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WWE Raw Reax #2: "The best part of Raw was Mike Adamle. People who criticize this guy need to..." Aug 5, 2008 - 10:43:49 AM
Frederich Stubbs of Los Angeles, Calif. - Occupation: Dancer (4.0): Best: Triple Threat, Main Event. Worst: Championship Story Development. This episode was a prototypical example of how bad Raw has gotten. The wrestling in the triple threat match was very good, but the finish was formulaic and non-sensical because why would Punk resist the Walls of Jericho? To get a Triple Threat at SummerSlam? Huh? We are supposed to believe he wants that? As for the IC Title, I love Kofi and his ability in the ring, but where is his mic time? Fans dig him because he is exciting, but he has no personality to speak of. Fans will bore of this quickly and that's a shame because he is a damn good performer. And as for the main event, I HATE the fact that creative forever uses the tag titles as a secondary storyline. I long for the days of classic Survivor Series when the tag titles were on the line and every superstar jumped to get into the action for a shot at them. Now they are an afterthought used to further the storyline for Batista and Cena? A sidedish to sub-par meal. A large fries to go with a Big Mac, if you will? Haven't we seen this with John Cena and HBK not that long ago? The rating I gave here was for the actual wrestling on this show (Rhodes and DiBiase looked good, as well as the matches I already mentioned) and for another stellar performance on the mic from Santino and Beth Phoenix.
Adam Riemer of New York, N.Y. (8.0): Best: Mike Adamle actually impressing me. Worst: The Clean IC Title Win. Let's start with the worst, since overall I actually really enjoyed this show. I understand that Santino is now in the IC Title hunt, but it seems abrupt to end both Katie Lee's and Paul Burchill's title hunts in one quick night. However I really like Santino and Beth together on TV, and if the WWE is smart they will make them the new "Power Couple" on Raw holding both the IC Title and Women's Title. The best part of Raw was Mike Adamle. People who criticize this guy need to have an open mind in wrestling. Vince McMahon was one of the worst announcers in WWE history, but he was one of the best characters as well. Same with Eric Bischoff, terrible announcer, great performer on the mic. Mike did a very good job here tonight. He seemed annoyed at first with the crowd reaction, then he got arrogant... which is good. His "Adamle Original" lines might get old if they use it EVERY week, but for now it is great in establishing something different for the Raw GM and not constantly trying to re-hash the Eric Bischoff type GM. His matches made sense, they were entertaining, his promos were good (love the Regan comparison actually) and finally we get some closure to the Kane "what's in the bag? (his mask)" angle. Kane got pushed as a main event heel for all of 2.5 seconds, it's time to progress this stupid "is he dead?" angle. The tag title match was great, I love Rhodes and DiBiase. I really liked that they showed a lot of promise in actually carrying a match with two main eventers that can't really "wrestle." I also liked how Cena got Batista fired up with the slap. Overall, a pretty good show. I would suggest that the WWE should stop showing clips from the far superior year of 1997 and how much more truly interesting and fun wrestling was back then, but good for them for trying to move Raw along solidly.
Colin Johnson of Kalamazoo, Mich. (8.0): Best Match: C.M. Punk vs. JBL & Jericho. Worst Match: Kane vs. Matt Striker. This was just an overall very good Raw. Adamle did well on his first full day on the job, C.M. Punk regained some credablity in his handicap match, and the Batista-Cena feud took a step in the right direction while still making Rhodes & DiBiase look strong. Santino and Beth are getting more entertaining every week, and I like the idea of the "winner takes all" tag match at Summerslam against Kofi and Mickie. The only part of Raw I didn't enjoy was Kane's segment. I was really into the storyline when it first came out, but now I just don't care, and Adamle saying "we're going to find out what's in his bag next week" doesn't excite me, seeing as everyone know's it's his mask. Punk NEEDS a clean win over JBL at Summerslam, and he NEEDS to start being used in the second hour. I think Punk's match should've traded spots with the main event. Speaking of the main event, it was a good match, but I hope they have Rhodes and DiBiase immediately envoke their rematch clause next week, so they can regain the tag titles after Batista and/or Cena finally snap and cost themselves the titles. We'll see what happens.
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