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By Chris Newth, PWTorch.com Specialist Contributor

WWE Monday Night Raw
August 27, 2007
Upcoming PPV: Unforgiven (3 weeks away as of airdate)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the third edition of Raw Storylines and Feuds.

For those wondering about the Intrigue Level system that I employ, you can refer to the numbers as follows:

10 (excellent), 9 (great), 8-6 (very good, good, pretty good), 5 (neutral; has its good and bad qualities), 4-3 (needs work, poor), 2 (bad), 1 (terrible)

WWE Champion JOHN CENA vs. RANDY ORTON (6 weeks)

I can't say enough good things about the progression of this feud. This week, in a similarly effective fashion as last week's Raw, the Cena-Orton rivalry blasts to the top of the card in both actual placement and interest.

Storyline progression was a key priority this week, as it should be, and WWE didn't disappoint. The story was solid; the events were well-paced; and the character development, particularly in Orton's case, was especially well done.

So Summerslam passes, and Randy Orton enters with a rage. He wants another title shot, and truly believes that he deserves one. Someone's arrogance is showing. Regal declines to grant him that title opportunity, instead giving it to King Booker. There is even a failed attempt at an early RKO in the opening segment, and Orton is left seething. An irate Orton decides to go straight to the Chairman himself, but Mr. McMahon also denies his request, provoking the man who will do anything to get what he wants.

This is great storytelling. They have set up believable circumstances in an interesting way, which led to great reaction in Orton's character. His fuming disposition in Mr. McMahon's face really allows the audience to see what his driving force is. That anger, coupled with the actions that it provokes (the destruction of Cena's father) gave greater weight to his overall character.

On a side note, I'd just like to say that Cena's dad was more than a great sport for taking that bump and kick the way he did. Great sell-job too.

This feud has been properly built. The story is now even stronger with the he-attacked-my-family element. Orton has become a much more credible heel in the last two weeks. He's been defined now—and effectively so—as a dangerous heel. Cena, well, is Cena. His character is strong too, and everybody knows his resilience in the ring. These two have a great opportunity on their hands. With a strong story and character foundation, this feud just needs a few good matches to carry it all the way. Here's hoping the rivalry isn't muddied by King Booker's further involvement.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 9. [up 1 from last week]

Previous Feuds
John Cena: Bobby Lashley
Randy Orton: Dusty Rhodes & Cody Rhodes

JEFF HARDY vs. Intercontinental Champion UMAGA (7 weeks w/ 4 week hiatus)

Alright, we all get it. Umaga's heel turn was the result of two specific factors: a failed run as a face and the return of Jeff Hardy.

My problem is in WWE's build-up and handling of Umaga's character. So they initially want an uncontrollable monster heel, one that requires the loose direction of a manager. That was a truly interesting premise for a character in that Armando Estrada almost acted as Umaga's conscience. Although very evil himself, he at least had Umaga limit his destruction. In essence, he was the tamer of a savage human weapon named Umaga. Later, the Samoan Bulldozer splits with Estrada and ultimately changes gears. The face turn presumably didn't catch on quickly enough as WWE made a swift change yet again; Umaga is now a heel.

So, what's my point? Well, the problem is that Umaga is still considered a monster. He's a strange figure who can destroy others believably. It takes an appreciable amount of energy to beat the guy. How many times have we ever seen him get pinned? Yeah, not many.

The heel dynamic is flawed—and not just with Umaga, but with all of the monsters in WWE—because they are biased. Do I think that Umaga really considers who he will attack next? Absolutely not. Snitsky's character may be more psychologically driven. Perhaps jealousy over a face's fan reaction, for example, might cause him to target specific wrestlers, but Umaga is a different story. Mindless monsters—a group of which Umaga is a part—do not take sides. They shouldn't see the difference between heel and face. They shouldn't be more sympathetic to one over the other.

The feud between Umaga and Jeff Hardy is fine, however, the intrigue is going to have to be rejuvenated again.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5.

Previous Feuds
Jeff Hardy: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
Umaga: Santino Marella

MR. KENNEDY vs. Intercontinental Champion UMAGA (2 weeks)?

Is it possible that Mr. Kennedy may continue to pursue the Intercontinental Championship gold around Umaga's waist? It would be interesting, and preferable, if Umaga deplored Mr. Kennedy as much as he does Jeff Hardy. But it's doubtful, and not worth entertaining the possibility. I'll analyze this one once it's proven. Until then, let's consider it nonexistent.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): n/a.

Previous Feuds
Mr. Kennedy: no notable feuds since returning from injury
Umaga: Santino Marella

MR. McMAHON vs. McMAHON JUNIOR MYSTERY (4 weeks)

Mr. McMahon's paternity problems had, until Raw this week, been relatively progressive. Each week, WWE fed its audience with trace amounts of storyline building blocks. The week prior to Summerslam, the storyline slowed dramatically, but because there was no wrestling match attached to it, the decision was practical.

The Raw following Summerslam would have provided the optimal venue for a large piece of the Mr. McMahon long-lost son puzzle. What was given…(dramatic pause)…was nothing. Will the angle be fascinating once new information is unveiled? Possibly, but this week—which may accurately be considered an off-week—deflated the entire story.

This leads me to (say it with me) a balloon metaphor. Picture a balloon that is slowly being inflated. The balloon in this example represents the storyline and the audience's interest in it. Each week, more air (representing storyline elements and plot information) is progressively pumped into the balloon. For the first few weeks, that balloon was beginning to take real shape. "Mr. McMahon has another child? This might be interesting," I think to myself. And then suddenly, the air is gone. No progress has been made.

Picture this: Mr. McMahon (filling the balloon) brings the balloon's flap to his mouth. He then releases the balloon flap, but instead of blowing in air (more useful information for his feud), he says, "I'm going to give the woman that's suing me two weeks, and if she doesn't reveal the identity of my son…." As he talks, the balloon instantly deflates.

Worse still is Triple H's pending involvement in this storyline. That's not to say that I have anything against Triple H or his character, but there are so many open opportunities for him to fill in other aspects of the show. His feud with King Booker could have just begun, but WWE pulled the proverbial plug on it after just one physical confrontation. After such a protracted feud build-up, the rivalry between Booker and The Game should have been milked a lot more. With Unforgiven only three weeks away, what would be the harm in extending it to a more satisfying conclusion?

As for the McMahon storyline, it's now become a waiting game that nobody really wants to play; it just got tedious. If they had given the audience something (other than basically a promise that we'd learn more within the next two weeks), then it might not have taken us all out of the story.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5. [down 2 from last week]

CODY RHODES & LONDON & KENDRICK vs. DAIVARI & BENJAMIN & HASS

I'm really not sure what to make of this group yet. I wasn't even sure how to list these people in feud categories. Cody Rhodes faced Daivari five weeks ago, and he's faced Charlie Hass and Shelton Benjamin for the last three weeks. Now, Daivari is back in the mix, while Paul London and Brian Kendrick were arbitrarily tossed in as well. What's going on? I haven't a clue, but there should be a better indication of the direction of events by next week.

Thus far, no storyline has been told here, with the possible exception of Cody Rhodes's requirement of winning his match with Daivari in order to stay on Raw. He hasn't been further threatened by Jonathan Coachman since, so we can probably assume that it's over. On the bright side, this group can put together a good series of matches, so that will hold them for now.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 4.

Previous Feuds
Cody Rhodes: Randy Orton
London & Kendrick: no notable feud since coming from Smackdown
Daivari: no notable feud since coming from Smackdown
Hass & Benjamin: no recent notable feuds

CRYME TYME vs. World Tag Champions LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH (3 weeks)

Last week Cryme Tyme steals Murdoch's trucker hat before selling it in an impromptu auction. It makes for an interesting distraction, and a successful one for that matter. This week, Shad and JTG do the same thing, except it's not with Murdoch's hat; it's with Cade's. And it's not a distraction for a match; it's just for fun.

The fact that Cryme Tyme enjoys theft and sales and that they use it not exclusively for their own entertainment, but also against their enemies is not a bad idea. I wouldn't call it genius, but it's certainly unique. Another bonus to the act is that it encourages audience participation.

There is, however, a discernible, logical story here that WWE is missing. They have these two characters that we don't know much about—Shad and JTG. Fine. They can work on character development later. This is even more simplistic. What we do know is that they like money, and they aren't beyond stealing to get it. It would behoove WWE to take the only real character trait that they took time to assign to Cryme Tyme and use it to their advantage.

Have the entrepreneurs placed in a situation in which they become obsessed with trying to take the tag team titles. They may not want them to prove that they are the best tag team; they want them because they are monetarily valuable. Now you're taking part of their character that is well-documented and applying it to their feud with Cade and Murdoch, the reigning Tag Team Champions. They can either perform unsuccessful attempts at stealing the belts during matches or backstage, or they can steal the belts and cause and chase—and ultimately a title match—with Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.

The current feud now is practically lifeless, with the same thing happening week after week.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 2. [down 1 from last week]

Previous Feuds
Cryme Tyme: n/a
Cade & Murdoch: The Hardys

Women's Champion CANDICE MICHELLE vs. BETH PHOENIX

Although these two divas have yet to lay a hand on one another, we know that a title defense—and consequently a feud—is imminent. Since WWE ostensibly wanted to wait for this clash, they strategically used this week to pump some last-minute juice into Beth Phoenix's credibility. That's a smart move considering that the audience knows practically nothing about her. A vulnerable Maria took the brunt of Beth's rage as the Glamazon tossed Santino's girlfriend around like a rag doll. Candice's chances aren't looking so good from a power standpoint.

This is one of the fresh feuds resulting from the Summerslam fallout, but because it's still in its inception, judging it would be impulsive.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): n/a.

Previous Feuds
Candice Michelle: Melina
Beth Phoenix: n/a

SANTINO MARELLA (w/ Maria?) vs. RON SIMMONS (4 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

Where was our favorite comedic heel this week? Not even a mention of that storyline? Disappointing.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7. [down 1 from last week]

Previous Feuds
Santino Marella: Umaga
Ron Simmons: n/a

FEUD CONCLUSIONS

(1) King Booker vs. Triple H. It seems that after only one physical appearance by Triple H within their moderately-lengthy rivalry, the feud has been killed. This was a mistake. With the next PPV rapidly approaching, these two could have held one of the three top spots on Raw. Booker's involvement with Cena and Orton hopefully will not result in his incorporation in the WWE Title match at Unforgiven. And Triple H's involvement with Mr. McMahon this week hopefully will not be a sign of things to come. It may be leading to an interesting rivalry between McMahon's soon-to-be-revealed son and The Game, but Triple H's character could be doing much more interesting things at the moment.

(2) Carlito vs. Umaga. This week's ambiguous booking brings more questions than answers. However, that is the inherent nature of the first week back from a pay-per-view. Will Carlito return to the Intercontinental Title hunt against Umaga, or is WWE preparing him for a short feud with Triple H? Might the fact that it was Mr. Kennedy who curiously jobbed at Summerslam give any hint to that aforementioned question?

POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) King Booker vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton?
(2) Triple H vs. Carlito?
(3) Triple H vs. Mr. McMahon?
(4) Snitsky vs. ??

Thanks for reading, everyone. If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to email me at newthtorch@hotmail.com. I appreciate all the feedback I receive.

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