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By Chris Newth, Torch specialist

WWE Monday Night Raw
October 29, 2007
Upcoming PPV: Survivor Series (third-to-last episode before PPV)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the twelfth 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 (decent; has its good and bad qualities), 4-3 (needs work, poor), 2 (bad), 1 (terrible) Attention readers! Beginning this week, Nov. 5-9, I will be poring through my email messages looking for the most creative and interesting storyline idea for an ongoing WWE feud. If you happen to spark a great idea that would enhance a current feud for Raw, ECW, or Smackdown this week, send it in to newthtorch@hotmail.com (with the name of the show in the subject line). Three ideas will be chosen—one for each WWE show—and posted on this column at PWTorch.com.

Decisions will be based on creativity, clarity, and relevancy. Here are some guidelines to help your chances of being chosen:

(1) Be sure that you write about WWE feuds. I don't currently have a TNA column.

(2) Write about a feud that's already established on one of the shows. Don't speculate with dream matches or feuds between two people not currently in a program together.

(3) Don't ignore the elements of the story that have been featured so far. Use the current storyline as a starting point from which you can build your own continuation.

(4) Have your idea be something that WWE could start to get into next week, not something that they "should have done."

(5) Be realistic. Don't include features that would be nearly impossible for WWE to pull off.

(6) Originality is paramount. Try to avoid falling into formulaic booking traps.

(7) Time your storyline for the short-term. Aim to talk about developments for the next few weeks and up until the next PPV, not year-long Wrestlemania plans.

I've decided to expand the length to a 600-word maximum since I'm only choosing one for each show. That should be more than enough space for your ideas, and many will be able to do it with fewer words. The emphasis can be on whatever you'd like. If you want to just discuss the value of your specific storyline and how it might enhance character, go ahead. Or maybe you would rather include detailed coverage of what we should see in backstage vignettes or promos. Creating a visual depiction is always great. Talk about what each character is saying, what they are doing, what their emotion is, etc. Talk about the purpose for each segment.

So, the process for this contest is as follows: choose a storyline first, watch whatever show is carrying that storyline this week, then type up your idea and email it to me. The goal here is to gauge the direction of WWE, then continue it with your own idea.

This opportunity is exclusive to the Storylines and Feuds sections of PWTorch.com. Remember, this is a feature that's geared toward posting story ideas. No analysis, please. And don't forget to include your first and last name in the body of the email. I won't post anything without crediting the writer.

And now to WWE Monday Night Raw.

Well, with only three weeks to prep for one of WWE's Big Four PPVs, it seems that they didn't want to make too many changes to their current list of ongoing feuds. It's interesting to note that even today, with a little over two weeks left, the company has only two listed matches for the Survivor Series card. Clearly they will be throwing a lot of weight on the return of Edge on that Nov. 18 pay-per-view.

As for this week's show, I find it curious to say the least. The reaction seems overwhelmingly negative, yet many aspects of this show were pretty good in terms of developing storylines and forwarding feuds. The wrestling may have been weak, but there should be times when the storyline reliance may make up for a lack of in-ring competition. In this case, we saw many positives: a new life for Shawn Michaels in the main event, nice progression in the Rhodes-Holly feud, some strong Beth Phoenix segments, more focus on the tag team story with a new element regarding Mickie James, a promising setup for Santino and Steve Austin, and a solid match to push D.H. Smith and Jeff Hardy.

I understand that the main event was short and had a disappointing finish, but I think too many people may have overlooked all the good on the show while they were mistakenly anticipating the return of Chris Jericho. For those who were contemplating where Jericho may have fit in with multiple segments of the show, disappointment was inevitable. Yes, the binary code video package included a hint that Jericho's return may come on Raw, but that thing is inherently puzzling. If clues serve as red herrings or have other meanings, so what? Isn't that the intended purpose of a "mysterious" video package?

I may be in the minority here, but this week's Raw was moderately strong. It's a shame so many people focused more on overly-speculated hype to ignore an above-average episode of WWE's flagship show.

WWE Champion RANDY ORTON vs. SHAWN MICHAELS (4 weeks)

At Cyber Sunday, Orton delivered a blatant low blow to retain the WWE Championship via disqualification. This week, Shawn Michaels appeared to get another shot. The promo he gave was straightforward and logical. After technically winning his PPV match, he claimed that he deserves a rematch.

Well, because WWE Title matches fall under The Chairman's purview, Mr. McMahon strutted out to surprisingly grant The Heartbreak Kid his rematch without any kind of stipulation as an addendum. After McMahon tried to incite more aggression from HBK, the newly appointed Number One Contender unleashed a Superkick that (intentionally) missed McMahon.

Later, Michaels showed up to help Triple H with his Handicap Match against an eclectic team consisting of Randy Orton and Umaga.

WWE is taking a strong direction with Shawn Michaels now. It would have been nice if the reigning WWE Champion was given more time with either a promo or backstage scene of some type, but the Michaels-McMahon conversation certainly set this feud on the right track.

People have criticized Mr. McMahon for waffling his statements and setting up extensive promos without any clear purpose, but what transpired this week should not be categorized in that regard on any level. In fact, it really helped to support the Michaels-Orton feud and revitalize it with more energy. McMahon's interaction with HBK proves that his character still has a beneficial purpose if written correctly. This week perfectly exemplified how to use Mr. McMahon's character to achieve something big.

McMahon fomented the anger inside Shawn Michaels and helped to unveil some of his inner-thoughts. This, of course, led to Michaels admitting that he promised that he would never let somebody determine when he was going to leave the business. He alluded to the injury that took him out for years as well as the one he suffered from Orton's kick months ago. Although strong in premise, the inflection of his voice during the promo was mildly revealing; if you really paid attention, you could clearly tell that he was just going through the motions and repeating his lines. I'm sure that there was some solid backing behind it, but the tone was unconvincing. Despite that, however, the segment was effective in reigniting a clearer focus on Raw's main event.

Overall, this thing is coming together nicely. The excitement behind the notion that HBK may get another WWE Title run is infectious. One may need to approach this with caution, however, as it may be emanating from a vacuum now that Jeff Hardy is out of the title picture. Since WWE has concentrated its efforts on Michaels while sidetracking Hardy with the inevitable midcard track again, a clearly defined main event feud is unfolding.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 8.5 [down 0.5 from last week]

Previous Feuds
Shawn Michaels: Randy Orton
Randy Orton: Dusty Rhodes & Cody Rhodes, John Cena

HORNSWOGGLE vs. WILLIAM REGAL & JONATHAN COACHMAN (8 weeks)

In one of the weaker segments on Raw, Hornswoggle participated in a one-on-one match with Jonathan Coachman, a match that saw The Little Bastard pin Coach for the 1, 2, 3. The difference maker was the special guest referee, Mick Foley. That's right. The man who barely beat out JBL in the Cyber Sunday poll was back on Raw determined to get his stint as referee through.

After some teamwork with Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy, Hornswoggle pulled out a victory with his Tadpole Splash. This wasn't supposed to be considered a "match," but rather a fun segment for another demographic. I tend not to complain when WWE throws things like this my way every once in awhile. We should keep in mind that although the 18-34 demographic may be the most important for advertising purposes, there are many young kids that enjoy the show as well. This match, as with the majority of Hornswoggle-Coach segments, are geared toward younger audiences. If the attempt—as I presume it to be—is to make the show more of a something-for-everyone type of deal, then there shouldn't be a problem.

Interestingly, there was another valid, well-planned, and note-worthy McMahon segment here. It involved Mr. McMahon explaining his point of view on life to Hornswoggle after acknowledging that he hasn't been there for his son lately. For the most part, a lot of that information seemed based on reality. I wouldn't be surprised if he felt that way in real life. Then again, if he didn't, it just underscores how convincing he is in his role as Mr. McMahon.

The conversation came off very genuine, and the reactions were right. Also, it made sense; McMahon seems to be trying to help his son out, perhaps reluctantly accepting the reality that Hornswoggle is indeed a part of his family. Plus, it served multiple purposes as it allowed us insight into Mr. McMahon's (character's) thought-process through a venue that differs from his usually-enraged disposition.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 4 [up 0.5 from last week]

Previous Feuds
Hornswoggle: Jamie Noble
William Regal: n/a
Jonathan Coachman: n/a

TRIPLE H vs. MR. McMAHON & UMAGA (10 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

Has Mr. McMahon faded out of this storyline? He seems to be preoccupied with other issues on the show, namely Shawn Michaels and Hornswoggle. In the last few weeks, Triple H and Umaga have been on their own. This week, Triple H was booked in a Handicap Match against The Samoan Bulldozer and WWE Champion Randy Orton.

The match, as mentioned previously, ended in a no contest when Michaels made the save after the heel tandem beat down The Game during their imbalanced main event bout.

As a feud itself, there really isn't anything left in the Hunter-Umaga tank; after all, we've seen Triple H beat Umaga twice now. With no believers left in Umaga, only a new opponent for The Game makes sense. However, that doesn't look likely, as this week they had him involved with Hunter yet again, and next week we can anticipate a DX reunion that features a match pitting Triple H and Shawn Michaels against Randy Orton and Umaga.

Overall, this feud is practically dead, but only in an I-look-forward-to-seeing-Umaga-pose-a-legitimate-challenge-for-Triple-H kind of way. Watching The Game clash with The Samoan Bulldozer isn't weak in and of itself. So how long will WWE stretch this one? That's the big question.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 8 [down 0.5 from last week]

Previous Feuds
Mr. McMahon: Bobby Lashley
Triple H: King Booker
Umaga: Jeff Hardy

CODY RHODES vs. HARDCORE HOLLY (6 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

One week after Hardcore Holly (who really needs a nickname that I can use for alternation purposes) helped defend a vulnerable Cody Rhodes against the heel combination of an underutilized Shelton Benjamin and a largely-ignored Charlie Haas, a tag team match took place to balance the field.

Cody managed to obtain the win for his team by pinning Haas. In the post-match aftermath, Hardcore Holly gave an unexpected response to Cody's celebration when he gave the kid a stern glare before leaving the ring. What's up with that? We'll find out next week, which is a telling sign that this one is moving forward nicely.

The synergism just works here. Cody, as well as most viewers, may have taken Hardcore Holly's actions last week for granted when we assumed they were a strong team this week. That was quickly dispelled when Holly explicitly refused to celebrate with his future protégé. Interestingly, Cody has already verbally expressed his respect for Holly in a backstage vignette with Benjamin and Haas. So the idea that Hardcore isn't returning that respect just yet is intriguing because viewers are saying, "Come on, just give the kid some credit."

The story is still rolling along smoothly. WWE was able to broaden the feud when inviting The World's Greatest Tag Team to join. From here, we'll have to see how it goes. It would be interesting to play off of the idea that Holly didn't want Cody to celebrate after just one win. That argument can lead to an alternative one that suggests that all victories are valid and worthy of celebration. Or maybe Hardcore was just angry that he didn't get the win, that Rhodes managed to get the pinfall for their team. The directions are virtually endless, which is always good for both WWE as well as the WWE audience.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7 [same as last week]

Previous Feuds
Cody Rhodes: Randy Orton
Hardcore Holly: n/a

WWE Women's Champion BETH PHOENIX vs. EVERY WOMAN IN WWE

I won't spend too much time on this as it doesn't even qualify as a feud and no one really stands out as being the clear Number One Contender for Beth's Women's Championship.

Raw opened with a just-for-fun Halloween Costume Battle Royal that featured WWE Divas from all three brands masquerading in various outfits. In the end, Kelly Kelly from ECW scored a surprising victory when she eliminated Torrie Wilson. This brought out Beth Phoenix, who quickly and decisively tore The Exhibitionist to proverbial shreds with her power moves.

Later, Phoenix cut a strong backstage promo on Candice Michelle as well as her role in WWE. About Candice, she claimed that the former Women's Champion can go back to Wisconsin and wait tables. About the other WWE Divas, she said that they are all weak women who like to dress up and pretend to be people they aren't. Maybe one of them should have dressed up as The Glamazon this year.

With nobody currently slated to battle Phoenix for the title, the Women's Champion's presence has been booked well. Having an unannounced interpromotional women's battle royal gave the solid impression that no other diva was quite at the same level as Phoenix (after all, she didn't participate, she criticized the participants in her promo, and she beat up the winner). Plus, she's great on the mic. It will be interesting to see who WWE chooses as The Glamazon's next opponent.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5.5

Previous Feuds
Beth Phoenix: Candice Michelle

PAUL LONDON & BRIAN KENDRICK vs. World Tag Team Champions LANCE CADE & TREVOR MURDOCH (9 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

There are two specific parts to this feud that should be discussed. The first regards WWE's constant tag team switching. Each week, they seem to change Cade and Murdoch's opponents from Kendrick and London to The Highlanders. It gets more disconcerting with each passing week. Why aren't official Number One Contenders named and why hasn't there been a clear direction?

It's not that I’m against any attempts to make feuds more complex with a greater number of opponents, but that's not the case here. It seems that WWE pushes The Highlanders every other week, and viewers aren't able to differentiate which team is currently the one feuding for the titles. At one point, it seemed that they were trying to incorporate all three teams, but then there was a week where only two showed up. It's a mess.

However, the second point I'd like to make is the great development in terms of Mickie James's role in this feud. Last week, Murdoch appeared to have saved Mickie from a hard clothesline from Cade. This week, she expressed her gratefulness to Murdoch in the back. Their conversation was slightly friendly, while slightly flirtatious. Lance Cade interrupted and questioned Murdoch's ability to get a girl like Mickie even if he tried.

Overall, I like the focus on what's left of the Raw tag team division. Now WWE has planted a subplot into the feud using a potentially romantic angle with Mickie James. May the inherent tension split the champions apart? At least there's something to look forward to about these segments now. On a side note, although London and Kendrick may have the most potential in an entertainment perspective, the team of Cade and Murdoch is by far the one with the most character improvement, which is due to both the writing as well as the performances by Cade and Murdoch themselves.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5 [up 0.5 from last week]

Previous Feuds
London and Kendrick: no notable feuds since being drafted from Smackdown Cade & Murdoch: The Hardys

Intercontinental Champion JEFF HARDY vs. MR. KENNEDY (4 weeks)

This week, WWE continued the Hardy-Kennedy feud with a tag match that combined these two with Carlito and newcomer D.H. Smith.

The match was considered by many to be the highlight of the show, and it did a nice job in building Hardy with another TV victory. D.H. Smith also got a lot out of this match because not only did he team with the popular Jeff Hardy, but he also continued his undefeated record on Raw.

Other than in this match up, neither Jeff Hardy nor Mr. Kennedy were featured on the broadcast. It would have been nice to see some more development here, as this week seemed to be more about maintenance than about advancement. In any event, these two are still strong personalities with differing styles that result in interesting matches. Strong feud.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7.5 [same as last week]

Previous Feuds
Jeff Hardy: Umaga, Shelton Benjamin
Mr. Kennedy: no notable feuds since returning from injury and suspension

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