If it’s not bad enough that the above two are melting my brain on a weekly basis, WWE is combining them with The Brian Kendrick, who has had the biggest fall from the grace of potential since Carlito. Is is then ironic that Carlito is in the same mix as well? I don’t understand where WWE is going with this entire fiasco, but Kendrick is at the top of my “2009 WWE Draftees Turned Future Endeavored Club” list.
There’s too much nonsense on Raw cards lately. It is for this reason that story lines and segments that would otherwise be good fall flat because they are sandwiched between garbage. Santino vs Vickie and Chavo is already tired. Kendrick, Horny, Goldust, Festus, Carlito and Primo are being wasted. There’s too much talking, not enough wrestling. There’s too much talking that isn’t funny and still not enough wrestling. Ultimately, the show needs to get back to showcasing the talent that are involved in intriguing pro wrestling angles, and keep the sports entertainment stuff to a one, maybe two segment minimum per show.
THE WRESTLING
Maryse vs Kelly Kelly for the Diva’s Championship: Although this was not a terrible match from an in-ring standpoint, WWE has to book these two ladies to showcase stronger wrestling skills so that the audience is not left asking themselves “Why are these two wrestling for a title and Beth and Mickie are watching Santino call Vickie Guerrero a pig?” Additionally, the ending here was weak. I can’t stand when the referee calls for a DQ when the same thing happens in countless other matches which does not result in a DQ. Continuity must be present. If I were the referee of a basketball game, would I just decide to call a travel when a guy is at the line shooting a free throw? No. You follow the rules. It’s simple. Then again the more I think about it, I’m pretty sure a basketball referee would call a travel on a guy throwing a free throw if it meant advancing LeBron to the finals. Out of a possible 9 stars I give the opening Raw match 4.5 Stars.
Matt Hardy vs William Regal vs Kofi Kingston: A great match. I really hope Regal remains in the title picture because he is a joy to watch in the ring every week. Although I feel he is just a heel placeholder, I do like the potential he has against someone like MVP. That said I was surprised to see Kingston go over here as I was sure the Hardy/MVP program would continue. I’m sure it still has a future, so throwing Kofi in as sort of a curve ball was a nice addition of depth to a great looking mid-card battle. 7 stars.
Santino & Mickie James vs Chavo Guerrero & Beth Phoenix: Comedy that was not comedic. Enough said. Shame too, considering you had some very good wrestling talent in that ring. 2 Stars.
Goldust & Hornswoggle vs The Brian Kendrick & Festus: Comedy that was not comedic. Enough said. Shame too, considering you had some very good wrestling talent in that ring. Wait, didn’t I just say that? Ok I’ll amend it a little. Shame too, considering you had Kendrick in the ring, who can actually wrestle. 2.5 Stars.
“Lakers vs. Nuggets” Match: John Cena, Batista, Mr. Kennedy, MVP & Jerry Lawler vs Randy Orton, Big Show, The Miz, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase: This was a good, solid main event tag bout, and it’s great to see Mr. Kennedy back in the ring, but what bothered me the most here was the fact that creative ever over-shadowed the return of someone they need help from by putting the emphasis on WWE’s version of the NBA playoffs in a wrestling match. They needed to capitalize on Kennedy’s return by making it the event of the night and should have saved his return for next week since they knew they’d be wrapped up in their debacle version of the “Denver Debacle.” 6 Stars.
Overall, out of a possible 9 stars, I give last night’s Raw broadcast 3.5 Stars.
Nick’s Notes:
-So did “Team Nuggets” voluntarily suggest that they wear the Nuggets’ jerseys since they’re the bad guys? How about in the future, during all wrestling matches, the good guy has to wear a sign saying “face” and the bad guy has to wear a sign that says “heel.” This way even the tiniest of intellects can follow the highly brainy concept that is pro wrestling.
-I Like that Goldust has retained his stutter since he was “electrocuted” years ago, and at the very least it shows that WWE is not playing to amnesiac’s with the short term memory capacity of a chihuahua. However, as much as I’m glad they remembered that part of his gimmick, I wish they hadn’t remembered he was actually on the Raw roster.
-Kudos to Vince for making the XBA joke. Taking a shot at yourself while taking a shot at someone else can be refreshingly humble.
-As of this writing, Mr. Kennedy is still injury free. Is the sky falling down?
-A Hog-Pen match? Honestly? And on PPV? I was hoping it would be a “this match will not take place on the PPV” match. I think that’s an environment within which Vickie and Santina could shine.
Thanks for reading, and as always feel free to send any and all feedback to [email protected]!
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
