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WWE Raw Reax #2: "When has the WWE ever made Jericho look good for more than one minute before digging his grave the next?" Aug 12, 2008 - 3:50:19 PM
Alex Roberts in the UK (6.5): Best Match: Batista/Cena vs. Rhodes/DiBiase, Worst Match: Chris Jericho vs. Kane. I have mixed feelings about Raw this week. Moments of excellence were followed up with moments of insanity. On the whole I enjoyed the show this week despite the lack of worthwhile wrestling on the show. The Cena-Batista feud has been a huge wasted opportunity with the WWE seemingly determined to book months of television in the space of three weeks. Seriously, if WWE had used some forward planning and spread this Cena-Batista breakdown over months this could have been the epic feud it should have been. The Kane swerve was interesting, I'll overlook the fact it doesn't fit with the way the WWE started this angle because I thought the reveal was brilliantly handled and the prospect of Psycho Kane vs. underdog Mysterio is money. I also thought the utterly twisted logic for Adamle demanding Kane reveal what was in the bag was excellent and a prime example of why Adamle as GM works. The logic makes no sense, but because it's Adamle using it, it somehow works and makes sense. Those who are complaining about a drinking contest segment in the context of a PG show are overlooking the fact that Punk didn't take the drink and was true to himself and didn't take the easy option to get ahead. That's a pretty weighty moral message for the WWE to deliver all things consider. The segment itself was horrible. Punk got circles walked around him on the mic by JBL and the crowd didn't care about anything that happened during the show. The problem is that the WWE has done such a poor job of building up everything about Punk that this segment lacked any tension, point, or purpose. The logic at work seems to be if they tell us that he's his own man and marches to his own drum enough times we'll believe it; personally, I won't. Just take the title off of him already and give it to someone you have faith in. The crashing halt brought to the pushes of Jamie Noble and Chris Jericho this week is massively disappointing, though. In a sad testament to how poor the booking has been recently by far and away the most interesting SummerSlam match is the mixed tag. Am I the only one strangely interested in seeing Beth Phoenix and Kofi Kingston going at it?
Barrett of Tucson, Ariz. (7.0): Best Match: Cryme Tyme match. Worst Match: Main event. First off, I do not think it is wise for the WWE to have guys rip John Cena for having 15 year old fans. Did you see who was in attendance last night and who right now is the WWE's best customer? The 15 year old! Please do not insult your biggest marketing base! Guys like Edge and Batista ripping Cena because of his fan base doesn't make sense considering those same 15 year olds are cheering them as well. Kane is right now the most interesting character on WWE TV. You would think the inner workings of the character Kane would be dead and buried but not so. Kane is unpredictable and always interesting. Mike Adamme works as a G.M., but he lacks the star power of a Mick Foley, Steve Austin or a Vince McMahon but so far he does the job for me. Time should make him a strong heel. C.M. Punk is overrated and shouldn't be tooting his "straight edge" lifestyle on air. Don't drink a drop of liquor, but ink up your skin? That doesn't work for me. His ring work is very limited and repetitious and the whole "straight edge" just doesn't work for a guy like me. I'll be flat-out honest, I do not care for C.M. Punk as a performer, especially as World Champion. Cryme Tyme is a good team; we should see more of them in the ring. Last, Chris Jericho's momentum is already taking a hit. They have him doing little for Lance Cade and he's wrestling Kane? Two weeks ago he's the hottest heel on Raw and now he's stuck between Cade and HBK's custom schedule. Y2J takes the shaft again, no surprise. Seriously, when has the WWE ever made Jericho look good for more than one minute before digging his grave the next? Overall, a GOOD show. It's getting better, folks.
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.
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