By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE Monday Night Raw
November 24, 2008
Upcoming PPV: Armageddon (third-to-last episode before PPV)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the sixty-fifth 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)


As is usual the day after a major PPV, WWE used Raw to reshuffle some of the existing feuds in order to begin newer, fresher rivalries. As a result, you'll notice a longer list of potential feuds.


World Hvt. Champion JOHN CENA vs. CHRIS JERICHO (2 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Chris Jericho defeated Batista and Randy Orton in a Triple Threat match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship after dropkicking Batista in the head and stealing a pin cover on an unconscious Orton.

-Jericho cut a promo about how he was able to take back the title from Batista in eight days and that he predicted a similar feat against John Cena. Cena cut him off from a different part of the arena as he was surrounded by enthusiastic fans.

-Cena eventually walked to the ring and confronted Jericho. He heavily praised the fans, crediting them for keeping WWE alive. He told Jericho that the thing that makes him most angry is when Jericho insults the WWE Universe.

-Cena then beat Jericho with a barrage of punches and clotheslines. He whipped Jericho into turnbuckles, steel steps, and the crowd barrier. He launched Jericho over the announce table and later applied his STFU until Jericho's face adopted a bright red tinge.

-As Cena stood over an unconscious Jericho, Kane was shown backstage observing the assault.

Analysis:

This was a really strong week for Raw's main event rivalry. Of course, Cena's return made a big impact as he quickly resumed the role of the brand's top babyface. I don't think that Cena's current state is much different from the one he held before; he's just more focused than before. WWE didn't change him, they just refined him. He's like a magnified version of his former self, and the result is quite emphatic. As a character, Cena now represents fans—normal people of all backgrounds. He personifies what a WWE fan is, and his arguments about what they believe and why they support the company seemed heartfelt and personal. That's a powerful message, and it allows deep resonance with a lot of people who can more than easily relate to Cena because he blatantly opens himself up to them for that.

As for Jericho, he played his role well too. If Cena's return is going to be successful, it's going to have to rely on a dependable, well-rounded heel character. Jericho is one of Raw's two best heels, and his long-running feud with Shawn Michaels proved that he's one of the company's all-around top talents. His winning contention for the World Title was appropriate and warranted. It made narrative sense. Now he can continue the feud with Cena in the coming weeks (and possibly months) in an attempt to again reach the level of prominence and excitement that a Jericho-HBK storyline once brought. This week was a great start.

On a side note, I don't expect Kane to play a major role in this storyline despite his scheduled matchup with Cena next Monday night. He will likely be the heel monster fodder Cena needs to get his first big win on television after returning from injury. Once that's done, he'll have the in-ring momentum he needs to face Jericho for a nice rematch on PPV. It wouldn't be surprising to see Jericho get involved next week, though (whether before, during, or after the match with Kane is over).

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 8.5 [up 1.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Chris Jericho: Randy Orton, JBL, Jeff Hardy, Money in the Bank, Shawn Michaels
John Cena: Edge, Umaga, Bobby Lashley, Orton & Triple H, JBL, Triple H, JBL, Batista

RANDY ORTON vs. BATISTA (3 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Batista spoke with Todd Grisham in the back about how exciting it was for John Cena to win the World Heavyweight Title at Survivor Series in his hometown. He also said that the thing he wants most in this world is to be champion again.

-As mentioned above, Batista and Randy Orton both lost to an opportunistic Chris Jericho when Jericho capitalized on the situation, pinning Orton after Batista gave him a spear.

Analysis:

This Orton-Batista rivalry is all over the map, or maybe it's not on the map at all. It's difficult to pinpoint their rivalry because one could arguably make the case that they don't really have a consistent one. Sure, they've expressed their problems with one another, and this week they both fought in a Number One Contender's Match, but progression may be nonexistent. Jericho's win this week could be seen as a win for Batista over Randy Orton. After all, if Batista's cover had not been broken, he would have clearly won the match (since we know Jericho's cover was successful). Where does this leave Orton and Batista? That question is probably easier to answer if you're talking about Orton, as you'll see below. Overall, this feud is too vague and too halfhearted. You'd think if WWE really wanted to push a full-blown Orton-Batista rivalry, they'd make it huge. The fact that they have not indicates that they have other plans for these two.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7 [down 0.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Randy Orton: John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, Cena & Triple H, Triple H
Batista: Great Khali, Undertaker, MVP, Umaga, Shawn Michaels, Edge, CM Punk, John Cena

RANDY ORTON vs. CODY RHODES (w/ Manu) (8 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Cody Rhodes and Manu observed Orton's match from backstage.

-Later in the show, Orton quietly walked past Rhodes and Manu; they exchanged intense glances.

Analysis:

WWE continues to place heavy hints throughout the show that a Rhodes-Orton match is imminent. It feels, however, like Orton's current issues with Cody Rhodes, Manu, and Ted DiBiase are hindering the Orton-Batista rivalry. And because WWE hasn't quite committed to one single feud for Randy Orton, both may be suffering as a result. Orton's time and attention just doesn't seem to be focused on one person or one rivalry. The added layers and complexity of such a situation could be handled effectively, but I'm not sure that is the case here. There just doesn't seem to be fire in the Orton-Batista battle, and the Orton-Rhodes storyline feels like it hasn't officially begun since there's been no in-ring bout between the two yet. On the other hand, this slow, deliberate build for their first match is keeping the intrigue high.

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

Previous Feuds
Randy Orton: John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, Cena & Triple H, Triple H
Ted DiBiase, Jr.: Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes, Cryme Tyme
Cody Rhodes: Santino Marella & Carlito, Ted DiBiase, Jr., Cryme Tyme

SHANE McMAHON vs. STEPHANIE McMAHON (4 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Shane arrived at the arena just in time to run out to the stage and announce a Number One Contender's Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Jericho vs. Batista. He was soon interrupted by Stephanie's music.

-Stephanie added Randy Orton to the match, making it a Triple Threat. Stephanie and her brother argued lightly with one another on stage just outside the range of the microphones. As Stephanie began to announce the next match, Shane literally stepped in front of her to finish the thought.

-Stephanie, completely fed up at this point, told Shane that it was her show to run and that he should leave. She said that he might run the corporation, but she runs the show. When Shane made a comment about her sleeping with another wrestler, she pulled out one of her signature slaps. Shane then left after telling her that he's going to watch her run the show into the ground.

Analysis:

Well, WWE pulled the trigger on this one after one month of hinting at the sibling split. It's interesting to see the level of reality they're using here with Stephanie and Shane making their positions in the company clear—Stephanie handling the creative side while Shane should stick to the business side. It all broke down when Stephanie told her brother, "I would have told you about it sooner, but I know how much you love surprises." It was a clear dig at what happened a few weeks ago when Shane refused to tell her his big idea about the Survivor Series PPV.

Now the problems are officially out in the open, so the big question is where everything goes from here. The assumption is that Shane's words may eventually become reality. His prediction of Stephanie running the show into the ground may one day in the future become realized. But how will that work and what kind of a message are they trying to send? Is Stephanie going to turn heel again for this to work? I can't really imagine a situation where a babyface Stephanie completely messes up or is bogged down with issues that she can't fully handle. Maybe things will gradually change her character; she had most success as a heel anyway. But this new prediction by Shane McMahon coupled with the one Jericho told her last week about what would happen when Cena returns (especially if he wins the World Title) makes the situation very curious…and intriguing.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7.5 [up 1.5 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Shane McMahon: n/a
Stephanie McMahon: n/a

SHAWN MICHAELS vs. JBL (5 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Shawn Michaels teamed with Rey Mysterio to face Miz and Morrison. The match ended when Mysterio used a sunset flip powerbomb on Miz at the turnbuckle for the win.

-During the match, JBL made his usual limo entrance, but it was only afterward that he got involved. Morrison held Michaels to ostensibly help JBL inflict more damage to HBK. But Layfield surprised Morrison by kicking him to the ground instead. JBL left the ring without touching Michaels.

-In the back, Todd Grisham caught up to JBL to ask him what happened. JBL told him cryptically that he and Michaels talked about some sort of agreement earlier in the day that Michaels is considering, and his attack on Morrison was a way to ensure that the deal goes through.

Analysis:

What an odd situation this was. That agreement needs to be really impressive and believable (for both sides) in order for this storyline to work properly because it doesn't make much sense for JBL's character to put aside his personal distaste for someone unless there's something big in it for him. The easy assumption to make is that this whole thing involves some kind of monetary incentive for Layfield. He even used the word "transaction" during his brief chat with Todd Grisham—a chat, by the way, that sounded a lot like the tone of a press conference with JBL having a prepared mental statement ready. It also looks like Miz and Morrison may continue a feud with Mysterio and Shawn Michaels. Next week Rey will compete against The Miz in the Intercontinental Championship tournament, and it also looks like a Morrison-HBK rivalry might be getting underway too. This JBL-HBK feud may be transitioning to that.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7 [up 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Shawn Michaels: Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, Ric Flair, Batista & Jericho
JBL: Chris Jericho, Finlay, Triple H & Orton, John Cena, CM Punk

Intercontinental Champion WILLIAM REGAL vs. CM PUNK (1 week)

Summary Quick Shots:

-CM Punk beat Snitsky to advance in the Intercontinental Title tournament by hitting the Go 2 Sleep for the victory.

-After the match, Regal clapped as he stared down the man who could potentially win the tournament and fight him for the title.

Analysis:

This feud's potential lies in the history between these two guys. Regal noted their past rivalry when he defeated Punk to become the King of the Ring earlier this year. And it's also important to remember that William Regal was taken out of one of the Traditional Survivor Series Matches by CM Punk quite quickly last Sunday. I'm going to take Regal's word and list this as a feud. After all, he told Cole and Lawler on commentary, "I think it's a psychic sense that I've got: Me and this young man [Punk] are going to have a feud for the ages."

The best part of this rivalry is the relationship between these two. After the match, Regal said that he was proud of CM Punk and he applauded. The clapping and congratulations didn't seem to be done in a mocking sense. It was a really interesting dynamic, as if Regal sees something huge in a competition with Punk—as if he could benefit from it too. It sounds like he genuinely wants CM Punk to be a success. There didn't seem to be the usual hatred or anger that Regal usually carries with him. It was a refreshing change.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7

Previous Feuds
William Regal: Mr. Kennedy, Jamie Noble, Santino Marella
CM Punk: Elijah Burke, John Morrison, Chavo Guerrero, Morrison & Miz, Batista, JBL


CONCLUDED FEUDS

(1) Randy Orton vs. Batista?
(2) Shawn Michaels vs. JBL?
(3) Santino Marella vs. William Regal
(4) Raw Divas vs. Smackdown Divas


POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) JBL vs. John Morrison
(2) Mr. Kennedy vs. ?
(3) Kane vs. Kofi Kingston
(4) Kane vs. John Cena
(5) Kofi Kingston vs. William Regal
(6) Santino Marella vs. Goldust
(7) Rey Mysterio vs. Mike Knox
(8) Melina vs. ?
(9) John Cena vs. Kane


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 "Val Venis" so that I know it's not junk mail.

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