By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE Monday Night Raw
January 12, 2009
Upcoming PPV: Royal Rumble (second-to-last episode before PPV)

RAW STORYLINES AND FEUDS

Welcome to the sixty-ninth 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)


World Hvt. Champion JOHN CENA vs. JBL (w/ Shawn Michaels) (3 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-JBL sat next to Shawn Michaels inside his limo in what seemed to be an uncomfortable moment. Layfield told Michaels that because he won't be participating in the Royal Rumble and will not be going to WrestleMania that he should consider this episode of Raw his WrestleMania.

-JBL met with HBK in the locker room to discuss Michaels's upcoming matchup with John Cena. Michaels said that if this was his WrestleMania, then he wouldn't need JBL in his corner to win.

-When Grisham interviewed John Cena about the Royal Rumble, Cena claimed it was the most exciting PPV WWE has all year. What if Grisham then said, "Even more exciting than WrestleMania?" Cena went on with a serious tone about how good HBK is and how JBL has bought the best.

-In Raw's main event, John Cena fought Shawn Michaels in a big match with various near falls and surprising kick-outs. The match ended when JBL formed a mild distraction, granting Michaels the opportunity to catch Cena with another Super Kick and make the cover for a successful pinfall.

Analysis:

WWE is ramping up their main event feud with some gutsy momentum that all emanated from inside the ring Monday night between John Cena and Shawn Michaels. It's unusual to see such a high-caliber matchup on free TV the way WWE treated fans this week. According to Wade Keller, that match reached a substantial four stars, which certainly elevates the tension and emotion that has been placed upon the characters involved in this rivalry. Everyone had an important role to play here, and they all succeeded flawlessly.

JBL seems like a behind-the-scenes guy who's pulling the strings without involving himself too directly in this battle against John Cena. If the goal is to make him out to be perfectly fresh for the Royal Rumble while Michaels handles the dirty work and slowly breaks down Cena over the course of a few weeks leading to the PPV, then they are on the right track. If anything is coming out of this story beyond the internal struggle Michaels is currently undergoing, it's that Cena's biggest threat right now is exhaustion and fatigue. If he is battered by the time the Rumble rolls around, his chances against a fresh JBL (with Shawn Michaels as the wildcard at ringside) might be slim, at least in narrative terms.

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

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

Raw General Manager STEPHANIE McMAHON vs. CHRIS JERICHO (3 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Stephanie McMahon kicked off Raw by reminding us that Mr. McMahon was returning to the show next week. Jericho, however, decided to interrupt her. When Stephanie told Jericho to prepare for his match later, Jericho indignantly refused, claiming that he would not listen to what she has to say anymore.

-Stephanie promptly fired Jericho on the spot, leaving him speechless.

Analysis:

I can't see too much happening here. Two possibilities vividly stand out in my mind in terms of the direction this one could take. One would be for Mr. McMahon to intervene and re-hire Jericho back to Raw, which would inevitably cause some narrative friction between him and Stephanie. The other option—and the one I'd opt for—is to have Mr. McMahon or Vickie Guerrero sign him to a Smackdown contract.

That would basically serve as a creative way to shift a high-tier player like Chris Jericho to a different brand. They can't reposition him on a different show under the radar like they did when they inexplicably moved Paul and Katie Lea Burchill from Raw to ECW a few weeks ago, so this could be a good opportunity to refresh the rosters with one big move. In any case, we may find out what becomes of Jericho next Monday. Mr. McMahon may address the issue since it's been enveloping so much of Stephanie's time in the last few weeks.

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 7.5

Previous Feuds
Stephanie McMahon: n/a
Chris Jericho: Randy Orton, JBL, Jeff Hardy, Money in the Bank, Shawn Michaels, John Cena

RANDY ORTON'S FACTION (3 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Manu and Sim Snuka met with Cody Rhodes in the back to warn him that he would have to make a decision because they were planning to attack Randy Orton (and they were bringing another second-generation wrestler as backup).

-Randy Orton defeated Kane in what was a controversial win. Kane jumped off the top rope with his signature clothesline, but Orton caught him midair with a kick to the chest. However, during the cover, it looked as though Kane may have lifted his shoulder before the three count.

-After the match, Manu and Snuka brought out Ted DiBiase as their backup. All three men circled Orton inside the ring, and Rhodes seemed to do the same. But suddenly, Orton, Rhodes, and DiBiase viciously blindsided Snuka and Manu with an extensive attack.

-Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes congratulated each other in the back for the successful coup. They contemplated the Royal Rumble, but Orton reminded them that only one man can actually win that match.

Analysis:

The twist in the storyline was likely surprising to many WWE fans simply because it's logical to believe that Ted DiBiase would be furious about Randy Orton's Punt Kick, which took him out of WWE for months (in the injury-based storyline). In reality, I think DiBiase was shooting a WWE film, which makes his return as a heel even more intriguing. Would WWE promote a movie using a heel character? Probably not, so perhaps a babyface turn should be expected in a long-term revenge plot for DiBiase against Randy Orton.

In any case, this feud is evolving nicely. Last week seemed odd because Orton decided to accept only Cody Rhodes into the group, which really made it a team of two, not a group. But this week rounded out the faction as a potentially dangerous and successful trio. It would only be natural for Manu and Sim Snuka to continue the rivalry from here, at least for a little while. They'd likely need to find another guy to even the odds. Maybe WWE will bring in D.H. Smith, who's technically on the Smackdown brand but who would fit nicely there.

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

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

Intercontinental Champion WILLIAM REGAL vs. CM PUNK (8 weeks w/ 1 week hiatus)

Summary Quick Shots:

-In a re-match for the Intercontinental Championship, CM Punk was disqualified when he appeared to have hit Regal with a low blow. The referee called for the bell, and Regal was able to retain his title.

-Todd Grisham interviewed William Regal backstage to ask him if he was satisfied with his win over Punk via DQ. Regal answered in the affirmative.

-Stephanie McMahon then walked into the frame and told Regal that he'd be facing Punk one last time for the Intercontinental Title next week in a No Disqualification Match.

Analysis:

Well, the third week's the apparent charm. Isn't it interesting that WWE didn't book the rubber match for the Royal Rumble, which is only two weeks away? Maybe they want Punk and Regal to take part in the Rumble Match itself, but with all the hype the Intercontinental Title has received over the past month, it may have been a nice move to place the prestigious title on the line on PPV. However, Stephanie might argue (in her usual, logical fashion) that because the original IC Title match was supposed to be featured on Raw, it's only fair that this re-match of a re-match take place on free TV as well.

It was fun watching Regal try to run away with the title this week after personally declaring victory despite the controversial finish. It was as if he was perfectly content with the idea that he and Punk had definitively settled things. This feud could end as early as next week, but that's probably unlikely. Whatever happens, look for the residual effects to creep into the Royal Rumble Match itself.

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

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

REY MYSTERIO vs. MIKE KNOX (2 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz in singles competition after hitting the 619 and following it up with a top rope splash.

-After the match, Mike Knox launched his now obligatory weekly attack on Rey, mauling Mysterio with a barrage of punches and kicks. Rey, however, managed to catch Knox in a head scissors and throw him out of the ring with a hurricanrana.

Analysis:

The difference between this week's events and the ones that transpired over the past few weeks between Rey and Knox is that Mysterio finally got the upper-hand in these seemingly personal battles. Knox usually tries to find a weak point to attack—whether that be during Mysterio's entrance or after a match has taken place. The attacks are always unexpected, and Rey's unsuspecting disposition gives him that inherent moral high ground in all of this—not that Mysterio even needs one as perhaps WWE's purest babyface. But this week achieved something despite the idea that very little actually happened: Mysterio now recognizes Knox as a legitimate enemy and is prepared to do battle. The fact that Rey tossed Knox to ringside and then protected the ring with caution shows that he's finally ready to do something about this threat. It was an important step.

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

Previous Feuds
Rey Mysterio: Chavo Guerrero, Finlay, MVP, Edge, Kane
Mike Knox: Kelly Kelly, Tommy Dreamer, Evan Bourne, Finlay

WWE Women's Champion BETH PHOENIX (w/ Santino Marella) vs. MELINA (8 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-A match had been set. It was supposed to be Beth Phoenix and Jillian Hall versus Kelly Kelly and Melina, but things went heavily array when Melina was attacked during her entrance by Rosa Mendez, who was disguised as one of her paparazzi.

-After officials grabbed Rosa and dragged her to the back, but Beth and Jillian initiated an assault because they weren't above taking advantage of the situation Rosa left them.

Analysis:

WWE continues to form an interesting introduction for this new diva. Of course, it will have to become official at some point. Either Mr. McMahon or Stephanie will likely make a decision in the next few weeks to hire the psychologically-scarred, obsessive, and violent Rosa simply to stop her from attacking Melina in an illegal manner. It was smart to take her out of the crowd this week because it would simply be unbelievable to accept the idea that WWE keeps letting her buy front-row seats to every Raw event. Lawler even pointed that out last week.

However, if they continue to come up with creative ways for Rosa to spring to life out of nowhere and assault Melina, it will certainly make her official storyline hire that much more memorable and worthwhile. As for the Melina-Phoenix rivalry, it has undoubtedly become an afterthought. The real focus is on the crazy woman that keeps clawing at Melina. Rosa may be helping Beth in the storyline narrative, but she certainly isn't in reality by taking all of this focus off The Glamazon.

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

Previous Feuds
Beth Phoenix: Mickie James, Maria, Mickie James, Melina, Mickie James, Candice Michelle
Melina: Mickie James, Candice Michelle, Beth Phoenix

KANE vs. KELLY KELLY (4 weeks)

Summary Quick Shots:

-Kane lost to Randy Orton in singles competition, but the pinfall finish was shrouded in controversy since he apparently lifted his shoulder before the three count without the ref noticing.

Analysis:

Nothing happened this week to forward this storyline. And now that Kane has lost to the man he was supposed to not only defeat but also dismantle for hurting Kelly the way he did, where does he go from here?

Intrigue Level (out of 10): 4.5 [down 1 since last week]

Previous Feuds
Kane: Benjamin, Chuck Palumbo, Chavo Guerrero, Miz & Morrison, Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio
Kelly Kelly: Mike Knox, Miz, Layla, Victoria, Jillian


CONCLUDED FEUDS

(1) Stephanie McMahon vs. Chris Jericho?
(2) Kane vs. Kelly Kelly?


POTENTIAL FEUDS

(1) John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
(2) Stephanie McMahon vs. Mr. McMahon
(3) Ted DiBiase vs. Randy Orton


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 "Hardcore Holly" so that I know it's not junk mail.

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