-a-Sketch WWE Memory). Yeah, Team WWE. ECW guys get to come in together like the New England Patriots. The WWE guys fell like flies in the early going. Orton and Edge working together? That could be a very nice small heel faction. Commercial break – maybe the WWE could get the guy who writes the Geico ads to do write some stuff for their lower and mid-cards. WWE vs. Kurt Angle. Angle Slam to Big Show – friggin’ phenomenal slam. Finley making a slingshot look believable – very nice. Orton knocks out Kurt Angle. Show has defected to ECW – if anyone knows how book Big Show, it’s Paul Heyman.

Edge vs. Tommy Dreamer:
Now I respect Tommy Dreamer, but I just can’t get excited for one of his matches. The 4 men aren’t really calling the match – they’re having a debate on ECW vs. WWE. JR tried to call some of the action. Tazz seems to be making some shoot comments on Lawler. I wish Taz or Tazz would just choke Lawler out. I can’t stand Lawler’s comments. Edge is nuts – I commend him for his insane spots especially after his neck surgery. Here’s hoping he didn’t get injured on that botched top rope backdrop spot. Terry Funk moves like a man whose had his knees replaced.

See No Evil: Is everyone thoroughly sick of this damn movie yet?

Foley Promo:
Sitting in a chair with a towel. It’s a good promo – again, I think it’s for the video package on Sunday. This promo seems to be for the people who don’t know who Terry Funk or Tommy Dreamer are. Mick’s putting over those guys to get an increased buy rate. I’m not sure why Mick is so angry at ECW, but let my shake my Etch-a-Sketch WWE Memory. He’s angry.

Tazz and Lawler Yap:
Lawler is talking so much smack, this could be good. Taz and Lawler – fighting for the video package once again. How are they going to fight and then continue onto the show? Well they’re about to.

WWE Champion John Cena vs. Sabu:
Cena came out first – which is quite a change. Cena’s brawling style actually fits into an ECW atmosphere. He could be ECW’s biggest heel. Plus, he could actually rap some smack about any ECW wrestler. Sabu is having a very good match with Cena. How the hell is there a DQ finish? It’s extreme rules. Didn’t Lita interfere without a DQ? Etch-a-Sketch it.

Covering Monday Night Raw: June 05, 2006

Raw had a number of things to accomplish last night. It was supposed to push the ECW One Night Stand Pay Per View or the ECW ONS PPV to those of you who love acronyms. Raw also had to push the WWE vs. ECW Special that is airing on Wednesday night at 9PM on USA. Plus, Raw had to move non-ECW storylines ahead. So how did it fair?

Objective: Push the ECW ONS PPV
What Raw did:

• A contract signing between “Mr. Monday Night” Rob Van Dam and WWE Champion John Cena which (surprise, surprise) turned into an all out brawl. Sabu laid out Cena with a chair in a bad spot. And Cena bled buckets – all 2 ounces of it. Then the ECW gets run out of town by the WWE Raw lockerroom. And where was Kurt Angle? He wasn’t part of the ECW crew just yet.
• Kurt Angle Promo: Rambled a bit at first, but a pretty good promo. It involved guys who would have no promoted interaction during the ECW ONS PPV. Seeing the “Rated R Superstar” version of Edge up against “The Wrestling Machine” incarnation of Kurt Angle looked like a good match up. I know they’ve had feuds before, but that’s when Edge was the up and coming babyface and Angle was the goofy heel. Things have changed and they could have another great program together.
• Back to the issue at hand – pushing ECW. They went ahead and spoiled the Kurt Angle Open Challenge with Randall Keith Orton. Instead of building up the intrigue of who it could be, they just pulled the trigger on a one-on-one meeting of Angle vs. Orton. Maybe both men will surprise us with some new spots and revised movesets.

Objective: Push the ECW vs. WWE Special
What Raw did:

• They mentioned the special a couple of times. A battle royal? That’s how they wanted to push it? I found out later that it’s going to have Rey Mysterio vs. RVD and John Cena vs. Sabu through WWE.com. I don’t remember them mentioning these matches on the show, but eh.

Objective: Push other non-ECW storylines
What Raw did:

• Triple HHH and the Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club. Ugh. That’s all you really need to know about the segments. The WWE is slowly turning H into a face instead of a big grand moment. I prefer this slow turn to the heel quickly turning face (see Randall Keith Orton and his failed babyface turn).
• Shelton Benjamin vs. Carlito in a non-title match. Carlito used the backcracker as his finisher after he avoided missing a moonsault. It’s a pretty good transition move, but I don’t know if it’s a great finisher (but then again, it looks like it hurts like hell). The two could be part of a very good Intercontinental Title card. If they threw in the misused Charlie Haas, Gene “It’s Not My Fault” Snitsky, Danny Basham, Chris Masters, Johnny Nitro, Lance Cade, and Trevor Murdoch – it could be quite the interesting group going after the IC title. Now, that won’t happen, but I can dream.
• Women’s Match: Beth Phoenix vs. Victoria. Beth’s got some timing issues, but she can only get better (well, after she comes back from her fractured jaw). The women’s division is still pretty good with there being two sides: Girls are either with Trish or with Mickie James. Mickie should have her own mWo – the Mickie World Order.
• Charlie Haas vs. Johnny Nitro: Like I said, these guys should have a reason for fighting – like that IC championship. Decent match, but Haas needs to work heel so he can get a reaction from the crowd.
• Eugene vs. Matt Striker: I had read someone’s idea on another wrestling site where Eugene could turn heel if he allowed Striker to tutor him. Eugene would then tell the audience that he was now smarter than them, getting him nice heel heat. Why am I going on a tangent? Because I’m not sure what angle this is a part of. Pairing Hacksaw with Eugene is interesting – maybe they could be a tag team or Hacksaw could be Eugene’s long lost cousin.

Angle to ECW

I didn’t know anyone read this blog until someone commented on it. So, I’m going to post something.

So Kurt Angle is going to new ECW. When I watched Raw this past Monday and saw that happen, I was confused. Can Kurt Angle handle an ECW style with his injuries? I knew about the back-story about Kurt Angle and ECW; how they invited him to a show and he walked out after a crucifixion angle.

After watching SmackDown! last night, I think this will work. Kurt Angle faced off with Rey Mysterio last night. Kurt went back to a more aggressive style, complete with taunting head slaps to his fallen opponent. Paul Heyman on commentary expressed that ECW was getting a new Kurt Angle. Angle even used some moves from his amateur background that I don’t remember him doing in the WWE.

I know this move will hurt SmackDown!, but at least it looks like Vince is serious about ECW. He gave them Kurt Angle. Hopefully, Kurt will be involved in wrestling classics and not hardcore action. I have seen some old ECW DVDs complete with technical wrestling classics like Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko. Angle’s got a ton of star power and legitimizes ECW. Also, he’s an established main-eventer. If ECW does succeed and exists for a number of years, Angle can put over many stars and push them into the main event.

On a side-note: I find it odd that the ECW sub-site on WWE.com has the wrestlers listed as “Superstars” especially after Joey Styles’ rant on Raw a couple of weeks ago.