By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE Monday Night Raw
May 5, 2008
Upcoming PPV: Judgment Day (second-to-last episode before PPV)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the thirty-seventh 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)


WWE Champion TRIPLE H vs. RANDY ORTON (6 weeks)

In the back, Todd Grisham interviewed Randy Orton. He asked Orton first about his reaction to William Regal cutting his match last week. Orton said that he had Triple H beaten, but he respects Regal as GM of Raw and King of WWE. Grisham then asked about his reaction to having to face CM Punk. Orton said that Punk was going to experience the reality of what it will be like to cash in his Money in the Bank contract against him once he becomes WWE Champion again at Judgment Day. Orton concluded, "In two weeks, the Age of Orton resumes." Later in the show, Randy Orton faced CM Punk. Toward the end of the match, William Regal came out and declared that due to a lack of respect, he was turning out the lights. When they faded to black, we could hear Regal say, "This match is officially over" as Raw cut to commercial.

As soon as Raw returned, Todd Grisham caught up with Randy Orton to ask him about the fact that this was the second week in a row where Regal cut his match. A livid Orton said that he didn't understand why Regal did it because he's one of the few who are supporting Regal's decisions. He said that he was heading to Regal's office to confront him directly. At the end of the show, Orton showed up after another Regal blackout to give Triple H an unexpected RKO.

This was an interesting storyline on Raw that is certainly different than usual. The fact that Regal turned out the lights for the second time during an Orton match provoked some questions (and clearly provoked Orton, or so we thought). Could it have just been Regal helping out Randy Orton? After all, CM Punk did later allude to the fact that he was finally getting the upper-hand in the matchup. Plus, the end of the show—a segment featuring Orton taking advantage of Triple H by using Regal's blackouts—suggests that Orton wasn't really mad at Regal at all. Or maybe it was a case of Regal doing this intentionally and then convincing Orton later that this was his plan all along. The real reason was never made clear, but overall, this little story worked. Orton was good in his interview with Grisham. Even better was how Grisham was given the opportunity to ask more than one question.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 8 [up 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Randy Orton: Dusty & Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, Cena & Triple H
Triple H: King Booker, Umaga, Jeff Hardy, Orton & JBL

JOHN CENA vs. JBL (6 weeks)

JBL cut a promo in the back about how nobody really knows what life is like for him as a rich CEO. He said that he wanted to give people an idea of how he lives by inviting the camera into his limo. As we rode with him to the entrance ramp, he looked cramped. He said that he was also going to give us a preview of Judgment Day when he squares off against John Cena. The match JBL referred to as a preview was really a squash match against D.H. Smith. It ended when Layfield hit Smith with the Clothesline from Hell for the decisive victory. After the match, JBL attacked Smith with a barrage of punches and kicks in the corner. A group of referees had to convince JBL that it was enough before he left the ring.

Although WWE should be applauded for their attempt to allow regular people to observe JBL's posh lifestyle, they could have done a better job. All we really got to see was JBL cramped in a limo as he explained things to us. Perhaps a video package depicting highlights of everything he was saying would have been more comprehensive. Or maybe each week they could have JBL do some type of small scene that shows us what life is like as a millionaire. A short ride in the limo was unique, but it didn't make people say, "Wow, what a life! And why does that jerk deserve it?" (which was clearly the intention). As for the squash match, it was effective in displaying the fierce side of Layfield's character. He really pummeled D.H. Smith after the match, which really sold his tough-guy attitude.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 6.5 [up 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
JBL: Chris Jericho, Finlay, Triple H & Orton
John Cena: Edge, Umaga, Bobby Lashley, Orton & Triple H

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. CHRIS JERICHO vs. BATISTA (6 weeks)

William Regal met with Chris Jericho backstage. Regal asked Y2J if he really believes that Michaels is faking his knee injury. Jericho responded in the affirmative, so Regal booked him to team up with Michaels later in the show to face WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz. "If Shawn Michaels is 100%," Regal stated, "you have nothing to worry about, have you?" Jericho sneered at the comment before leaving.

Later in the back, Jericho met with Michaels to talk about their match. He started by referring to HBK as Shakespeare. Michaels responded, "Look Chris. You can doubt me all you want; Batista can threaten me all he wants, but the fact is I'm hurt. But I'll do my best out there. You got my word on that." The match featuring Jericho and Michaels against Morrison & Miz ended when Michaels was able to hit Sweet Chin Music on Morrison; he then collapsed in pain. Jericho followed up with a Lionsault for the successful three count. After the match, HBK hobbled to the back while Jericho looked on with some confusion on his face.

There was some nice progression for this storyline this week. In the first scene with Regal and Jericho, there was a slight sense of doubt on Jericho's face when Regal booked him in the match to prove that Michaels was faking. The match itself ended with Jericho nonverbally questioning whether Michaels is feigning that injury. Jericho was so sure of it last week, going as far as holding a ceremony to award HBK for his acting ability. This week, Jericho left the ring perplexed, much like the audience.

Not only do we have to see where Batista fits into all of this, but as viewers, real questions are beginning to emerge for us to figure out. Unlike many cases where viewers are given more information than other characters, this storyline has us playing the judge. Is Michaels really hurt or is he still faking? He was able to hit the Super Kick again, but he did appear very hurt afterward. Do you believe Jericho? And might Michaels have good reason to lie or fake an injury? Intriguing…

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 8.5 [up 0.5 since Smackdown]

Previous Feuds
Batista: Edge, The Great Khali, Undertaker, Umaga
Shawn Michaels: Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Ric Flair
Chris Jericho: Randy Orton, JBL, Jeff Hardy, Money in the Bank

MR. KENNEDY vs. WILLIAM REGAL (2 weeks)

Mr. McMahon, after a long absence from any of his three TV shows, opened Raw to respond to what he described as many phone calls and emails to WWE Headquarters concerning William Regal's actions last week. After briefly hinting that he was angry, McMahon soon called Regal's decision to pull Raw from the air during a main event WWE Championship Match innovating, daring, and visionary. "William Regal reminds me of, well, he reminds me a lot of me!" McMahon said proudly. He then said that he supported William Regal 100% and thanked the fans for listening.

Regal then came out to talk about how he is demanding respect or else he will turn out the lights at his discretion. When the crowd chanted against Regal, he ordered the lights be turned off. After a few seconds in darkness, he had them put back on to show that he is in control of the show. Suddenly, Mr. Kennedy came out. He told Regal to prove that he's better by facing him in a match. In response, Regal booked Kennedy in a main event match where he'd have to face the entire ECW roster. Then Triple H, angry about how Regal stopped his match from finishing last week, confronted Regal, so Regal added Triple H to the main event. It would be Triple H and Mr. Kennedy vs. the ECW roster. In another decision later in the show, Regal replaced Jim Ross with Mike Adamle for the Paul Burchill and Katie Lea matchup.

Just before the main event, Regal met with the ECW roster for a quick pep talk. He said that he would not turn out the lights, but anything other than victory would be considered a huge disappointment. He said that their win tonight would not only mean a loss for Kennedy and Triple H, but it would also mean that nobody should disrespect William Regal. The main event eventually took place, and it ended with victory for the ECW roster. Kane was taken out by Bam Neely, which allowed Chavo to hit a frog splash on Mr. Kennedy for the three count. After the match, things broke down with random ECW wrestlers fighting each other, and then people like Tommy Dreamer helped to hurt Triple H. The Game soon grabbed a chair and cleared the ring by hitting Dreamer, Morrison, Nunzio, Knox, and even CM Punk. Suddenly, the lights went out again, and when they returned, Orton surprised Triple H with an RKO to close the show.

Regal's new role should be considered strong because there is finally some real, almost tangible power inherent in Regal's position as both General Manager and King of WWE. They can't simply have him booking matches; after all, that's basically all the power he had as GM. Being "King of all the WWE" should mean something. So, now he's tweaking all sorts of various things. Personally adding Mike Adamle to commentary for one matchup didn't make fans happy, and neither did turning out the lights three times.

Even Regal's motives are known: he refuses to be disrespected after all his years in WWE. That's actually what prompted him to replace Ross with Adamle for one segment. Fans are going to look forward to Mr. Kennedy stopping Regal; after all, this is not just affecting their storyline. In fact, it's leaking into the entire show, including the main event feud. WWE has maneuvered this as one of their key programs, and it can really benefit Kennedy when he finally turns the tables on Regal.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7.5 [up 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Mr. Kennedy: Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels
William Regal: n/a

WWE Women's Champion MICKIE JAMES & MARIA & CHERRY & MICHELLE McCOOL & KELLY KELLY & ASHLEY vs. BETH PHOENIX & MELINA & VICTORIA & NATALYA & JILLIAN & LAYLA (3 weeks)

This week, Mickie James went one-on-one with Beth Phoenix for the WWE Women's Championship. The other divas still involved in this feud—all ten of them—acted as lumberjacks for the title match. When Mickie was thrown out of the ring, the heel divas attacked her like piranha. The same situation took place when The Glamazon rolled out of the ring. The match ended when the referee was distracted by Maria, who was pulled into the ring by Phoenix. During that time, Melina revved up to hit Mickie with her boot, but she accidentally cracked Phoenix over the head with it, allowing Mickie to roll her up for the 1-2-3. After the match, Mickie celebrated up the ramp with the other babyfaces while a stunned and angered Glamazon, along with her heel cohorts, glared at them.

The Lumberjack Women's Title Match was a clever way to keep all twelve women feuding for the third week in a row. This is a cumbersome storyline to handle because of all of the women involved. They can't simply have tag team matches every week on Raw. At the same time, Mickie James and Beth Phoenix are also feuding individually within this massive group. The problem here is that we don't really know the stakes for anyone besides Mickie and Phoenix. Why do people like Melina, a haughty heel herself, support Beth Phoenix instead of going after the gold on her own? It's understandable for the babyfaces to be supportive and caring, but less so for the heels. Perhaps this will eventually lead to a huge Women's Championship Match featuring all twelve divas gunning for the gold. That would be interesting.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 6 [up 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Mickie James: Melina, Beth Phoenix
Maria: Beth Phoenix & Melina & Santino Marella
Cherry: Victoria & Natalya
Michelle McCool: Victoria, Chuck Palumbo, Victoria & Natalya
Kelly Kelly: Miz, Layla, Victoria
Ashley: Beth Phoenix & Melina & Santino Marella
Beth Phoenix: Candice Michelle, Mickie James, Maria, Mickie James
Melina: Candice Michelle
Victoria: Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool & Cherry
Natalya: Michelle McCool & Cherry
Jillian: n/a
Layla: Kelly Kelly

SANTINO MARELLA & CARLITO vs. World Tag Team Champions HARDCORE HOLLY & CODY RHODES (5 weeks)

During Carlito's Cabana, Carlito ran footage of last week where Santino bumped into Roddy Piper in the back thinking he was a WWE Diva. Piper ended the segment by slapping Santino in the face. This week, Carlito called out Piper to clear the air. Piper referred to Santino as a Super Mario Brother and said that he handled the situation his own way—with a slap. Carlito said that if he were there, he would have slapped Piper back for hitting his tag team partner. Suddenly, Santino Marella showed up. He threw some insults at Piper, who came back with a remark about Santino needing a designated driver. When things looked like they were about to break down, Cody Rhodes came out, and he brought Cryme Tyme with him. The heels fled, and the babyfaces celebrated in song and dance in the ring.

Well, this feud is just everywhere with very little organization. Where was Hardcore Holly this week? Is Cryme Tyme likely to start feuding with Santino and Carlito? And where does Rowdy Roddy Piper fit into all of this? At first, it looked like WWE was setting up a Piper-Santino singles feud. Now with Cryme Tyme in the fray and Hardcore Holly absent this week, it almost appears like there's a shift in the storyline. I guess only time will tell for this one.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5.5 [same as last week]

Previous Feuds
Santino Marella: Umaga, Ron Simmons, Val Venis, Steve Austin, Maria
Carlito: Triple H, Money in the Bank
Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes: Santino Marella & Carlito

LANCE CADE vs. TREVOR MURDOCH (4 weeks w/ 2 weeks hiatus)

In the back, Trevor Murdoch was singing. Trish Stratus made a special appearance, but couldn't find the words when reacting to Murdoch's voice. Suddenly, Ron Simmons walked in, paused briefly, and screamed, "Damn!" This storyline didn't get anymore airtime. Lance Cade didn't appear in any segment, and nothing was done to advance the story since last week's curious events.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 5.5 [down 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Trevor Murdoch: n/a
Lance Cade: n/a


POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) Santino Marella vs. Roddy Piper
(2) Paul Burchill & Katie Lea vs. ?
(3) Cryme Tyme vs. Santino Marella & Carlito


Thanks for reading, everyone. If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, feel free to email me at newthtorch@hotmail.com. I greatly appreciate all the feedback that I receive, and I will respond to every email. Please insert a word in the subject line that deals with a wrestling topic or write something such as "WWE," "feud," or "Charlie Haas" so that I know it's not junk mail.

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