So of course, Universers' opinions on tonight's "shocking" episode of RAW are being strewn about all over, and you know Money had to put his two cents in.
The show still stunk to holy hell.
To be frightfully transparent with you all, as much as I love the RAW brand, it's just not as exciting and fresh as Smackdown; RAW seems to be in this funk, and I believe there are several reasons behind this. Lack of newer, younger stars being pushed; stale storylines; HHH's return to television; the RAW product is just bookie right now.
I wasn't all that impressed with the announcement that Trump "bought" RAW. In fact, most of us can probably agree that the highlight of the night was the Hornswoggle nutshot...it doesn't matter who it happens to, but blows to the scrotum are pretty hilarious unless it happens to you. And even then, it is pretty funny.
Once again, RAW doesn't live up to it's promises of exciting WWE fans every Monday night on USA...
Think back to when Orton had to sell Shane McMahon's weak-as-Earl-Grey-tea offense. Think about Orton's character; his mannerisms, his characteristics, how he maneuvers his way inside and outside the ring, his promos, and even the way he stalks his opponents and his gaze as he makes his way to the squared-circle. All of this goes into the makings of a perfect heel; you don't want to admit that you like him, but Orton's presence and abilities are undeniable as a bad guy. And it's taken him a good minute to perfect this persona. All of that will be dwarfed by HHH now. For me, this match-up between the two will have to turn into one of those larger-than-life rivalries, or it'll be one of these programs that drag on for too too long a time.
I'd rather Orton face someone new, and the WWE was headed in that direction with MVP. But as someone mentioned to me, perhaps HHH is a guaranteed money maker, and maybe the WWE is at a point now where they'd rather go with one of their cash cows than spend so many months trying to build up a new main eventer, b/c that will take time. And true again, this whole thing with HHH maybe the build up Orton needs to take him to the next level. I'm not completely sold on that idea. For the most part, HHH ends up burying all of his opponents and they all end up either going to Smackdown or ECW, where it takes them forty years to get back to main event status. It's not only viewable in the promos HHH can cut on a superstar, but also in the way he wrestles them inside the ring. IMO, in oder for Orton to BE that impossible to defeat champion, he is going to have to put HHH out of business...and from the way things look now, that ain't gonna happen. HHH is going to get his revenge on Orton, and he'll probably decimate the guy at that, and then it's up to the next guy to beat HHH. It'll have to be a heel, b/c HHH at this point is a face. What heels on RAW can take on HHH and actually stand a chance at winning? Big Show? He's involved with Cena. THE Brian Kendrick? He can't even win a tag match. It's an interesting time to be a fan...and not in a good way...
Yesterday, I wrote that Triple H's return to action on Monday Night RAW had me feeling a little less than furious. On my way home from work today, whilst driving through traffic, I thought about what his return means for Randy Orton, and for the "vacated" WWE Heavyweight Championship. Here are those thoughts...
I still dislike the fact that HHH has returned to television in this particular way. To be frightfully honest, I expected HHH to do a run-in during an Orton/Batista championship match. I hypothosized that HHH would interrupt the match and cost Batista his chance at the championship, thus creating a feud between Batista and Orton, which would leave Orton to either (a) face someone new and different, or (b) face Triple H and Batista in a Three-Way for his title. With Batista needing surgery for a torn biceps, I guess that idea floats about as well as a lead balloon. However, as fans we are now faced with yet another stale feud that has been done so many times before, and in my opinion (which you will hear quite often throughout this spiel), cannot be done any differently than it has already been done before. For this program between HHH and Orton to be simply bad, it'd have to be revived with a defibrilator first.
Why am I so bent ouf of shape? Well, let's do some backtracking, here:
It wasn't that long ago when Orton appeared fiendishly diabolical in his savage, calculated assault on members of the McMahon Family. First, Randy takes out Vince McMahon. Then, Shane McMahon, Stefffanie MchMahon, Shane McMahon, Stephanie again, Triple H, and then Shane for the final time. In fact, Orton's dissection of the McMahon's was so well carried out, I believe we all figured that we'd never see any of them folks ever again. I almost thought that the only time we'd see anyone get even with Orton would be after Aurora Rose faced Mae Young.
But, Triple H returns to television before that could even happen.
It seems the current trend on WWE television centers around ending long-standing feuds between several of the top-tier superstars. For example: Edge has recently ended to epic rivalries: one with John Cena, the other with Jeff Hardy. Even MVP has faced Matt Hardy a few times recently. And believe it or not, Rey Mysterio has returned to a feud he was involved in with Chris Jericho from their days in WCW. Having said that, we're not hard pressed to believe that another epic battle between HHH and Orton wasn't possible in the near future. But that doesn't mean I, or the other fans, have to like it.
As much as I'd like to believe that we'd all like to see HHH v. Orton VIII, and as much as some of us would like to see HHH cave Orton's skull in with that sledgehammer, I feel it's very unnecessary for any of us to paste half-hearted smiles on our faces and unenthusiastically applaud another match between these two. It's been done before, and there are very few things one can do to make this match not like the forty billion other matches they've had before now.
It's one thing to have HHH return to get some well-deserved revenge on Orton; I mean, it is logical and it was predictable. However, having Orton, who is arguably the best thing on RAW right now, lumber through another match or promo where he has to uncharacteristically sell everything HHH throws at him, does nothing to catapult him to the next level. And ideally, this match between the two should solidify Orton as THE man to beat if you want the WWE Title. As long as Orton has to pander to the likes of Batista and HHH, he'll never get to that level. And I think my personal beef with this match-up has more to do with the fact that it happened so soon...two and a half months after Orton punted HHH's head into oblivion. For a man that strikes with a force as sudden and deadly as a viper, it seems Orton has trouble keeping people out of business unless they're old.
I see why some fans tire of the RAW product; we've already seen HHH and Orton so many numerous times before, and this match-up is becoming redundant, as a friend of mine stated. I thought HHH was going to return during the ppv last night and start some sort of programme with Batista...but alas, that would be too much like right. Instead, HHH makes his return tonight and "decimates" Orton for twelve extra minutes after 11:00 pm/10:00pm ct.
I don't know about you, but I'm not amped about HHH's return. Not at all. It sucks that Ken Kennedy got fired so we can see HHH v. Orton 89. To me, this show fell flat, but died on the way to the hospital when HHH made his way to the ring. Where's Seamus O' Shaunessy when you need him?
In another cost-cutting measure, the WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Superstar, Umaga.
This sucks...for Umaga.
To be honest, Umaga didn't have that same zest he did when Armando Alejandro Estrada was his manager/handler. And the writing should've been on the wall when he grabbed a mic and opened his mouth, and instead of unintelligible grunts, we were treated to the poetic words of a Cambridge scholar. I guess now there's no nead to explain why he was attacking CM Punk.
I dare anyone to say the WWE is "predictable" after the seeing both Mr. Kennedy and Umaga future endeavored. As harsh as this reality is, occasionally talent must be purged from the rosters. But it's always harsh to hear about your fav superstars ending up on the chopping block. The bright side is, both Mr. Kennedy and Umaga could have very bright futures in other organizations or overseas. And by, I am insinuating that both could end up working for TNA. It'd be really really interesting to see "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe go up against "The Samoa Bulldozer" Umaga...but then again, that's just wishful thinking, isn't it?
