Select Next Article by Category

WE ARE A PROUD UGO AFFILIATE SINCE 1999
|
Torch Feedback
WWE Raw Reax #1: "Why is it that John Cena gets his WWE Championship shot before WrestleMania?"
Jan 29, 2008 - 1:37:24 PM |
|
Ryan Nichols of Indianapolis, Ind. (8.0): Best Match: DX vs. Umaga & Snitsky. Worst Match: McMahon and Hornswoggle segment. I thought, overall, Raw was very good and did a good job following up on the Royal Rumble. WWE, in continuing its tradition of not giving the fans what they want seems to be ready to force another long Cena title run on us. He may sell a lot of t-shirts, but he certainly does not deserve the main push. You have to wonder what the outcome of the title match at the Royal Rumble would have been if Cena did not come back early from his injury. Jeff Hardy continued to be very good on the mic last night and very good in his match. The hints that Jeff Hardy's push is over were certainly there. Jericho and Hardy could not get a win over JBL and Orton, but Cena, still recovering from an injury, scares JBL away and destroys Orton with one move. John Cena is not Steve Austin; they should really quit pushing him like he is. Santino was again brilliant on the microphone. Melina vs. Maria was good for what is was. Jericho also deserves mention for his microphone time. He is doing a really good job of putting over his anger towards JBL. If only that would translate in the ring, they might really have something. The setting up of the No Way Out match between Orton and Cena was nice, but it seems like a desperate move to get Cena in the main event at WrestleMania. The Elimination Chamber match is also going to be good, as they always are, but we all know Triple H is walking away with the win there. That's not a bad thing, it is just very predictable.
Ryan of Hugo, Minn.: Best Match: The Main Event. Worst Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Carlito (Can't stand Cody Rhodes right now, but he does have potential). Cena must feel like Boy Band member. The only pops he gets are from teenie boppers. He did shock the world yesterday, but it seemed like the crowd was back to treating like they did prior to his injury. I still think they might as well turn him heel. If the new Stone Cold DVD does well, can Shark Boy take credit? That could be a great buy, though. Is it just me, or does Mike Adamle give some credibility to the Raw interview guy position. He doesn't make me wanna stick nails in my ears. Nice change of pace. I really wish they'd get rid of that spinner belt. It matches up with Cena, but other than that, it really has lost its appeal. I am looking forward to the Elimination Chamber, even though it seems highly likely that Triple H will be the eventual winner. Kinda like how Regal has stuck with the Umanga thing. I wonder how long it will take Cody Rhodes to "get with the program" have the "look" of the other major stars. Gotta have a DX appearence in a while to sell some shirt. Seriously, how do they get Snitsky's teeth that yellow and does he have to maintain acne for his gimmick? With Hornswoggle so over, I am curious to see where this angle continues to go. It's too bad the powers at be weren't willing to put the WWE strap on Hardy. He's seemed to have earned it... and he seems to be the most OVER guy on Raw. Oh, and the IC Title belt... hate it... looks like a woman's title. The Jericho-JBL feud has so much potential. Two great guys on the mic and two great wrestlers. Does the limo thing still work on Raw? I mean it drives like two feet. I have no idea how the two teams switched corners. Is that even "legal"? Or maybe they started out that way and I wasn't paying attention. But not a bad match. We kinda have an idea of where they are headed with WrestleMania plans. Still don't know whose gonna retire Flair. I was kinda wishing to see Big Show, just to see how much weight he's lost and to see what direction he'll be headed in. I love this time a year. The "playoffs" going into WrestleMania!
Bryant Mooney of Stamford, Conn. (5.0): Best Match: JBL/Orton vs. Hardy/Jericho Worst Match: Carlito vs. Cody Rhodes. I thought last night was a very average show. I thought that John Cena coming back so soon would hurt the Raw brand in which I thought that Raw has been good without him, but it was not that bad. He went through with the story and it drew out very well. This is what I don't understand. Why is it that John Cena gets his WWE Championship shot before WrestleMania while most of the previous winners of the Royal Rumble Match had to wait until WrestleMania, but since he's John Cena he gets his shot early? I don't think that's right. The opening match between Ashley/Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix/Jillian Hall was a pretty basic but decent divas match. There was great sequences including Beth Phoenix mocking Mickie in the beginning by fake crying and also that Mickie refused to tag Ashley which I thought was great because I didn't really want to see her wrestle and it was great for the storyline that Mickie is unsuccessful in her quest to beat Beth. I thought the announcing of the Elimination Chamber was very anti-climatic because I was expecting a Beat The Clock type of sprint to determine the six contenders instead of just announcing the competitors in the match, but when you have three weeks to promote the PPV maybe it was for the best. Carlito vs. Cody Rhodes was just plain uninteresting and I was actually trying to get into the match, but I just couldn't. The finshing move being missed by the camera made it even worse. It just didn't click with me. DX vs. Snitsky/Umaga was a very typical type of match. It was a way to get the crowd hyped and into the show. Shawn Michaels gets beat down most of the match while Triple H comes in and cleans house. The beginning with Triple H asking for a toothbrush and gum was hilarious. Mr. Kennedy vs. Brian Kendrick was a better squash than their previous meeting a few months back where Kendrick got absolutely no offense in. After the match when Ric Flair appeared, I thought we would've got a much longer promo from Flair but him telling Kennedy "Good Luck" and "Whooo" was alright, but I expected more. When Maria vs. Melina started, I initially thought we didn't need another divas match for the night, but I thought that for the time that it was given that Maria was shockingly impressive. I'm not saying by WrestleMania she should face Beth Phoenix, but she tried to make it work. The ending was very off and I feel bad that a good diva like Melina who can wrestle got easily done in by Maria, but Melina is not the one doing Playboy so go figure. The main event was a pretty decent main event, but not very memorable. It was the best match by default. It was good to see that Randy Orton didn't botch the RKO like four years ago during that same spot. John Cena coming in at the end was a typical sequence: he comes in, attacks his opponent, nails the FU (Orton sold the move very well), and he closes the show. They did good by not showing too much John Cena and focusing on the show, but the show over all was less than satisfying.
We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "Raw Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on Raw, click here.
For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA, ROH
visit our affiliate: JASON POWELL'S PROWRESTLING.NET
For UFC AND MMA NEWS & BLOGS
visit our affiliate: MMATORCH.COM - now featuring Jamie Penick's MMATorch Daily Audio Updates!
REACT TO THIS STORY IN OUR FREE PWTORCH FORUM
PWTORCH VIP SIGN-UP INFO - NO ADS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
|
| MORE "Torch Feedback" ARTICLES
|
(c) 1999-2008 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.
|
|
 |
| PWTorch Free Podcast |
| 12/1 WWE Raw post-game Show: Caldwell and Parks discuss Jericho beat down on John Cena, show filled with missing chapters (7 min. clip) |
| 11/29 Real Deal with Pat McNeill Audio: Torch Awards Preview, Slammys, LAX vs. Briscoes & More (5 min clip) |
| 11/29 Radican Audio Showcase with Burgan: Radican live at Survivor Series, WWE in-depth, TNA Angle DVD (Free 10 min. clip) |
| 11/29 East Coast Audio: Smackdown - Thankful for Edge return, not thankful for Beat the Clock, Show vs. Taker (7 min. clip) |
| 11/28 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - Young Lions get a name, Too much Triple Threat, Turkeys (7 min. clip) |
| 11/26 East Coast Audio: ECW - Jack Swagger's star-making match, D.J. won't stop dancing, Boogey at the dentist (7 min. clip) |
 |
ARE YOU VIP? SIGN UP NOW FOR $7.50 A MONTH FOR INSTANT ACCESS TO AD-FREE, BENEFIT-PACKED VIP VERSION OF PWTORCH.COM (see screen capture)

INFO ON SUBSCRIPTION TO AD-FREE VIP SITE
INCREDIBLE BENEFITS!
Over 50 full-length audio updates per month (iPod compatible)... New weekly award-winning Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter (text and printable pdf versions) with latest exclusive insider news, new Torch Talks, great columns, Keller's cover story, much more... Hundreds of full-length back issues of PWTorch Newsletter from late-'80s to today... Ad-free access to PWTorch.com's Main Listing... VIP Forum with interaction with other subscribers and Torch staff... Torch Talk Library with text and audio of hundreds of interview installments from last 20 years... Great layout... Deepest archives on pro wrestling history anywhere... Keller's PWTorch Today PDF Bulletins with email alerts... VIP Email reports on major PPVs and TV shows... Staff Roundtable Reviews (text and audio) followiing major events... The best staff of writers and world class reporting since 1987... We'd love for you to join us and experience the most entertaining, authoritative, experienced staff of professional reporters and commentators in the business... SIGN ME UP NOW!
|
| Articles Grouped by Category |
 |
| Torch Today |
| TORCH STORE: Buy Two, Get One Free November Special on Back Issue Sets, Keller DVD |
| PWTORCH GOES MOBILE: Announcement - Link available now for new Mobile-Customized PWTorch.com site (Blackberry, iPhone, etc.) |
| NOTE ON READER COMMENTS: Some reader comments from yesterday lost due to server upgrade |
 |
| WWE News |
| WWE News: Michael Cole and Joey Styles provide updates from Iraq; new features to Tribute show this year |
| WWE News: Gregory Helms talks about emotional return to the ring after injury rehab and deaths in his family |
| WWE News: WWE tops another most-searched-for list; John Cena more popular than Brett Favre |
 |
| TNA News |
| TNA News: PPV main event signed for this weekend's TNA house shows; house show line-ups prior to Sunday's PPV |
| Ratings News: TNA Impact viewership increases on Thanksgiving, but key demographics take a hit |
| TNA News: Kurt Angle describes mindset coming into WWE; Mick Foley complements himself on evaluating Angle |
 |
| ROH News |
| ROH News: New Video Wire including footage of Samoa Joe's return to ROH (w/VIDEO) |
| RADICAN'S ROH DVD REVIEW: Return Engagement (Ibushi-Generico, Briscoes vs. Shelley & Sabin) |
| ROH News: New Video Wire with Claudio, Nigel, Danielson promos; most random segment ever |
 |
| Other News |
| Other News: Ric Flair on North Carolina's FM Talk 101.1 Wednesday Morning |
| Other News: "The Wrestler" up for several award nominations; famous actor complements Mickey Rourke on lead role |
| Hogan News: Hulk Hogan discusses CCW feud against Vince McMahon, puts over Samoa Joe, discusses WrestleMania 25 opponents |
 |
| PPV Reports |
| KELLER'S WWE PPV REPORT 11/23: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event including Jeff Hardy update, Triple H vs. Kozlov, John Cena return |
| CALDWELL'S WWE SURVIVOR SERIES REPORT 11/23: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of John Cena vs. Chris Jericho (w/PICS on-site) |
| RADICAN'S ROH DRIVEN PPV REPORT: Strong-McGuinness, Steen & Generico vs. Black & Jacobs |
 |
| TV Reports |
| CALDWELL'S ECW TV REPORT 12/2: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of WWE's Sci-Fi show featuring Matt Hardy vs. MVP |
| WWE RAW ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS 12/1: Mitchell, Caldwell, Mezzera, Parks rate and review |
| KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 12/1: John Cena vs. Kane, Melina vs. Jillian Hall, Stephanie announces huge Raw next week |
 |
| Arena Reports |
| 11/29 WWE in State College, Pa.: Edge changes his look already, Triple H & Jeff Hardy tag team main event |
| 11/12 WWE in Newcastle, U.K.: Batista & Mysterio vs. Jericho & Orton, Shawn Michaels vs. JBL, Haas Hogan in the house |
| WWE News: Complete Smackdown tapings report for next two weeks - Jeff Hardy, Triple H, Koslov set up Survivor Series |
 |
| MMA / UFC Coverage |
| Just Released: MMATorch Middleweight Rankings - Anderson Silva, Lawler, Franklin, Trigg, Cote, Bisping... |
| KELLER: The best movie ever made about MMA that was released 20 years before UFC existed |
| MMATORCH MONDAY RANKINGS: Light-Heavyweight Top Ten Released for 11/24 |
 |
| KELLER'S TAKE |
| KELLER: John Cena is the perfect son Vince McMahon never had |
| KELLER: WWE lacks basic human decency and judgment one again as they tease: Jeff Hardy might be dead! Stay tuned for update! |
| KELLER: ROH's new "subscription" plan falls short in about every regard for its fans |
 |
| MITCHELL'S TAKE |
| MITCHELL SHORT: How WWE's Jim Ross Can Save College Football's Bowl Championship Series |
| MOJO MITCHELL'S RAW 12/1: Stream of Chris Jericho - Responsible Parent; Rey Mysterio - Arm Hurts; DX - Torn and Frayed... |
| MITCHELL SHORT: Dear Stephanie McMahon - It has come to my attention that your... |
 |
| MCNEILL'S TAKE |
| McNEILL: At The Bar For WWE Survivor Series 2008 |
| Spoilin' For A Fight: McNEILL Previews WWE Survivor Series 2008! |
| McNEILL's Mailbag: On The ROH DVD Subscription Service |
 |
| CALDWELL'S TAKE |
| CALDWELL'S MEDIA CLUB: Eddie Guerrero DVD review Day 12 - Eddie vs. Matt Hardy; dealing with a void in life |
| CALDWELL'S MEDIA CLUB: Eddie Guerrero DVD review Day 11 - Eddie moves to WWE; birth of Latino Heat (w/VIDEO) |
| CALDWELL'S MEDIA CLUB: Eddie Guerrero DVD review Day 10 - Vickie Guerrero comments publicly on Eddie's drug use |
 |
| RADICAN'S TAKE |
| TALES FROM THE PULPIT: I was right about John Cena... |
| TALES FROM THE PULPIT 11/18: Too small to be big and too big to be small: ROH's fight to get the buzz back (pt. 1) |
| RADICAN: Last Call with Raven & Sandman dissapoints despite fantastic production and high expectations |
 |
| The Specialists |
| THE ABSURDITY REPORT - A COMMON TALE: How Cena Became The Hero Of The Entire WWE Universe |
| 12/1 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Jericho, Glamarella, JBL's Offer, End of the Show |
| THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL - WWE RAW 12/1: Ortonholes unite, Poor man's HBK is now HBK, Son of Jericho must watch TNA then, Knox stare down song |
 |
| Guest Editorials |
| GUEST MOVIE REVIEW: "The Wrestler" is going to hit close to home for a lot of wrestling fans |
| EDITORIAL: Career vs. Career - The Undertaker vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 25 |
| EDITORIAL: A plan for a dramatic make-over of WWE through massive downscaling of TV, PPVs, roster size, titles |
 |
| Torch Feedback |
| ECW TV Reax #1: "There was a good sign that MVP isn't a totally lost cause..." |
| WWE Smackdown, TNA Impact, and Hulk Hogan CCW Reax #1: "As the weeks have progressed, Hulk has moved more toward the center of attention" |
| WWE Raw Reax #3: "Chris Jericho's opening promo was reliably brilliant." |
 |
| Ask the Editor |
| Ask the Editor: Wouldn't incorporating MMA-style holds into pro wrestling matches just be trying to be something it's not? |
| ASK THE EDITOR: Have the Michaels-Batista promos crossed a line with use of insider terms, references to "jobs"? |
| ASK THE EDITOR: Why do wrestlers in WWE refer to wrestling as "the business" and not "the sport"? |
 |
| DVDs - VGames - Books |
| RADICAN'S ROH DVD REVIEW: Return Engagement (Ibushi-Generico, Briscoes vs. Shelley & Sabin) |
| RADICAN: Last Call with Raven & Sandman dissapoints despite fantastic production and high expectations |
| RADICAN: Hey! The Claudio Castagnoli delivers one of the best independent releases of the year |
 |
| Torch Flashbacks |
| KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (12-01-03): Batista & Randy Orton, Christian and Chris Jericho bet on Trish, Mick Foley as executive share...er...consultant |
| KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (11-24-03): Raw Roulette, Goldberg vs. Triple H, Shawn Michaels & Chris Jericho vs. Ric Flair & Batista |
| WWE News Flashback: Mike Adamle the new G.M. of Raw: Controversial announcer shifted off of ECW announcing duties |
 |
| VIP Exclusive Features |
| 12/2 Daily Keller Hotline: Cena-Jericho hype, TNA PPV hype, Impact quarter hour ratings, SD ratings (16 min.) |
| PWTorch Newsletter #1056 (18 Pages!): Mitchell Feature Column on Mid-Atlantic TV Taping, Radican's Angle DVD Review |
| 12/1 Daily Keller Hotline: Raw gets back to the basics of building feuds - and it works (25 min.) |
 |
| Torch Trivia |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Hennig? - Part Two |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Hennig? - Part One |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Champion vs. Champion matches? |
 |
| Torch Instant Polls |
| Who was the MVP of the Dec. 1 Raw if you saw the show? |
| Rate the 12/1 WWE Raw on a 0-10 scale if you saw the show |
| Who was the MVP of the Nov. 24 Raw is you saw the show? |
 |
| PWTorch Free Podcast |
| 12/1 WWE Raw post-game Show: Caldwell and Parks discuss Jericho beat down on John Cena, show filled with missing chapters (7 min. clip) |
| 11/29 Real Deal with Pat McNeill Audio: Torch Awards Preview, Slammys, LAX vs. Briscoes & More (5 min clip) |
| 11/29 Radican Audio Showcase with Burgan: Radican live at Survivor Series, WWE in-depth, TNA Angle DVD (Free 10 min. clip) |
 |
| Annual Obituaries |
| SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 1999 - Muchnick, Rick Rude, Owen Hart, Renegade... |
| SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2000 - Solie, Albright, Duncum, Tsuruta, Blue Demon, Al Costello |
| SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2001: Johnny Valentine, Terry Gordy, Chris Adams, Bertha Faye, Helen Hart |
 |
|
|