Hits and Misses: 2/13/12 Raw Review

Hello all and a Happy Valentines or Single's Awareness Day! I'm feeling a bit under the weather this afternoon so forgive me if the review is only slightly amazing, but after last nights show I've just got to review! From a presidential debate to the kiss heard round the WWE Universe, we've got some much to get into! So lets not waste anymore time!

Miss: Introducing Your Candidates for WWE Champion

When the first thing you see on your television on a Monday night is six podiums, you know you're in trouble. To me, CM Punk's face said it all. I'm no mind reader, but I'm guessing he was thinking something along the lines of "what in the blue hell are we doing?" Of course our champion got to start and promised the debate would not end in violence. Which is one of the small things I've really liked about Punk's character since the "Summer of Punk." I see no problem acknowledging that almost every contract-signing, debate, talk show they have in the WWE ends in violence. Of course this is where Mr. John Laurinaitis (thanks to this review I will never forget how to spell his name) comes in. But we will touch on that in just a bit. For now, lets stick with the chamber participants.

Look, I'll be honest with you here. This segment had a lot of small hits in it. But the entire concept of the debate is problematic. Almost as soon as the words "you have 45 seconds to respond" left Jerry Lawler's mouth I knew they wouldn't follow that. It's messy and I just feel like it could have been done in a better way. I know this is a played out trope in wrestling, but I would have actually preferred someone like Jericho starting the show off only to be interrupted by, lets say the Miz. Then Kingston, and so on and so forth. It accomplishes the same thing, but without the craziness of the debate format. That being said, I have to say Ziggler and Kingston stood out as the winners in this little debate. The made the best points and seemed the most focused on becoming WWE Champion and nothing else. I could go into more detail, but I'm sick remember!

Hit: This time, it's okay to be childish.

Lets face it, the way Punk is handling Y2J is perfect. Jericho did his trolling, but now he is trying to engage in a power struggle with the WWE Champion. He is trying to drive home the point that he is the greatest of all time, and that all of his accomplishments speak for themselves. Jericho is trying to show that Punk, while good, is no where near Jericho's level. But what does Punk do? He says he wasn't listening and then takes a jab at Jericho's performance on Dancing with the Stars. Is it childish? Yes. It's usually the thing that would have me rolling my eyes, but seeing how it effects Jericho is what makes it work. Punk is not playing Y2J's game, and that is eating away at the Sexy Beast. There is still a chance this veers off course a bit, but I'm confident that Punk and Jericho will keep this program going at the highest level possible.

WTF of the week: Hornswoggle and a box of spiders

This WTF segment isn't meant to say whether what we saw was good or bad. It is simply intended to express that saying "WTF" is the only thing I can come up when watching this particular segment.  Truthfully, the only reason I singled out this part of the segment was to analyze the proposed trade that General Manager Truth would make. Dolph is one of the best wrestlers today and Truth hates spiders. So that simple fact shows you how much R-Truth does not like Vickie and Dolph.

And yes, we all could have probably done without this analysis.

Hit: Still Mr. Excitement

When the show started, I had actually forgotten all about the board of directors deciding to retain Big Johnny. But having him come out for just a moment to tell everyone how thankful he is that the board trusts him is great. It's not over the top, which would be dumb considering he was/still is on thin ice, but its still heelish to just interrupt the WWE Champion like that. Sometimes simple and short are the way to go, and I say bravo to the writing team for there decision here!

Hit: Wrestling!

I've been now to two Ring of Honor Wrestling tapings at the Du Burns Arena in Balitmore. It is a great time and highly recommended. The reason I bring it up here is because there is this guy in the crowd that will yell out "WRRRRRREESSSTTLLINNNNGG" during a good scientific match. I think its hilarious, but I couldn't help thinking about that "chant" during last nights Kingston/Jericho match. They did not put on a wrestling clinic. It was not a five-star classic. But it was wrestling. Good, solid wrestling in which both the winner and loser looked strong. We could argue about what this getting a hit says about the state of today's wrestling industry, but for now I'll just be happy with what we are being given, and that's wrestling.

Hit: Backstage segments are important.

Up next we had two backstage segments that I have something to say about. First, and this is strictly for humor, how many of you thought of Alex Riley when Ryder says he wanted to "say it to her face?" Hopefully some of you, because I think it would be amazing for Riley's face to just pop up out of the blue whenever someone says something along the lines of "Say it to my face!" Maybe I'm an idiot, but I have truly always loved the humor that wrestling can give wrestling fans, and this is one of those examples.

Onto an actual point, this segment with Ryder telling Cena his plans to confess his love for Eve was a seed that was planted perfectly. I know its not hard to do, but you have to give them the credit they deserve. Would there have been a great reaction to the kiss later in the night without this segment? Of course. But Im confident including this segment took it from a 10 to an 11, which is almost always a good thing.

Now this brings me to the segment between Otunga and Laurinaitis. I'm not one to make bold predictions, but I'm saying that Otunga's plan for Johnny Ace to become permeant Raw AND Smackdown General Manager will be a huge story leading up to Wrestlemania. I'm not sure if Otunga will draw up some legal mumbo jumbo, but I see a power play storyline coming up similar to the Trump/Mcmahon feud at Wrestlemania 23. Johnny picks a wrestler, Teddy picks a wrestler (or a team of wrestlers) and the winner's General Manager gets full control. That's my call, so remember to give me credit when it happens (or completely ignore it if it doesn't!)

Hit: A match we haven't seen before.

Even with the rules of the Supershow, it is always a challenge to give fans contests between wrestlers who do not have much of an in-ring history. Thankfully, two of the six Smackdown Elimination Chamber participants were available had a reason to go toe to toe on Monday Night Raw. I know many fans may have come into this match with some trepidation, but in the end they really did put on a good show.

Another great facet of this match was that Michael Cole was just glowing with compliments for the "Wonderful "World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan. The obvious fact that he is only saying it because Bryan is near him was great, and was executed well when Cole flipped the switch the moment he was sure Bryan couldn't hear him. I'm still hoping for Michael Cole to come around as a full fledged Daniel Bryan supporter, but for now I'll settle for him being deathly afraid of what Daniel Bryan could do for him.

Hit: Special Spots.

They don't happen that often, but when they do, they are amazing. I can't think of a really fancy eye-popping term, so we will stick with special spots. Last night, the Big Show found himself draped over the top rope. It was then that the fans started to realize what was going to happen. With some effort, Orton locked Big Show's massive melon in his arms and planted him with the vintage Orton DDT. It was certainly  impressive because of Big Show's size, but even more-so because it took a signature move that is used often, and changed it up. Orton actually has a monopoly on these kinds of things. Whether its an RKO to Carlito from a springboard splash or an RKO to Evan Bourne mid-shooing star press, its seems like the Viper is always ready to deliver something special.

Note: A rant on the Big Show.

This is not a hit or a miss, this is simply an observation. Big Show's last two major feuds have been with Mark Henry and Daniel Bryan, correct? Well I have a question, how did they start?

For those who watched last summer, the rampage that Mark Henry went on can easily be linked to the Big Show. Alberto Del Rio had been responsible for running over Show's foot with a car, and Show was angry. He had a scheduled match against a Mark Henry who was doing nothing but treading water on Smackdown. But Show was so angry, he snapped and attacked Henry before the match. This one outburst sent Henry to a place where he has never been, and was influential in making Mark Henry into the monster we all knew he could be.

You may be sitting there thinking "but that was an isolated incident!" Well before you get all riled up, lets take a look at the end of the Mark Henry Big Show feud. While Henry's reign of terror was building, a wrestler named Daniel Bryan secured the Smackdown Money in the Bank briefcase, guaranteeing him a championship match at any time for the next year. That next Friday, Bryan came to the ring and proclaimed that he would cash in his briefcase at Wrestlemania and fulfill his dream of main-eventing the grandest stage of them all. But the Big Show's feud with Henry was so intense, that he saw an opportunity to get back at Henry. He encouraged Bryan to cash in his briefcase on an injured Henry, which he did. Unfortunately Henry was not medically cleared to compete, so Bryan's dream would have to wait. That brings up to TLC in Baltimore. Big Show finally defeated Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship, but Henry would attack him from behind before he could begin celebrating. It was then that Daniel Bryan, following the advice of the Big Show, cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase. He won the match and became champion. The only problem? Big Show was the one who lost.

Obviously Henry and Bryan's changes in attitude cannot be fully blamed on the Big Show. But it would be wise to remember that Big Show's rash actions created two huge throns in his side. My question is, who's next?

Bonus Hit and Miss: Brodus Clay

Hit: Someone had a sign last night that said "Funkasaurus ate my family :(" which was amazing.
Miss: Are we done with Brodus? This is what I was afraid of, they overused him in the same capacity and now they have nothing for him. Here's hoping Brodus comes back, whether he is funky or a just plain monster.

Hit: "I'm not willing to do that, I'm not that guy anymore"

One thing was abundantly clear last night. Triple H and Shawn Michaels are two of the best talkers in the buisness. I have my problems with the Game, but his intensity matched with Michaels prying churned out a great segment last night. When HHH told Shawn that he wasn't going to face the Undertaker, old HBK hit him where it hurts and called him a coward.

I've already talked in depth about Triple H's reasoning for declining the Undertaker's challenge, but last night added yet another layer to an already intriguing story. HHH's first line of defense was the same as last weeks, that he was afraid of what he would have to do to the Undertaker to beat him. That is when he uttered the line I used for the title of this hit. As soon as those words came out of his mouth, I knew it was golden. Yes, on the surface it means he is the COO. As he said (somewhat to my shock) "All of its going to be mine" and that he cannot justify getting into the ring again with the Undertaker.

But Michaels pressed on, and the Game laid it all out bluntly. The Undertaker is a brand, and he is a brand that is good for buisness. This may have been the most truthful statement of the night, that the buisness side of HHH is telling him to let someone else face the Undertaker this year, and hopefully he will be in shape to give the company one or two more Wrestlemania bouts in the future. It makes complete sense. But again, Michaels pressed on.

Triple H was losing the war of words, so he pulled out another great point. Himself, Michaels, and Taker are truly an end of an era. Shawn is retired, and HHH is COO, so the last great wrestler from that era is the Undertaker. If Triple H accepts a match with the Deadman at Wrestelmania, he will have no choice but to end that era. As he put it, he won't be the one to do that, no matter who may want him to.

I think you can fill in the blank here. Michaels wasn't buying it, and so he pressed on. That's when Triple H took out the big guns. He accused Shawn of wanting to live vicariously through Triple H because Shawn couldn't beat the Undertaker. He accused Shawn of wanting to find peace through this rematch. But for man who said at his Hall of Fame induction that he has "absolutely no regrets", he was able to reserve this jab the knife deeper into HHH's wound. Shawn said that it was Hunter who has no peace, to which he responded by trying to leave the ring.

Shawn would not let it go, and finally yelled for Triple H to look him in the eye and tell him he doesn't want to end the streak, to tell him no. HBK put it all out of the table, and Triple H would have to respond. Taking his time, the Game finally said "No" which no doubt disappointed Shawn and the WWE Universe. Michaels knows Hunter is lying. We all know he is lying. But he is committed. He is not going to face the Undertaker, which leaves us in a very interesting and exciting place.

To wrap things up here, I do believe all of the reasons Triple H gave for refusing the rematch are true. But in the end, I know that his fear of what he would have to go through is what is really stopping him. I said it last week and I'll say it again, Triple H/Undertaker III would have to be an absolute war. And if that match happens, neither man will be walking out of Miami under his own power.

Miss: Triple H is delusional

As great as that segment was, I've got to give Triple H a miss here for swaying back into his weird delusional self. Did anyone catch him saying to Shawn that he has REAL responsibilities. Compared to what? Owning a ranch, having a wife, and taking care of two kids? Are those not REAL responsibilities? I get the point he was trying to make, he has the weight of an global juggernaut on his shoulders, but he just wound up looking like a fool with the way he put it.

Oh and I know he was trying to put over the importance of not losing the era that he is one of the last stallions of, but how ignorant was it to say that they exemplified a "smash mouth style that doesn't exist anymore." We don't even have to leave the WWE to know that isn't true. This Sunday the are having TWO Elimination Chamber matches. You know, the deadliest match in WWE history? But I digress.

Hit: What a pop!

A quick hit goes to the crowd last night. Their reaction first to the gong and then to the lights going off signally the Underaker's presence was insane. I think many of you would agree, there really isn't much better than bearing witness to an amazing, off the charts pop like that. One of my personal favorites is the reaction of the Impact Zone when it was announced Kurt Angle was coming to TNA. Forget everything about his run there, the reaction was astounding and showed you just how important he was (and is) to that company.

Maybe I'll do a favorite pops article soon if you guys would be interested. Suggestions are surely welcome!


Hit: Truth Roll-Up

Get it? Truth Roll-Up? Alright obviously that fruit roll-up pun was terrible. But I do actually have something substantial to say about this match. I really liked how Cole pointed out that Truth's craziness could actually help him in the Elimination Chamber this Sunday. As he said, you have to be a bit crazy to go into that match in the first place. This little point gives Truth even more legitimately going into the match, which is never a bad thing.

The second part of this goes back to the "Wrestling" hit from earlier. Truth and Ziggler put on a good solid match with a finish to benefit both men. In my opinion, Truth needed the win more than Ziggler, but his loss can easily be written off of showing off too much. Sweet, simple, and intelligent booking once again here.

Miss: Why should we care?

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Tamina Snuka will win the Divas Championship this Sunday. But I'm betting that if I took a poll, most of you would say that Beth Phoenix is a shoe-in to retain her title. With the Divas division getting so little focus, why should we care about Tamina and Beth this Sunday? Sadly, I don't have an answer.

Bullseye of the week: WOW, I didn't see that coming!

I'm not going to rehash how the kiss happened, but damn was this great television. It didn't hurt that Cena, Eve, and Ryder all put in pretty good acting performances. Eve's look when she first sees Ryder is perfect, and the reaction of the crowd sold the importance of the entire story. This had me and Charlie Speed with our jaws hanging open.

But the jaws dropped even more when they came back from commercial break. Eve friend-zoning Zack was cold and shocking all at the same time. I'm sorry but her saying "I didn't think we'd actually be together" was a shot to the gut and couldn't help but make me feel sorry for Zack.

Normally this would be one of your run of the mill, soap-opera type storylines that most of us hate. But the fact that this is John Cena getting kissed by the girl his good friend loves makes it special. Everything is rounded out when you think about how Kane has been trying to get Cena to embrace the hate. Instead of rolling their eyes, the crowd was stunned with what went down. So bravo WWE, that is how you use human emotion coupled with solid booking to get a reaction like that out of the fans.

Miss: Am I jaded? 

I love professional wrestling. It is truly one of my main passions and has a deep connection with my life and how I've come to be the person that is sitting here today. But every once and awhile I find myself being bored by a match I feel like I should like. I think to myself, maybe I'm jaded. Maybe I'm being too critical. But I've come to learn that most of the time, the sad fact is that a certain performer has simply become stale. I like the Miz. I think he is a very good wrestler and a great talker. But he has grown stale.  I should add that there is nothing wrong with that. Just a few years back, Randy Orton was staler than three month old bread. But he changed some things up. A small gimmick tweak along with some new moves and a beard made him relevant again. He took his attitude to another level, and he is now performing at maybe the highest level of his career. The Miz needs this type of change. He is too good of a talent to let fall by the waste-side because someone is too afraid to pull the trigger on a change.

Hit: A thinking man's match.

I don't know about you, but I wound up enjoying the match between the Miz and Punk last night a lot more than I thought I would. This was mainly due to the fact that the Miz focused and continued to work on Punk's arm. As I was watching, it dawned on me that working over a body part adds so much depth to any match and makes it easier to stay interested. It is a wonderful story-telling tool and one I think should be used out more often.

On a side note, there is a point in the match where the Miz plants Punk with a DDT. Re-watch it and see where Miz's hand goes when he attempts a pin. I promise you will laugh.

Hit: We All Hate You

Lets put aside the fact that all this hate talk had me thinking of the famous "Player Haters Ball" sketch from the Chappelle's show and lets focus on the importance of last nights ending. John said that "its been like this for six years" but I've never seen that. Of course its been worse, but I've never seen a regular WWE crowd chant "We all hate you" at John Cena, or any competitor for that matter. It was amazing, and I'm inclined to think the extra harshness was helped by Eve's kiss earlier in the night.

Hit: Adapt, Overcome, Win? Not so fast.

John Cena came out to end Raw last night fully embarrassed. The situation in which Eve's kiss put him in is one I wouldn't want to be in. But Cena has other things to worry about, namely an Ambulance match with the big red monster Kane. I loved John's line here: "I will adapt, I will overcome, I will win!" That is the kind of attitude that we've come to love (or hate) about Cena for years. It was perfect. Too perfect.

Seeing Zack Ryder wheel himself out onto the stage created a "It's about to go down!" feeling in the audience and I'm sure in many living rooms across the nation. Ryder slapping Cena was great, but it was very telling when Cena blocked the second one and was ready to strike. This of course lead to Zack falling to the mat. Was Cena's fist up because it is a natural reaction at this point? Or had he made a conscious decision to hit a crippled man? The answer to that question will certainly impact how Cena goes about taking care of all of this "embracing the hate" buisness.

Ryder yelling that Cena was never his friend was powerful, and the night ended just as it should, with Kane throwing Ryder (wheelchair and all) off the stage. I'm not sure where this will lead. Could we see a Zack Ryder heel turn? Sure, I think that would actually be a great place to go with it. But they actually have a few options and I'm excited to see where Ryder fits in the picture when he comes back.

But the most telling image last night was also the show's last. EMT's surrounding the injured Zack Ryder, with Eve shaken up looking over her fallen friend. The facts are that John Cena did not cause this. Kane did. Kane's incessant obsession over Cena embracing the hate and Cena's refusal to do so lead us here. But you have to consider this. Looking at all of this carnage around him, the mess that he is now knee-deep in. How can John Cena not think to himself "maybe I did cause all this?"

If John is asking himself that question, then you can bet he will have an answer in mind come Sunday. The Ambulance match at the Elimination Chamber Pay Per View could wind up being nothing more than a bump in the road to Wrestlemania. But after last night, there is a chance it could be a huge turning point in the career of John Cena. For that, I know I'll be tuning in.

Note: Thanks again for all the read and support. Comments, likes, suggestions, etc are all fully appreciated. 


-Eric 

Hits and Misses: 2/06/12 Raw Review

Hello all! I'm back again for another Raw review and this time it will be in full! We had a jam-packed show last night that lead us both on the Road to Wrestlemania as well as the dangerous path to the Elimination Chamber. Without wasting any more time, lets get right to it!

Hit: What is Important. 

We started off Raw this week with Triple H coming out in style, wearing the freshest damn minty green tie I think I've ever seen. All jokes aside, I was weary of how the WWE would approach the lack of resolution in the Laurinaitis performance review from last week. I was almost sure Triple H would brush off Big Johnny's "firing", but thankfully they used their heads and explained that the extra week of lobbying afforded Mr. Laurinaitis a meeting with the Board of Directors. That meeting went well enough for the board to withhold there decision until Tuesday.

What was even better about this segment was how they handled the importance of the Undertaker's return. Instead of throwing the Laurinaitis story to the side, they used the importance of Triple H's position as COO to further push the significance of the Deadman's arrival and subsequent challenge to the Game.

Hit: HHH, Deathly Afraid

Last nights promo on why HHH would not be facing the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 28 was very reminiscent of his feud with Ric Flair from back in 2005. The Game finally returned after a few months on the shelf to team with Ric Flair in a match against Kurt Angle and Carlito. The two former Evolution members won the match, but the Cerebral Assassin shocked the WWE Universe by turning on his former friend and mentor. He brutally assaulted Flair throughout the arena with a sledgehammer and showed no mercy for his actions. Before I go on, let me state that I have no problem with them going back to the idea that someone HHH is facing is less than what they used to be. It fit in the context back in 2005, and it certainly fits now.

HHH's explanation for his actions then were to say that Flair was no longer the legend he once loved, that he was a shell of his former self. He said that the Nature Boy was long gone and likened Flair to Old Yeller, and said that he needed to be taken out behind the barn and put out of his misery. The Game said that because he loved Ric, he was the one that would have to do the deed. Fast forward to 2012, and the Game is calling the Undertaker a shell of his former self. But this time, he isn't willing to be the one to put the Undertaker out of his misery. Triple H is refusing to indulge the Undertaker. He says he is afraid of what he will have to do to take out the Undertaker. But I don't believe that is the case. HHH is refusing to face the Deadman because he is afraid of what kind of war would take place in Miami. The Game gave the Undertaker everything and more at Wrestlemania 27, and still couldn't beat him. Triple H walked out that night, but I think he knows a rematch will only lead to both men being unable to walk to the back.

And to a point that will most likely come up in the next few weeks: maybe Triple H knows he can't beat the Undertaker. It took quite a while last year (the week before Mania IMO) for the buildup for HHH/Taker II to actually live up to the hype surrounding it. With this storyline, I'm confident we are in for a hell of a ride down the road to Wrestelmania 28, and I can't wait to see how we get there!

Hit: One Year

This weeks Raw Review figures to be just a bit longer because of how much there is to say about what Triple H and the Undertaker did last night. The last point I have to make though is about the Deadman's video response to Triple H's refusal to grant him a rematch. We all know the man behind the character, Mark Calloway, took the year off to heal up and spend time with his family. But the Undertaker, well the Deadman did something completely different. It was apparent to me that for the last year, all the Undertaker has been thinking about is Triple H. Some may point to the fact that HHH lost at Wrestlemania, but he did to the Undertaker what no man has ever done. For years it has been his opponent asking for a match at the Wrestlemania. But now, it is the other way around. The Undertaker is back on pride alone, and that may just make him more dangerous then he has ever been. If Triple H doesn't' rethink his decision, he is in for a rude awakening in the coming weeks.

A bonus hit goes to the production of the video, or on a more narrow scale, the writing of the video. Having the Undertaker say that his victory at Wrestlemania 27 meant nothing was powerful and showed you how much he needs this rematch. And the repetition of the phrase "this is not over" was a great tool to get across there point. This is not over. In fact, we are really just beginning.

Hit: Love is Complicated

Depending on the kind of person you are, you may have sympathy for AJ. Some look at this poor girl who fell in love with a man who obviously doesn't care for her the same way that she does, and feel for her. However, others will vilify her for not realizing the game Daniel Bryan is playing. And that is why this is a hit. It is a true reflection of human relationships and how complex they really are. Bryan shows her just enough to keep her infatuated, but not enough for people other than AJ to take his feelings seriously. D-Bryan may be the most complex character in the WWE at the moment, and hopefully he is able to display that character on the Grandest Stage of them All.

Two bonus hits have to be given out here. First, to the guy in the crown next to the "We Hate Cena" guy, you are awesome. Telling Bryan to "take your girl and get out of here" among other things was priceless. I love when fans participate in this way. Secondly, the promo for the main event of Smackdown next week (which we will get to) called Daniel Bryan a relentless World Heavyweight Champion. I think that is a perfect word for him and does a good job of putting him over as a competitor as well.

Miss: Big Show...Change Your Clothes

I'm sorry Show, but I just cannot get behind the whole camo singlet thing. It looks weird. I know it fits with your hold "WMD" thing but it just makes you look silly. I'm fine with wanting to spice things up, but this just doesn't work for me.

Hit: Road To Wrestlemania Promotion

The WWE has always done a good job of taking advantage of great promotional opportunities and last night we saw another one. The Daytona 500 is, to my knowledge, the biggest race in Nascar. Having John Cena there to be the Honorary Starter is huge, and its a great thing for the WWE to use to even further drive home how important Cena is.

On the other side of the spectrum, they also do a good job of tying in there shows leading up to Wrestlemania. As I've said before, I love the idea that to get to the biggest dance of them all, you have to go through hell first. I'm not the biggest fan of Gimmick PPV's but having the Chamber as the last giant road block on the road to Wrestlemania is great. And how about that statistic from last night. Out of the 13 Elimination Chamber matches, the Champion has lost a total of SIX times. That is huge, and I see the trend continuing with at least one title changing hands in just a few weeks.

Hit: David Otunga: Attorney at Law, One Hell of a Snazzy Dresser

Otunga is awesome. Everything about him is great. The thermos, the bow tie, the sweater vest. It all works. But damn, did you guys see his shoes. They were the same ones from a few weeks ago, and they still look as awesome as ever. Oh and my man trended worldwide last night! Take that Jerry Lawler!

Miss: Triple H: COO, Hypocrite

*Face-palm* Let me get this straight, HHH was going to fire John Laurinaitis last night for putting people in unfair matches and abusing his power. So David Otunga is praying for Mr. Laurinaitis (awesome) and he gets interrupted by Justin Roberts. Apparently the Game is angry at Otunga for sticking by Laurinaitis, so he sticks him in a match with the 2012 Royal Rumble Winner Sheamus. Oh, and Otunga is in street clothes!!! Dude, you are doing the exact same thing you are mad at Laurainitis for doing. Maybe it will all tie in with HHH proving that he really hasn't put all his personal problems aside (i.e. The Undertaker) but I doubt it. I for one think Otunga should take Triple H's ass to court!

But as much as I love Otunga, I must also give him a bonus miss. When he was saying his plea for Big Johnny to be retained as Interim General Manager of Raw, he should have pushed further. Something along the lines of: "In fact, I think Mr. Larinaitis has done such an exceptional job, that he should be rewarded and have the Interim title stripped and be named the permanent General Manager of Monday Night Raw!" It would have been the perfect sort of over the top statement that would draw him even more heat.

Miss: Damnit Jerry

"It wasn't fair, but it was fun!"-Jerry Lawler. Can I suggest Michael Cole writes down the stupid shit Lawler says and then throws it back in his face please? That was the Cole I enjoyed.

Bullseye of the Week: This is how you do it.

While looking for the bullseye of the week, I realized I didn't have to look far. Jericho finally cutting a full fledged promo was great, and was exactly what it should have been. We finally know what the end of the world means. No longer will impostors and wannabees run around proclaiming to be things they are not. Jericho promised the end of the plagiarism and the lies that had been going on before admitting to trolling the pathetic audience. I'm not going to go into detail here, but it is a must watch segment if you missed Raw. Jericho proclaiming "I am. I live and breath it. It's who I am" when referring to being the Best in the World was fantastic. Y2J singled out CM Punk as the biggest offender and promised to reclaim what was his. That's when the song Jericho hates hit the airwaves.

When Punk came to the ring, I was hoping that he would not make fun of Jericho's hair, jacket, etc. For this feud to truly live up to its potential, we don't need the cute and funny CM Punk. We need the master of the Pipe-bomb. The guy who is willing to say whatever the hell is on his mind. And last night, Punk decided against unleashing any jokes or any pipe-bombs. He simply raised the WWE Championship, and left. This accomplished two major things. One, it showed how important the WWE title is. He has the right to call himself the Best in the World because he IS the WWE Champion. Second, it absolutely made Jericho go bananas. Seeing Y2J's plan fall apart was great, and the scowl on his face was even better. Punk has never been one for silence, but he was last night. Thankfully, it was the right move and only served to get me even more excited for their eventual main-event match.

Miss: Hooray, its the Great Khali!

Since I don't do a Smackdown Review, I've got to say this here. The Great Khali being in the Chamber...its just wrong. They guy looks great, but he can't go. Putting him in the Chamber takes away a spot from a guy who could really use it. Hell, have a battle royal for the final spot and have Drew McIntyre weasel his way to a victory. Just not the Great Khali. Oh and I'm not thrilled about him pinning Cody. It's not the end of the world, but I just wish it didn't happen.

Hit: On the bright side!

Okay, Khali was actually bearable last night. He didn't do much, but he looked better than usual. It doesn't change my mind about him being in the Chamber match, but at least Khali played to his strengths last night. On a completely unrelated note, how hilarious would it be if Khali and Orton switched gimmicks for night? God I would love that lol

But coming back to Smackdown for a moment, I truly believe that the main-event for this Friday's Smackdown is very important for the direction of the blue brand. If D-Bryan looks strong against the Viper, then we are headed in the right direction. Lets just hope that's what happens.

Miss: This is all of them

So last night we had a Royal Rumble rematch when the only four face divas in the company took on the only four heel divas. Look, the Kharma/Beth feud should be great, but what are they going to do when its over? I like a lot of the current divas, I even think Eve is better than most give her credit for (hope her nose heals up!) but you cannot sustain a healthy Divas division with eight women. You just can't. That got me thinking, if the WWE Network is going to put on an all Crusierweights show (great idea by the way!) then why not an all Divas show. Hire some more women wrestlers and give them a chance to shine. Build characters and storylines that go beyond heel versus face and the standard "You're such a loser!" "No I'm not, you are!" that most of the Divas storylines are predicated on. I doubt it will happen, but I for one would like to see it.

Hit: Call an Ambulance.

The only Ambulance match that really stands out in my mind is the one between Shane Mcmahon and Kane at Survivor Series 2003. Heck, that may have been the only one but I don't want to paint myself in a corner there. Anyway, that match was a fun one and really worked with the feud Shane and Kane were having. Now with the Cena/Kane feud, I think this may be the perfect vehicle for the culmination of the embracing the hate storyline. I have my reservations, but I am interested in seeing this match and hopefully it is a good one.

Okay, before I move on, did you see Triple H and the end of that segment with Laurinaitis?!? When John left, Triple H went straight to his phone and started texting!!! Is Triple H becoming John Laruinaitis? And what exactly was he saying in that text? My guess: "LOL Big Johnny is such an ass. Suck it! roflamo XD"

Hit: 10 am came, and Big Johnny is Still Here

I woke up this morning and before heading out the door saw that the Board of Directors have decided to retain Mr. Laurinaitis as the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and the Interim Raw General Manager. I think this is the right move, but I'm just hoping it doesn't turn sour. I don't really have a basis for thinking that, I just feel like we could get another...oh here we go...Nash texted Nash situation which would not be good.

A bonus hit has to be awarded as well to Big Johnny for planting the seeds deeper into the fans minds that Triple H is afraid of facing the Undertaker. Some may not want to believe it, but the facts are staring you right in the face. As of now, the Game looks afraid of the Deadman.

Small Miss: What the Funk?!

So Brodus Clay was kept off Television this week. Which I have no problem with. I'd rather them hold him back then just have him have another squash match. That being said, I think it would have been best to throw in a little video package or a quick 30 second interview from the Big Man. The people aren't going to forget about the Funkasaurus, but I still say they could have had him on the show in some capacity. Actually at one point in the show I saw balloons in the rafters and thought they may be for him. Obviously they weren't, but I wouldn't mind seeing Clay getting funky with some balloons. Wow, that sounded weird....Moving on!

Hit: "He talks to an invisible character"

That sort of quick comment by Michael Cole is great and had me laughing my ass off. Cole often buries talent but this was fine because of just how crazy R-Truth has shown he can be.

Hit: The WWE Obviously reads Erock's Reviews

A few weeks ago, I was very pleased to see the Miz and R-Truth facing off to determine who would enter number one in the Royal Rumble. I called for more qualifying matches and such, and lo and behold we now have a Six-Pack challenge with the winner getting the right to enter the Elimination Chamber match last! This was exactly what I was talking about, and you're welcome WWE!

Hit: The Execution of a Six-Pack Challenge

This match had so much in it, I figured I'd just go through some bullet points of what I liked best:

• Everyone (but Punk) attacking Jericho at the beginning was great and showed that Jericho had made no friends with his words earlier on.
• Jericho following this up by simply hiding during parts of the match was brilliant.
• Geez, R-Truth took a nasty fall and I'm glad to hear he is okay. I'm also glad they got him out of the match that quickly.
• Ziggler deciding against diving was perfect, and looked even better considering Truth had just knocked himself silly with a miss. It didn't hurt that he did a bit of showing off afterwards!
• Teasing physical confrontation between Y2J and Punk is great and I like that they had only as much contact as needed to get to the finish of the match. 
• If I had it my way, Punk and Jericho would have little to no contact in the Chamber match and I'm thinking we may get exactly that. 
• I will always appreciate a Tower of Doom sighting.
• Kofi hit a nice Trouble and Paradise here. The more I think about it, it really is one of my favorite finishers in the WWE today. 
• And as an aside, the "We Hate Cena" guy must have been disappointed. He only got to yell at Cena during the dark match!

Hit: Y2J in the Driver's Seat. 

Last night, Chris Jericho picked up the victory and guaranteed that he would be the last entrant in the Elimination Chamber match. Considering this will be his record-breaking seventh chamber match, the odds on favorite has to now be Y2J. Thus, he is in the driver's seat on the Road to Wrestelmania. Sitting Punk-style in the middle of the ring with the WWE Championship on his shoulder was the perfect picture to go along with the picture with the two of them and the Wrestelemania sign from earlier in the night. The WWE seems to be committed to this Jericho/Punk feud and that is good news for all wrestling fans. I'm not sure what the next move will be, but it certainly has me excited. 

Meh: Kane says Cena MUST embrace the hate.

I couldn't give this one a hit or a miss. If it was earlier in the show, I probably would have marked it as a hit. And while I see why it was put on last, it just felt wrong to me. I guess it comes down to me already being invested in the Punk/Jericho feud and being fully aware that the Cena/Kane program is coming to an end. I am curious to see what happens between the two men at the Elimination Chamber, but nowhere near as excited as I am to find out who truly is the Best in the World. 

Note: Thanks for reading as always and comments, shares, likes, and everything are truly appreciated it. 

-Eric

Hits and Misses: 1/30/12 Raw Review

Hello everyone, this is my first Raw Review following a Pay Per View so hopefully you will all be patient. Starting school back up has thrown me off my schedule, but I'm at the library and i'm ready to go. Let's jump straight into Raw!

Hit: John Laurinaitis, Man of the People

So tonight is the night. Triple H is scheduled to evaluate Big Johnny's performance, and as expected, Johnny is nervous. He is in full blown suck up mode, and it's great. His smiling and handshaking were the perfect way to show that he will do anything to remain in power. Good stuff here, though it was weird to see him stumble over so much of his speech after weeks of really nailing most of his lines. I was going to chalk it up to playing the nervous character, but I honestly don't think they were that clever.


Ever the professional, Laurinaitis announces the blockbuster Elimination Chamber match for the "Elimination PPV" in February. Did anyway else love to see that trending a little later on in the show? Anyway, the Chamber match is for the WWE Championship. I'm not sure if its the only time, but it is certainly one of the only times both Championship's will be defended in Elimination Chamber matches at the PPV. It's been a precedent for the Rumble winner's chosen champion to defend in the Chamber, and the other match to house six would-be challengers for the championship that doesn't have a main-event set at Wrestlemania. But I have to admit that while John was announcing the participants, I couldn't help but think of perhaps the greatest pronunciation of a wrestler's name in the history of Monday Night Raw. I give you, Umanga.

Now let me take a moment and give my thoughts on the six competitors in the upcoming Chamber Match:

• CM Punk: Great test for the self-proclaimed "Best in the World." This will be Punk's fourth Elimination Chamber appearance. His first as champion.
• Kofi Kingston: Riding a wave of Rumble momentum, lets hope Kofi shines in the Chamber. This will be Kofi's second chamber appearance, not counting the time Edge bashed his head in.
• The Miz: He will play the coward in this match, but do not underestimate his ruthlessness. This will be the awesome one's first appearance in a chamber match.
• Dolph Ziggler: The show off gets another chance, expect him to start things off and look strong. This will be the Zig Zag Man's first appearance in a chamber match. 
• R-Truth: Truth steps in the chamber as a relevant threat for the first time in his career. This will surprisingly be Truth's third chamber appearance. The first for Little Jimmy.
• Chris Jericho: Maybe the odds on favorite. The most experienced and maybe the hungriest.This will be Y2J's record breaking seventh chamber appearance, edging out the Game by one.

Miss: CM Punk confuses me

CM Punk may very well be the best wrestler in the world right now. The same can be said for his microphone skills. But I'm giving him a miss here for once again starting off Raw with a baseless and lame insult. How is John Laurinaitis poorly dressed? The man is wearing a suit and tie, literally the exact same thing every executive figure this side of Jack Tunney has worn. So what gives? Insults like this make me think Punk is just a..well a punk who is mad for no reason. This doesn't help anyone, so stop it.

But on a brighter side, I thought he did a wonderful rendition of "Na na na na, hey hey hey goodbye"

Hit: Best Wrestling Match in the World

An Internets Dream. Some would take that phrase as being a bad thing, but I see it as a very good thing (shut up DDP.) Daniel Bryan versus CM Punk on a big stage like Raw is an Internet Dream match, and it immediately made my interest in the nights show go way up. Also, condescending Daniel Bryan has become a 5-star character, so it was a no-brainer that he would strike gold in this segment. While CM Punk's "I Care" was funny, it was beat by a mile by Big Johnny. Repeating after Bryan things like "I do, I approve" and "First Time" was hilarious, and exactly the kind of little things I like to see done in wrestling segments.

This could go into the Miss above, but Punk's childish "What do you eat?" question was just lame. Maybe it's just me, but I loved Bryan telling him he would shove that Pipe Bomb of Punk's where the sun don't shine. I love when Daniel Bryan gets serious. It works even better because of the over-the-topness that he has been exuberating as of late. A few weeks ago on Smackdown when this character was just starting, Bryan was making fun of Big Show's short championship reign at TLC. Show put his hand on Bryan's shoulder, and he immediately went cold and told Show to "get your damn hand off my shoulder." As Lesile Knope would say, it was excellent.

I can't decide whether to give Sheamus a hit or a miss, so I'll just settle for saying I liked his declartion to Punk and Bryan, but didn't really care for his moments with Laurinaitis.

Hit: Ziggler versus Orton, still good.

When this match was announced on WWE.com, I wasn't exactly sure what to make of it. On one hand, I know for a fact that Ziggler and Orton work very well together. On the other, I only know that because they have wrestled quite a few times in the past few months. Luckily Ziggler and Orton went out and had a very good (and different) match. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Ziggler, especially how he sells. And if there was ever a wrestler he was made to sell for, it would have to be Randy Orton. The standard scoop slam looked crisp and the RKO was right on target. Add on the fact that the crowd was super hot for Orton, and you have the makings for a very easy hit.

I also enjoyed how Barrett was up in a sky box with Josh Matthews, and not down at ringside. This joy would lead to a facepalm though as Jerry Lawler accused Barrett of being afraid of Orton, asking why he wasn't down there with them. At this moment I turned to Charlie and said, "You do realize if Barrett was at ringside, Lawler would just complain about him being there?" But alas, there is nothing I can do.

Oh and one more thing, I love it when Wade Barrett talks. Especially when he says the word "Orton." It's awesome.

WTF of the Week: William Regal is a monster.

I'm not sure if this segment will be recurring, but I've got to introduce it for this week. So John Laurinaitis is backstage doing more of his sucking up schtick. He then runs in to William Regal and asks him about his son. To which Regal corrects him and says daughters. That is fine. It illustrates the point that Laurinaitis really doesn't care about his employees. So on to the next seg...WAIT WHAT?!?

Oh yeah, I almost forgot Regal proceeded to tell John that his daughters are conjoined twins, and he keeps them in the attic. Laurinaitis nods and agrees that fifth grade is a tough time. Seriously, I am not making this up. If you didn't watch Raw, I promise you this is exactly what happened. This isn't a hit or a miss, it simply left me saying...WTF?!?

Hit: Okay fine Brodus, you get a hit.

Earlier in the night, as Daniel Bryan was walking back up the ramp, I noticed a humongous disco ball hanging from the rafters. It was then that I knew Brodus Clay was getting a hit. Okay, not really. It was awesome, but for him to avoid his second straight miss in two nights, he would have to change things up a bit. Well he did. He started it off with going full blown electric slide in his entrance, and finished things off with the DACTYL before nailing Tyler Reks (who was his opponent by the way) with an elbow. I'm not sure about next week, but this week he did just enough to get a hit from me.

Update, my computer crashed as soon as I was done writing the rest of the review. I'm sorry but I can't finish so I'll just leave you guys with some bullet points. I promise a full review for next weeks Raw!

• Hit: Vegan Means I'm Better Than You: D Bryan's character gets another great layer to it. Not to long before Michael Cole comes around even more than he did tonight
• Hit: Punk/Bryan Classic: From the Code of Honor, to Punk switching his arm to the good one before delivering his bulldog, this match had all the great little things that I look for in a pro wrestling contest.
• Hit: Well he said something...: The slow burn approach to Jericho's feud with Punk is great, and I think this will only lead to an even more awesome battle of the words in a few weeks. 
• Hit: The Baddest Man on the Planet: I can't wait to hear his speech. Could he be inducted by Stone Cold?
• Hit: Kofi's Roll: Beating Miz clean was the right move. Kofi looks great, and the Miz can rest easy because of his 45 minute performance from the night before. 
• Hit: WWE on Youtube: More time for talent to be themselves= a good thing.
• Miss: Eve, #1 Contender: Can some explain why Eve got a title match last night?
• Hit: Embracing The Darker Side of Cena: I don't think he will be embracing the hate the way Kane wants him too, but Kane is about to find himself face to face with the John Cena men like JBL and Batista know all too well. 
• Miss: Triple H as COO: Calling Laurinaitis "Johnny" was insulting, eh this is probably just hate leftover from his run earlier last year.
• Hit: Triple H Evolved: Calling himself out for letting personal vendetta's get in his way was great.

Bullseye of the Week: Wow

Okay, I'll at least write in full here. I loved the Daniel Bryan/CM Punk match.With that being said, it was clear that the best moment of the night was also its last. Triple H's face when he heard the gong told the whole story. Sure, what he was doing with Laurinaitis was important. But he knows the hell that the Undertaker has brought with him, and in one mere second the Game's priorities were changed. Standing in front of him was the man who he threw everything at, but still won at Wrestlemania. This time last year, Triple H interrupted the Undertaker's return to challenge him to a match at Wrestlemania. This time around, it was the Undertaker interrupting the Game. And the most telling sign of all was Triple H walking away. It makes me think, all of that tough talk that the Game was spouting off about the Undertaker, did he ever really think the Deadman would be back? Or is he just not ready mentally to step into the ring with the Phenom? Obviously this match is going to happen, but I love the idea that Taker wants the rematch, and Triple H may not. If I were a betting man, I'd say there were some major goosebumps going on all throughout the WWE Universe last night!

Note: Sorry again about the computer crash, but thanks for reading. I'll make sure I write it somewhere were it can be saved automatically. Thanks guys!

-Eric

Hits and Misses: 1/29/12 Royal Rumble Review

Hello wrestling fans and random others! I hope you guys enjoyed the last review and had a good time watching the Rumble last night. I for one am excited for Raw and will be posting a Review of that tomorrow. Today was my first day back of the semester, but I've just gotta get out my Rumble review for ya'll!!!

Hit: Dark Horses

It's funny, as I type this I'm listening to this years Wrestlemania theme song "Invincible" by Machine Gun Kelly. I've come to realize that as a wrestling fan, your taste in music tends to expand over the years. You may not like hard rock, but you sure as hell love listening to "The Game" by Motorhead. You might even despise rap, but there is just something about Three Six Mafia's "Somebodys Gonna Get It" that gets you pumped up. There are countless examples over the years of amazing theme songs chosen to represent each WWE Pay Per View. This choice for the Rumble,  "Dark Horses" by Switchfoot, is nothing short of perfect for the event. Combined with an amazing (as usual) opening video package, and you have a great and easy way to get the fans in the arena and at home pumped up for what they are about to see.

Hit: Big Show Is A Monster


Okay, this was one me and Charlie Speed had fun with. Did you guys see the little girl that Big Show tried to give his skull cap to? If you didn't, she ducked away when he tried to put it on her head and came up crying. Here's hoping Daniel Bryan throws that into a promo this week on either Raw or Smackdown.

Hit: Daniel Bryan, World Champion Celebrator


I know some people weren't too sure about putting the Triple Threat Steel Cage match on first, but I think it was the right choice in the circumstance. You couldn't really put the WWE title at the top of the show, and Kane versus John Cena isn't something that I advise using to warm the crowd up. So they went with this, which was fine.

Anyway Show, Henry, and Bryan had a pretty good and entertaining Steel Cage match that worked well around the Worlds Strongest Man's injury. I absolutely loved that Daniel Bryan won by escaping the cage. All night he was doing his best to get out of there. It's sort of like what is going on with John Laurinaitis, he is giving you reasons to boo him, but when you look at his actions on paper...they can all be justified.

Also two bonus hits go to Daniel Bryan dedicating the match to the girl he "appreciates" and the Big Show getting on the top of the Cage. When you have a 500 pound man sitting at the top of a 15 foot high steel cage, well its usually going to be awesome.

Hit: An Irish Elimination Chamber


Now before you starting thinking this review is just filled with Hits and no Misses, trust me...there will be plenty of those later on. But for now, how awesome was that promo with Sheamus for the Elimination Chamber? I really loved it, and not just because it was well produced. Ever since 2002, we've been treated to basically the same type of promo for any event housing the huge structure. Dark, dreary, dangerous. That's great, but it was refreshing to hear Irish Bag Pipes instead of your standard evil haunting music. Intercutting Sheamus talking with scenes of some of the most brutal moments of Chamber's past was great, and immediately made me excited for the event.

Hit: John Cena is Wrestling


I wrote a column on bleacher report three years ago how John Cena was professional wrestling. This was at the height of ridiculous Cena hate, especially after each great match Cena was putting on. Do I have my problems with the way John Cena is booked sometimes? Yes. But I have no idea how anyone can watch that powerful and frankly amazing video package and boo when it is over.

Hit:...and so is the Rock.


I came into the Rock video package, sort of expecting to like it less than Cena's. But as usual, I couldn't stop a smile creeping to my face. The Rock is so different yet so similar to John Cena, and its makes their match at Wrestlemania even more of a big deal. I usually roll my eyes at the label of "Biggest Match of All Time" and such, but I think the WWE might be right on this one. Cena v.s. The Rock is just that.

Miss: Hey everyone, here's a divas match!


Okay, here is a confession. I love the Bella twins. I mean, as my main man Booker T would say "Don't do it like that, baby!". So anytime they are on my television screen is a hit. But this match, this match is a miss. And not because it was a bad match, but because randomly throwing your entire (that's sad isn't it?) Diva's roster into an 8 women tag match. Why should the fans care about this? What feud is this predicated on? That four of the girls are bad and four are good? Seriously, somebody tell me. I know the WWE likes to add bonus matches, but I'm much more in favor of announced matches with actual feud buildup. Maybe instead of a minute long Divas match on Raw this week, you can have a diva cut a promo on Beth and how she wants her title. Bam, now you have a reason to see them wrestle. But if you must book bonus matches, make sure the fans that watch Raw and Smackdown have a reason to be interested.

Oh and if I ever am fortunate to book for a wrestling company, I'm going to be sure to follow this one rule. Make sure that there is no easy bathroom break for the fans. Everything on the show should have some sort of meaning. If it is there just to fill time, then come up with something that will change that notion.

Miss: Picking Your Number, and a Star Wars reference.


I agree with the recent rumblings that the WWE should bring back the backstage segments where the wrestlers would pick a ball from a tumbler with their number on it. It wasn't always a hit, but it did give us amazing moments like Eddie Guerrero stealing both Ric Flair's number and wallet, and of course Captain Charisma laying down some serious hot fire!

Okay, now onto Kane. Take the damn welder's mask off. It looks goofy, its just...just take the damn thing off. Though if you read last week's review, you'll remember Charlie referencing the mask as a Storm Troopers helmet. Last night he suggested it was appropriate because Kane is trying to take John Cena over to the dark side. YES. That was worth a high five!

Miss: Kane, Attempted Murder #17


This is going to get a miss every time from me. Unless he falls to the waste-side and ends up trying to suffocate the Cobra, its not something I want to see. Just stop it, everything else you did last night was worthy of a wrestling monster, but "that move" as the announcers like to call it is just a waste.

Miss: Jerry the King Lawler, Face Commentator. 


This first point is just a rant, but did you hear Lawler last night when Ryder was being wheeled out from backstage. He was asking why somebody doesn't help him when three crew guys walked by. Hey King, how about you help him? You're a WWE Hall a Famer who still can go from time to time, why in the world would the crew get involved?

Now I totally understand that I don't really have a point there. Of course Lawler isn't going to help, but god did you hear him the rest of the night? His face commentary has become really annoying, to the point where I don't think I can facepalm any harder. During David Otunga's entrance to the Rumble, Cole mentioned the great story about Otunga's return to the courtroom and victory as a lawyer for a client that was Pro Bono. I don't remember his exact words, but he clearly insinuated that the case never happened. So just because David Otunga is a heel, Lawler immediately balks at the idea that he could ever do anything good in his life?

Oh and then later in the Rumble, when Jindar Mahal entered, he did it again. Cole was explaining that the turban (sorry, I don't remember the proper name) was used to keep mens hair clean, Lawler replied with a "What?!", sounding like it was the strangest thing he has every heard.  Its his culture, what the hell is wrong with you. It's not like Cole says he wears it so that he can have sex with a chair. It was a reasonable comment. Tone it down Jerry, seriously.

Hit: Kane leaves the Rumble Relevant.


Honestly, I did not expect Kane to leave the Royal Rumble as a threat. I expected either a complete beating by Cena, or at least being one upped by Cena so that he was no longer the ruthless monster that they have been trying to bill him as. But last night, Kane got the last laugh. And it was the right decision.

Kane looked like a monster, and he actually looked quite good in the ring. Cena and Kane are two type of workers that together, I don't expect to enjoy all that much. But last night both men put in a solid performance and did a good job of telling their story. Also Cena takes a freaking awesome chokeslam. Nuff said.

Actually, no. It's not nuff said. Those complaints that Cena is always in the main event? Yea, where was he tonight? In the middle of the card, and he was left laying in the middle of the ring. These past few months have featured less "throat-shoving" if you will, so if you are going to complain about Cena, you might want to amend your argument a bit.

Hit: Please be proud of who you are.


We can have a long discussion about some of the hypocrisy of the B.A. Star campaign, but in my opinion its fine. It was great to see that video last night, and I hope a lot of young fans out there took that message seriously. Don't change who you are for someone, and be proud of who you are. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Miss: I told you this was coming.


Oh Brodus, how I wish I could give you a hit. Your green wrestling gear was fantastic, and I love the dancing. Also I can never get enough of Booker T going "THERE IT IS! THAT'S THE DACTYL!!!". But you should have been in the Rumble Match. I'm sorry, but I'm not budging on this one. I thought it was fine that Drew Mcyintre wasn't in the match, why would he be after the losses he has strung together on Smackdown. But I just think the WWE missed the mark on this one. Somebody call my momma, Brodus needs to do something.

Hit: Ziggler v.s. Punk, A Given.


One of my favorite moments of the night came when Dolph Ziggler's music hit. There was a sign that said "Dolph, Get a Life!" Wait, what? What about Ziggler and his character would imply he needs to get a life? LOL

This was the match of the night in my opinion, and I have a feeling I'll like it even more on a second viewing. A few notes before I get to the actual wrestling. I'm pretty sure the real reason Laurinaitis was on the outside was because he wanted to text. Oh and seriously guys, the World of Japan? Are you shitting me? You do realize the WWE is based in the United States, and with your logic, Daniel Bryan is the World Champion of the United States. I know you guys are popular all over the world, but christ.

Anyway, this match was great. I was a bit worried I would be a little bored because we have seen these two lock up quite a lot in the past few months. But they didn't disappoint. The counters were crisp, and it was just what a great WWE Championship match should be. So bravo gentlemen.

As for the finish, I have my theory. I know it's probably not on base, but I think Laurinaitis slid in the ring fully intending to stop the referee's count. But in that spilt second, he remembered that his job is on the line, so he made the three count. Either way, I'm interested to see what happens tonight on Raw with Big Johnny and Triple H.

Oh and one more thing, Clown Shoes is an excellent insult. Especially when said with such hatred. Thank you CM Punk.

Hit: The Miz at Number One


I said last week I was pleased with the decision to make Miz the number one entrant, and the announcers hyping him up was the right thing to do. He cut a very good promo which was again the right thing to do. I've been saying he has an amazing life story and honestly believe he will one day make a great face. But...

Miss: I'm the Miz, and I Spray Tan.


Holy hell. Did you see Miz's face last night?!? His body looked fine, but jeez his face looked like a badly painted oompa loompa. I could barely pay attention to his promo.

Miss: A-Ry.

In my notes for the Rumble, I wrote "A-Ry-Push?" when his music hit. Unfortunately, I quickly scratched that out. I'm not sure why Riley isn't being used, but I personally think its a mistake.

Hit that wasn't pretty, but it's still hit: Bang Bang!

I love Mick Foley. I was very glad to see the reaction he got. But dude, you should not have run down to the ring. I'm not exactly the skinniest dude, but I'm just saying. It was hard to watch. Still, it was awesome to see Foley mixing it up again, even if he was a little slower than normal. Oh and a bonus hit for Booker T saying "Bang Bang!" I'm confident Booker T is the greatest thing ever you guys, I really am.

Bullseye of the Week: My name...my name is Ricardo Rodriguez.

I did not expect this. But oh boy, was it ever awesome. At first I just thought one of Del Rio's taillights was out. But then I saw the duct tape. And it just got better from there. Seeing Ricardo Rodriguez come out to Del Rio's entrance was gold, and the exact type of comedy that I think most of us can agree is entertaining. But the best part was the reaction he got. The big "Ricardo" chant was fantastic, and I just loved everything about his time in the Rumble. When he eliminated Gabriel, his CM Punk style World Title celebration was perfect. Viva La Ricardo!!!

Hit: Cobra v.s. Socko


I'll let Charlie take this one. "I shouldn't like this, but I do." I feel ya brotha, I feel ya.

Hit: Announcers Rumble

I may get a bit of heat for this, but I really liked the announcers entering the Rumble. Yes it took up three spots, but it was worth it in my opinion. King being it in was fine, but when Booker's music hit..I lost it. While King just had a shirt on, Booker had a full blown suit on and had to take it off to reveal his wrestling gear. That was golden. Cole's moment was pretty funny too, but the best had to have come after King was eliminated. Booker telling him that he "almost had it" after a  mere 60 seconds in the Rumble is awesome.

Hit: Move over John Morrison

Last year, John Morrison wowed the entire wrestling world with his Spiderman like save from elimination in the Royal Rumble match. This year, Kofi Kingston did the same with an amazing handstand, walking backwards on his hands to save himself. It was awesome, and quite frankly, one of those moments that makes the Rumble so special. Here's to a push that will last and end at the Elimination Chamber (see John Morrison's push).

Oh and before I get off the topic of Kofi Kingston, last night was the return of Booker T's Jamaican accent. I have no words. I just love it.

Hit: Oh I didn't know!

I saw the article a few days ago about the three names confirmed for the Rumble match. I made a decision to not read it, and I'm glad I did. While Foley was already confirmed, and Duggan was a given since it was the 25th anniversary, I was very curious as to who the third man would be. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. The Road Dogg is great. He is an average wrestler with loads of charisma who will always be an important part of wrestling history. To see him shimmy and shake was fantastic.

Hit: Cody Rhodes, Legend Killer

Last night, Cody Rhodes put in an awesome performance. Along with staying in the match for a very long time, he eliminated four legends from the match. Throwing Foley, Lawler, Duggan, and Booker over the ropes was great. But hopefully this leads to a match with Foley at Wrestlemania, and not a legends type program that it may also lead to. Rhodes needs that one big match to propel him into the main-event scene, and I truly believe a battle with Foley on the grandest stage of them all could be that match.

Here are a few quick hits and misses before I get to the end of the Rumble Match:

• Hit: Khrama-if there was ever a diva to be in the Rumble, it's her.
• Miss: Cole gets screwed- Booker and Lawler eliminated him, why? Because they don't like him? That's a little petty don't ya think?
• Hit: Swagger No Swiping-Swagger entered on a roll, but refrained from striking Road Dogg after he put his hands up and said "hey hey hey!" Road Dogg is the best.
• Hit: M-I-Z- The Miz did the Road Dogg legs that was barely picked up by the camera. Awesome.
• Huge Miss: Replacing Wade Barrett's theme song is a mistake. They went through quite a few songs to find "End of Days" and I for one think its perfect. Buy hey, I'm sure this new one will grow on me. 
• Hit: Booker T's Strategy- "Come in at #30, that's my strategy King"

Miss: The Big Show 

I admit, I was hoping for a cool surprise entrant at the number 30 spot. That being said, I would have been fine with a returning star like Christian or someone new and different. But having the Big Show there, it just didn't sit well with me. I know I'm just nit-picking, but I would have preferred someone else.

Hit: Sheamus v.s. Jericho-5 Stars

The final two mini-match between Sheamus and Chris Jericho was the second best I have ever seen. The only one I can say that beat it was the epic 2007 Rumble encounter between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker. These two made you believe that they were fighting for THE most important prize of the night, and had me on the edge of my seat. I wanted Jericho to win, badly, so the stress was even higher. 

Now, Charlie wasn't too happy about the ending. For me, I'm okay with it. It makes sense. Chris Jericho came back and announced he was in the Rumble. For him to just win it, I don't know. I would have loved it, but it actually makes more sense that he didn't. He did everything right, but he just didn't factor in how much Sheamus wanted this win. Since Jericho  has been gone, Sheamus has went from solid heel to unstoppable face. So it was great to see Jericho beat on Sheamus and yell "Get out of my ring!" 

Look, I know there are reports that Jericho was scheduled to win and they changed it because it was leaked. As much as I hate when they do that, I'm fine with it this time. This is not your normal wrestler. This is Chris Jericho. Tonight, I have faith that Jericho will take it to the next level. Here is what Y2J tweeted just hours ago:

@IAmJericho: I've got something to say.... #raw

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to hear what he has to say. Let's hope it kick starts us on a wild rode to Wreslemania!!!

Note: Thanks for reading! Comments and such are greatly appreciated! 

-Eric

Hits and Misses: 1/23/12 Raw Review

Hello everyone, I was hoping to pick up where I sort of left off 3 years ago and begin writing reviews for Raw and Smackdown on the site Bleacher Report. I was very excited, until this morning I found out they have since changed there system. No longer can any fan submit an article, and to write for them you must fill out an application process. I filled it out, but am not sure if I will be making the cut. In case I don't, here I am writing my first Raw Review ever, and hopefully the select few that stumble upon this will enjoy! I watch with a very good friend of mine, Charlie Speed, so he will be mentioned now and then. Now onto the show!

Hit: Punk's Pipebomb 


We start off Monday Night Raw in fine fashion, with the camera panning across the crowd and knocking into an audience member wearing the Zack Ryder spiked hair wig. Luckily Charlie was able to rewind it to show the hilarity of the fan nursing his "injury". Check it out for a good laugh!

If that wasn't enough abuse for the night, CM Punk manages to slap himself in the face with the WWE title before sitting Punk style in the middle of the ring. This was a good promo from Punk, less of the "You're gay" insults that make me roll my eyes, and more of the passionate kid who dreamed of being a pro wrestler. John Laurinaitis is trying to take that away from him, and it was good to see them actually getting to the bottom of this feud that has been brewing for some time now.

So Punk calls out Big Johnny to say that he will screw Punk at the Rumble to his face. The moment Punk said "say it to my face", I was praying that Alex Riley would come out to his awesome theme music, do that weird pose thing he sometimes does with his right arm, and then simply go backstage. Instead of either Laurinaitis or Riley, we get the other Big Johnny.

Cena coming out to interrupt Punk was a gutsy move. These two have a lot of history, and the last time I checked, John Cena seemed to be the leader of the CM Punk fan club. So it was very nice to see Cena tell Punk to stop rambling and get down to buisness. The segment took a bit of a dip when Cena's sort of creepy love for Ryder showed up, but that gave way to an amazing CM Punk face during John's promo. Rewatch the segment and look for Punk hanging on the ropes. It's priceless.

Miss: The Swag Man Talketh


Look, I like Jack Swagger. I think he is an above average wrestler with a unique enough look to take him places. But he is this decade's Shelton Benjamin. He just can not talk. The fact that he has a lisp does not help. Okay, back when ECW was really ECW, they did all they could to focus on the strengths of their talents and hid their weaknesses. Taz was a very short man, but no one questioned him or his toughness because of the way he wrestled and carried himself. My point here is this, having a lisp stricken Swagger say that Cena is "Dead Meat" is only going to draw laughs. And you don't want that kind of reaction to your United States Champion...well hopefully you don't.

Hit: Dolph Ziggler sells his ass off


I have seen CM Punk deliver his patented knee in the corner with a follow up bulldog to quite a few wrestlers, and there isn't any of them that have sold it better than Dolph Ziggler. Some may not like his Show Off character, but there is no doubting his ability in the ring. He makes everything he does in the ring look important, and I for one and looking forward to Ziggler and Punk tearing down the house this Sunday.

Hit: The Match We All Want To See


The WWE Universe is not expecting the eventual John Laurinaitis/ CM Punk matchup to be a good wrestling match. What they are expecting is entertainment. The thought of Punk finally getting his hands on Laurinaitis is a sweet one to many, and others simply want to see Big Johnny back in the ring. So it was great to see the reaction for the proposed match between the too.

On a side note, CM Punk is a very violent man. This week he threatened to break both of Laurinaitis's arms. He also has told John that he will knock his teeth out and beat him like a bitch. Somebody get this guy some chill pills!

Small Hit: Jericho is Literally the Best in the World


While it seems like the over joyed and enthusiastic Chris Jericho may be coming to an end soon, any one that watches Park and Recreation should think about this. This version of Chris Jericho is Chris Traeger. He is so over the top that its perfect. You're welcome for the connection.

Bulls-eye of the Week: It's the End of the World as we Know It, and I Feel Fine.


Each week in my Raw review, I am going to give out a Bullseye of the week award for the best segment, moment, match, or whatever for the night. The inaugural award goes to the return of the highlight reel. Everything in this segment was perfect. From Jericho's sshh's to pandering with a t-shirt gun, to Michael Cole reverting back to the character that I enjoyed while yelling "Chris over here!" and "Look were on TV!". Also this might be the only segment in wrestling history where a t-shirt gun is introduced and no one is hit in the lower regions with it!

But it was what happened once he put down the gun that really mattered. The video package, detailing all of the greatest moments of his career was phenomenal. Each week the WWE reaffirms the belief held by Mr. Speed and myself. That they are by far the best at making any sort of video package. Jericho's brilliant delivery of his one line was chilling, and it was splendid to see them connect his return back to the videos that started it all. Whatever Chris Jericho has planned for this Sunday, I'm sure it will be big. It could actually be the end of the world as we know it as wrestling fans, and you know what? I feel fine.

Hit: Royal Rumble Video Package


After only slightly changing the annual Numbers promo for the Rumble, the WWE finally revealed a brand new promo that more than did its job to hype me up for the Royal Rumble. If you didn't get a chance to watch it last night, it's definitely worth checking out.

Hit and Miss: Zack Ryder v.s. Kane


This segment was just too much to break up into small hits and misses. It started off with Eve pleading with an injured Ryder to not accept the match. If I was Ryder, I would have chosen a nice cozy night with Eve than a beating from Kane. But that's just me.

Alright so here is the first miss, I'm done with the Storm Trooper Mask (Charlie's reference). It just doesn't really serve a purpose anymore. I was a fan when you walked down with a black towel on your head, but you just look silly with the second mask. Take it off and leave it off Kane.

Another miss you say? Well its pretty easy to write this one seeing as Kane tried to murder Ryder much like he did with Cena. It was amusing that Kane trying to stop Zack from breathing was no big deal to Cole and Lawler, even though it has been a segment ending move ever since it was introduced. The point is, stop trying to fake murder people. It takes the fans out of their suspension of disbelief and right into the "God this is terrible" stage. So just stop it.

The Hit here comes from the end of the match. Kane choke-slamming Ryder through the stage looked good, and was a logical next step forward in the feud between Kane and Cena. I would have loved to have seen Muhammad Hassan laying down there with Ryder. Something along the lines of he has been living there for the past six years and has made under the stage a pretty nice place for him to live. But one can only dream.

This is neither a hit nor a miss, but it was pretty hilariously to see how many straps they used to restrain Ryder onto that stretcher with. Although I'm disappointed we didn't have another "Does he have a pulse?" type statement from one of the EMTs.

So to sum this segment up, I think it did a fairly good job of setting up Cena/Kane this Sunday. Charlie's idea is that Cena will unleash hell on Kane, and absolutely destroy him. All of this will happen with Kane smiling at the beating. This Sunday, John Cena finally embraces the hate. I just have no idea how they will take us to Mania with this. I have faith though that it will all work it self out. And if not? Then we still have Kane fake murdering people to enjoy.

Hit: The Simple Things in Life


Look, having Sheamus come out and yell "FELLA!" as his taunt is brilliant. At least I'm pretty sure that's what he said. Either way, its fun. Plus Barrett coming out with the coat drapped over his shoulder was gold, and he was great on commentary. I also found myself wondering how Barrett would throw Orton down five flights of stairs. Would he try and find a set that is five in a row? Or would he be satisfied with throwing him down one set, walking down, throwing him down the second, and so on?

Oh by the way, I love how Sheamus says thousand. "I WILL WIN THE TWO TOWSON TWELVE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH!"

Miss: Taking advantage of the Royal Rumble Match


There are plenty of wrestlers in the WWE right now who are not doing anything. And that is simply the nature of the buisness. You cannot have each superstar involved in a storyline without creating a cramped tv schedule. But I believe the WWE has yet again dropped the ball on taking advantage of the Rumble Match. Yes, Jindar Mahal and Heath Slater got air time to promote the Rumble match. But why not everyone else? There is no reason why you can give Tyson Kidd thirty seconds on tv to tell everyone that he is going to win the Rumble match. It's simple and its effective. But oh wait...what's this?

Hit: Matches for Rumble Numbers


I think most wrestling fans would agree that qualifying matches for any type of big match are a plus. Whether it be the Money In the Bank, the Elimination Chamber,  or the Royal Rumble, matches to determine the participants is an easy and effective storyline technique. It's even better when they WWE has matches to decide who will get certain spots in the Royal Rumble match. Years ago they would hold contests to get the coveted number thirty spot. But having a match between two rivals with the threat of entering number one in the rumble on the line is great. The Miz should last quite some time in this year's Rumble, and the WWE would be making a mistake by giving him the chance to have anything less than a very strong showing.

Miss: Miz v.s. R-Truth...The Match


The Miz and R-Truth's feud has been pretty entertaining up to this point. But in the ring...eh they just didn't do it for me. I feel like my main problem is with the Miz. He is a great worker and capable of having some really fantastic matches. But there are some opponents that he just doesn't have chemistry with. R-Truth and John Cena would be two that I would point out. His matches with guys like Mysterio, Morrison, and even Randy Orton are fairly good, but I just can't get into his matches with the likes of Truth. Maybe it's just me, but if this feud is going to continue on into Wrestlemania, I hope they are both a part of the Money In the Bank Ladder Match.

Hit that is falling further away from the bullseye: The Funkasaurus 

I love Brodus Clay. I cannot stop myself from smiling everytime I see him come out to the ring. His character has been a blast. But it's time to stop the squash matches. I was disappointed this week that there were no "My bad" or "Sheeehplex!" calls from the Master of Planet Funk. It was still an enjoyable segment, but the WWE Universe knows he can beat all of the lower card. There is no need to keep this up. Here  hoping he has a surprising showing in the Rumble this Sunday!

Hit: Let's Go Home


First of all, did any one see David Otunga's shoes last night? His styling silver slippers were dynamite, and add the thermos to the mix and you've got a bulls-eye on your hands! But seriously, I have a question for you all. When did John Laurinaitis become good at his job? Charlie and I loved him when his mouth seemed to fail him and he botched saying "WWE Universe". I almost soiled myself when he picked up the phone and apologized for hanging up on someone so late....awkward pause....so fast. So it was to my surprise that Laurinaitis (for the most part) has been nailing his lines and selling his character extremely well as of late. It no longer seems that Punk is trying to carry Big Johnny through a watchable segment. Instead it feels like we are watching a true power struggle between the corporate man with a unfulfilled dream, and the champion that is everything the corporate shill wanted to be.

The job evaluation idea is great, as long as we don't get another trial of Eric Bischoff style segment. My call is that Triple H and the Undertaker will be seeing each other very soon, and it might all start again this coming Monday. And while I'm talking about great things, the spoiled little girl analogy Punk used to describe Laurinaitis was brilliant. It's simple, but it hits the nail on the head and did a great job emphasizes exactly what John was trying to do by being nice.

Laurinaitis pulling out of the match was expected, as well as naming Otunga his replacement. What I did not see coming was CM Punk finally getting his revenge on Johnny Ace by way of a GTS. It was a  great move and gave the crowd exactly what they wanted. But in an even better move, the number #1 contender for the WWE Championship came into the ring and ambushed Punk. Ending the show this way was the right call. It did its job to hype up not only the WWE Championship match for this Sunday, but also the future of the Punk/Laurinaitis feud.



We'll that's all folks. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Comments would be greatly appreciated, but just reading is fantastic. Thanks for listening to my ramblings!


-Eric