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Well, where do I start?
At the dawn of the roster split, Raw and Smackdown established themselves as very different brands with very different focuses. Raw was built around feuds and storylines while Smackdown was built (mostly) around in-ring product. That was until Triple H intervened. A number of Smackdown upper-midcarders/main eventers suddenly moved to Raw, while Smackdown got very little in return, meaning that not only were the separate identities lost as both shows are now a mixed bag, but Raw became the superior brand, with a main event scene much more loaded than their Smackdown rivals.
The result? Well Raw certainly has a plethora of talent which can chop and change into the main event and keep things fresh, with new feuds popping up in the run up to all Pay-Per-Views, but on the downside, certain talent is being held down. Chris Jericho being a prime example, who is surely several months overdue a move to Smackdown. Anyway, getting ahead of myself, let's start exactly where we should, with the World Heavyweight Championship scene.
Well, I say this is where we should start, only I'm not sure if the WWE agrees with me. Going into the last Raw brand PPV, Chris Benoit defended the World Heavyweight title against Kane, a match which had no build up against a contender who was involved in a major storyline with someone else and worse, wasn't even the main event. I can't help but feel someone's political power (COUGHHH!) ensured he was in the main event even though he's not the champion. I've read in several places that this makes Benoit and the Title seem less important than they should be and to some degree I have to agree with this, but there is another side to the story. Benoit has, intentionally or not, been made to look like an old-skool champion who only cares about the belt and doesn't get involved with any of the nonsense outside of matches, an angle which WWE could really play up to, if they actually realise this is what is happening! It's safe to assume Kane is now out of the title picture, due to his feud with Matt Hardy (and beyond that the returning Shawn Michaels), which is a good thing as Kane isn't the type of guy who can put on the 5 star match that Benoit can pull out against a decent opponent. Benoit's likely next opponent is Triple H or Triple H and Edge, depending on which website you read. For me, this match has real potential. Benoit in particular has made a career out of making other people look world class in the ring, something which Edge could really benefit from and Triple H has really stepped up his game since just before his feud with Benoit took off, his presence in the match also means that neither Benoit or Edge have to go through a fully-fledged heel turn. Again Benoit could look marginalised as
the majority of this feud is built around Edge and Triple H's confrontation on Raw, but there is simmering heat between Benoit and Edge over Edge's mis-cue costing the due the Tag Team titles. I fully expect if this match does come off, for Benoit to act the role of a 'Tweener, who's happy to take on all comers.
Getting back to the subject of Kane. How are we supposed to take this guy seriously as a monster when he can never get a winning run together? It undermines all the character work they have done on him. You can't half-bake a 'monster' push, you have to make them invincible ala early 90s 'Taker or late 90's Vader...
This brings us to the Intercontinental title scene. Hmm, talk about stale? I'm all for long title reigns to really put a guy over but Randy Orton is such an unworthy champion it shocks me. In fact, I doubt he'd ever have had this belt if it wasn't for his association with HHH, but that's wrestling I suppose. Shelton Benjamin seemed the most likely candidate to go over Orton, but his injury seems to have pushed Edge and Chris Jericho in to the fold as contenders, both seemingly unnecessary. Edge has held the IC belt so many times that it now seems below him and his match with Orton at the next PPV can only be booked as a DQ, because if Edge wins the title, he carries it as unnecessary baggage into the Main Event and if he doesn't win it makes him look weak before his encounter with Benoit and HHH. Jericho too, should have left the IC scene behind a long time ago. The aforementioned move to Smackdown would do him the power of good. How good would a Guerrero-Jericho feud be? I'm begging you Vince!!! So, in summary, we need some new contenders for this particular belt, maybe an Orton face turn and subsequent feud with Batista would do the trick? Maybe Rhyno should be elevated, heck, even Eugene would be better than Orton!
And so, to the Tag Team scene, or perhaps that should be lack of? La Resistance are obviously the champions, obviously because since the Dudleys jumped ship to Smackdown, they are the only regular team left. But at least they are a team, unlike recent worthless holders such as Benoit/Edge, Flair/Batista. The whole idea of belts is putting them on someone to elevate them. Holding the Tag Team titles does nothing for cobbled together combos of Main Eventers, unless it's to promote a split/feud between the two... Rhyno has been pushed as a contender, but seems to be struggling to find a partner who can go with him. La Res vs Rhyno and a mystery opponent would have been an obvious choice for the upcoming PPV, instead we get the team of Eugene and Ric Flair in a pointless match that will mean absolutely nothing for all four men involved. They might as well have not been involved in the PPV at all. On the subject of the Tag Champions, Sylvan Grenier has really upped his game since his return from injury, he was always the weak link of the team when he tagged with DupreČ. I don't know whether it's the change of partner, or Grenier's upping of his game, but La Res finally look like a team. So, another area of the card that needs some fresh blood injected, as the only other team in the hunt are Rosey and The Hurricane and I'm pretty sure THAT team will have run it's course soon. Note to Vince, there are talented
guys languishing on Heat that could do a great job in this division. Take a look at Stevie Richards, Val Venis, Chuck Palumbo, Maven, I'm sure you could come up with a new team gimmick for at least one combination of them?
So, Raw then, in summation it's a top-heavy show with all the talent stacked at the top of the card and the rest having to make do with the scraps. There are only three things that seem to matter on Raw for any length of time H, H and H.
Next Time in Cong Man's corner - The State of CZW...
At the dawn of the roster split, Raw and Smackdown established themselves as very different brands with very different focuses. Raw was built around feuds and storylines while Smackdown was built (mostly) around in-ring product. That was until Triple H intervened. A number of Smackdown upper-midcarders/main eventers suddenly moved to Raw, while Smackdown got very little in return, meaning that not only were the separate identities lost as both shows are now a mixed bag, but Raw became the superior brand, with a main event scene much more loaded than their Smackdown rivals.
The result? Well Raw certainly has a plethora of talent which can chop and change into the main event and keep things fresh, with new feuds popping up in the run up to all Pay-Per-Views, but on the downside, certain talent is being held down. Chris Jericho being a prime example, who is surely several months overdue a move to Smackdown. Anyway, getting ahead of myself, let's start exactly where we should, with the World Heavyweight Championship scene.
Well, I say this is where we should start, only I'm not sure if the WWE agrees with me. Going into the last Raw brand PPV, Chris Benoit defended the World Heavyweight title against Kane, a match which had no build up against a contender who was involved in a major storyline with someone else and worse, wasn't even the main event. I can't help but feel someone's political power (COUGHHH!) ensured he was in the main event even though he's not the champion. I've read in several places that this makes Benoit and the Title seem less important than they should be and to some degree I have to agree with this, but there is another side to the story. Benoit has, intentionally or not, been made to look like an old-skool champion who only cares about the belt and doesn't get involved with any of the nonsense outside of matches, an angle which WWE could really play up to, if they actually realise this is what is happening! It's safe to assume Kane is now out of the title picture, due to his feud with Matt Hardy (and beyond that the returning Shawn Michaels), which is a good thing as Kane isn't the type of guy who can put on the 5 star match that Benoit can pull out against a decent opponent. Benoit's likely next opponent is Triple H or Triple H and Edge, depending on which website you read. For me, this match has real potential. Benoit in particular has made a career out of making other people look world class in the ring, something which Edge could really benefit from and Triple H has really stepped up his game since just before his feud with Benoit took off, his presence in the match also means that neither Benoit or Edge have to go through a fully-fledged heel turn. Again Benoit could look marginalised as
the majority of this feud is built around Edge and Triple H's confrontation on Raw, but there is simmering heat between Benoit and Edge over Edge's mis-cue costing the due the Tag Team titles. I fully expect if this match does come off, for Benoit to act the role of a 'Tweener, who's happy to take on all comers.
Getting back to the subject of Kane. How are we supposed to take this guy seriously as a monster when he can never get a winning run together? It undermines all the character work they have done on him. You can't half-bake a 'monster' push, you have to make them invincible ala early 90s 'Taker or late 90's Vader...
This brings us to the Intercontinental title scene. Hmm, talk about stale? I'm all for long title reigns to really put a guy over but Randy Orton is such an unworthy champion it shocks me. In fact, I doubt he'd ever have had this belt if it wasn't for his association with HHH, but that's wrestling I suppose. Shelton Benjamin seemed the most likely candidate to go over Orton, but his injury seems to have pushed Edge and Chris Jericho in to the fold as contenders, both seemingly unnecessary. Edge has held the IC belt so many times that it now seems below him and his match with Orton at the next PPV can only be booked as a DQ, because if Edge wins the title, he carries it as unnecessary baggage into the Main Event and if he doesn't win it makes him look weak before his encounter with Benoit and HHH. Jericho too, should have left the IC scene behind a long time ago. The aforementioned move to Smackdown would do him the power of good. How good would a Guerrero-Jericho feud be? I'm begging you Vince!!! So, in summary, we need some new contenders for this particular belt, maybe an Orton face turn and subsequent feud with Batista would do the trick? Maybe Rhyno should be elevated, heck, even Eugene would be better than Orton!
And so, to the Tag Team scene, or perhaps that should be lack of? La Resistance are obviously the champions, obviously because since the Dudleys jumped ship to Smackdown, they are the only regular team left. But at least they are a team, unlike recent worthless holders such as Benoit/Edge, Flair/Batista. The whole idea of belts is putting them on someone to elevate them. Holding the Tag Team titles does nothing for cobbled together combos of Main Eventers, unless it's to promote a split/feud between the two... Rhyno has been pushed as a contender, but seems to be struggling to find a partner who can go with him. La Res vs Rhyno and a mystery opponent would have been an obvious choice for the upcoming PPV, instead we get the team of Eugene and Ric Flair in a pointless match that will mean absolutely nothing for all four men involved. They might as well have not been involved in the PPV at all. On the subject of the Tag Champions, Sylvan Grenier has really upped his game since his return from injury, he was always the weak link of the team when he tagged with DupreČ. I don't know whether it's the change of partner, or Grenier's upping of his game, but La Res finally look like a team. So, another area of the card that needs some fresh blood injected, as the only other team in the hunt are Rosey and The Hurricane and I'm pretty sure THAT team will have run it's course soon. Note to Vince, there are talented
guys languishing on Heat that could do a great job in this division. Take a look at Stevie Richards, Val Venis, Chuck Palumbo, Maven, I'm sure you could come up with a new team gimmick for at least one combination of them?
So, Raw then, in summation it's a top-heavy show with all the talent stacked at the top of the card and the rest having to make do with the scraps. There are only three things that seem to matter on Raw for any length of time H, H and H.
Next Time in Cong Man's corner - The State of CZW...
As much as I like Benoit as champ, you can just feel the decline back to what Raw was like when HHH had the title for what felt like 10 years. Raw was on a real hot streak with some top notch matches but I feel it slipping.
HHH getting the title back is inevitable be it at Vengeance or Summerslam. Where do you go from there? Edge for a month or two then what? Eugene? The minute you start putting Eugene in the main event, he becomes just like all those other wrestlers that got pushed too soon. Why not have Eugene go over Orton? Orton wasn't keen on Eugene, why not have him beat Orton for the Inter?
The booking is so main event (HHH) orientated that the lower guys don't get a look and they will never get elevated because no average fan would care about the lower guys because they never get the chance.
The tag division has been dead for a long time in my opinion. It used to be one of the strongest divisions. The haphazard teams thrown together, win the titles and then the crowd turn on them because they don't care.
It's all down to how people get booked. I am certain that if you push someone the right way, they can be huge. Make one mistake and it can hurt them forever. I fear for Benoit after his title run, I fear for Eugene and I fear for the state of Raw with HHH at the top.
HHH getting the title back is inevitable be it at Vengeance or Summerslam. Where do you go from there? Edge for a month or two then what? Eugene? The minute you start putting Eugene in the main event, he becomes just like all those other wrestlers that got pushed too soon. Why not have Eugene go over Orton? Orton wasn't keen on Eugene, why not have him beat Orton for the Inter?
The booking is so main event (HHH) orientated that the lower guys don't get a look and they will never get elevated because no average fan would care about the lower guys because they never get the chance.
The tag division has been dead for a long time in my opinion. It used to be one of the strongest divisions. The haphazard teams thrown together, win the titles and then the crowd turn on them because they don't care.
It's all down to how people get booked. I am certain that if you push someone the right way, they can be huge. Make one mistake and it can hurt them forever. I fear for Benoit after his title run, I fear for Eugene and I fear for the state of Raw with HHH at the top.
Totally agree with that up until the La Res point. They've done nothing to impress me. As soon as HHH makes Benoit drop the strap at Vengeance the quality of RAW will sink even lower with Evolution dominating the show even more then they already are. The sooner HHH gets a career ending injury or just retires the better for wrestling.
Haven't read it. I'll read it later.
RAW rules. HHH for champ! :P
RAW rules. HHH for champ! :P
cong when you are writing these your MEANT to be working!
I agree with everything you just said. That summed up RAW really well with those three H's. :D And a Jericho move to Smackdown would be great. Jericho Vs Guerrero? Oh yes. That would rule. :P
Well, where do I start?
At the dawn of the roster split, Raw and Smackdown established themselves as very different brands with very different focuses. Raw was built around feuds and storylines while Smackdown was built (mostly) around in-ring product. That was until Triple H intervened. A number of Smackdown upper-midcarders/main eventers suddenly moved to Raw, while Smackdown got very little in return, meaning that not only were the separate identities lost as both shows are now a mixed bag, but Raw became the superior brand, with a main event scene much more loaded than their Smackdown rivals.
The result? Well Raw certainly has a plethora of talent which can chop and change into the main event and keep things fresh, with new feuds popping up in the run up to all Pay-Per-Views, but on the downside, certain talent is being held down. Chris Jericho being a prime example, who is surely several months overdue a move to Smackdown. Anyway, getting ahead of myself, let's start exactly where we should, with the World Heavyweight Championship scene.
Well, I say this is where we should start, only I'm not sure if the WWE agrees with me. Going into the last Raw brand PPV, Chris Benoit defended the World Heavyweight title against Kane, a match which had no build up against a contender who was involved in a major storyline with someone else and worse, wasn't even the main event. I can't help but feel someone's political power (COUGHHH!) ensured he was in the main event even though he's not the champion. I've read in several places that this makes Benoit and the Title seem less important than they should be and to some degree I have to agree with this, but there is another side to the story. Benoit has, intentionally or not, been made to look like an old-skool champion who only cares about the belt and doesn't get involved with any of the nonsense outside of matches, an angle which WWE could really play up to, if they actually realise this is what is happening! It's safe to assume Kane is now out of the title picture, due to his feud with Matt Hardy (and beyond that the returning Shawn Michaels), which is a good thing as Kane isn't the type of guy who can put on the 5 star match that Benoit can pull out against a decent opponent. Benoit's likely next opponent is Triple H or Triple H and Edge, depending on which website you read. For me, this match has real potential. Benoit in particular has made a career out of making other people look world class in the ring, something which Edge could really benefit from and Triple H has really stepped up his game since just before his feud with Benoit took off, his presence in the match also means that neither Benoit or Edge have to go through a fully-fledged heel turn. Again Benoit could look marginalised as
the majority of this feud is built around Edge and Triple H's confrontation on Raw, but there is simmering heat between Benoit and Edge over Edge's mis-cue costing the due the Tag Team titles. I fully expect if this match does come off, for Benoit to act the role of a 'Tweener, who's happy to take on all comers.
Getting back to the subject of Kane. How are we supposed to take this guy seriously as a monster when he can never get a winning run together? It undermines all the character work they have done on him. You can't half-bake a 'monster' push, you have to make them invincible ala early 90s 'Taker or late 90's Vader...
This brings us to the Intercontinental title scene. Hmm, talk about stale? I'm all for long title reigns to really put a guy over but Randy Orton is such an unworthy champion it shocks me. In fact, I doubt he'd ever have had this belt if it wasn't for his association with HHH, but that's wrestling I suppose. Shelton Benjamin seemed the most likely candidate to go over Orton, but his injury seems to have pushed Edge and Chris Jericho in to the fold as contenders, both seemingly unnecessary. Edge has held the IC belt so many times that it now seems below him and his match with Orton at the next PPV can only be booked as a DQ, because if Edge wins the title, he carries it as unnecessary baggage into the Main Event and if he doesn't win it makes him look weak before his encounter with Benoit and HHH. Jericho too, should have left the IC scene behind a long time ago. The aforementioned move to Smackdown would do him the power of good. How good would a Guerrero-Jericho feud be? I'm begging you Vince!!! So, in summary, we need some new contenders for this particular belt, maybe an Orton face turn and subsequent feud with Batista would do the trick? Maybe Rhyno should be elevated, heck, even Eugene would be better than Orton!
And so, to the Tag Team scene, or perhaps that should be lack of? La Resistance are obviously the champions, obviously because since the Dudleys jumped ship to Smackdown, they are the only regular team left. But at least they are a team, unlike recent worthless holders such as Benoit/Edge, Flair/Batista. The whole idea of belts is putting them on someone to elevate them. Holding the Tag Team titles does nothing for cobbled together combos of Main Eventers, unless it's to promote a split/feud between the two... Rhyno has been pushed as a contender, but seems to be struggling to find a partner who can go with him. La Res vs Rhyno and a mystery opponent would have been an obvious choice for the upcoming PPV, instead we get the team of Eugene and Ric Flair in a pointless match that will mean absolutely nothing for all four men involved. They might as well have not been involved in the PPV at all. On the subject of the Tag Champions, Sylvan Grenier has really upped his game since his return from injury, he was always the weak link of the team when he tagged with DupreČ. I don't know whether it's the change of partner, or Grenier's upping of his game, but La Res finally look like a team. So, another area of the card that needs some fresh blood injected, as the only other team in the hunt are Rosey and The Hurricane and I'm pretty sure THAT team will have run it's course soon. Note to Vince, there are talented
guys languishing on Heat that could do a great job in this division. Take a look at Stevie Richards, Val Venis, Chuck Palumbo, Maven, I'm sure you could come up with a new team gimmick for at least one combination of them?
So, Raw then, in summation it's a top-heavy show with all the talent stacked at the top of the card and the rest having to make do with the scraps. There are only three things that seem to matter on Raw for any length of time H, H and H.
Next Time in Cong Man's corner - The State of CZW...
At the dawn of the roster split, Raw and Smackdown established themselves as very different brands with very different focuses. Raw was built around feuds and storylines while Smackdown was built (mostly) around in-ring product. That was until Triple H intervened. A number of Smackdown upper-midcarders/main eventers suddenly moved to Raw, while Smackdown got very little in return, meaning that not only were the separate identities lost as both shows are now a mixed bag, but Raw became the superior brand, with a main event scene much more loaded than their Smackdown rivals.
The result? Well Raw certainly has a plethora of talent which can chop and change into the main event and keep things fresh, with new feuds popping up in the run up to all Pay-Per-Views, but on the downside, certain talent is being held down. Chris Jericho being a prime example, who is surely several months overdue a move to Smackdown. Anyway, getting ahead of myself, let's start exactly where we should, with the World Heavyweight Championship scene.
Well, I say this is where we should start, only I'm not sure if the WWE agrees with me. Going into the last Raw brand PPV, Chris Benoit defended the World Heavyweight title against Kane, a match which had no build up against a contender who was involved in a major storyline with someone else and worse, wasn't even the main event. I can't help but feel someone's political power (COUGHHH!) ensured he was in the main event even though he's not the champion. I've read in several places that this makes Benoit and the Title seem less important than they should be and to some degree I have to agree with this, but there is another side to the story. Benoit has, intentionally or not, been made to look like an old-skool champion who only cares about the belt and doesn't get involved with any of the nonsense outside of matches, an angle which WWE could really play up to, if they actually realise this is what is happening! It's safe to assume Kane is now out of the title picture, due to his feud with Matt Hardy (and beyond that the returning Shawn Michaels), which is a good thing as Kane isn't the type of guy who can put on the 5 star match that Benoit can pull out against a decent opponent. Benoit's likely next opponent is Triple H or Triple H and Edge, depending on which website you read. For me, this match has real potential. Benoit in particular has made a career out of making other people look world class in the ring, something which Edge could really benefit from and Triple H has really stepped up his game since just before his feud with Benoit took off, his presence in the match also means that neither Benoit or Edge have to go through a fully-fledged heel turn. Again Benoit could look marginalised as
the majority of this feud is built around Edge and Triple H's confrontation on Raw, but there is simmering heat between Benoit and Edge over Edge's mis-cue costing the due the Tag Team titles. I fully expect if this match does come off, for Benoit to act the role of a 'Tweener, who's happy to take on all comers.
Getting back to the subject of Kane. How are we supposed to take this guy seriously as a monster when he can never get a winning run together? It undermines all the character work they have done on him. You can't half-bake a 'monster' push, you have to make them invincible ala early 90s 'Taker or late 90's Vader...
This brings us to the Intercontinental title scene. Hmm, talk about stale? I'm all for long title reigns to really put a guy over but Randy Orton is such an unworthy champion it shocks me. In fact, I doubt he'd ever have had this belt if it wasn't for his association with HHH, but that's wrestling I suppose. Shelton Benjamin seemed the most likely candidate to go over Orton, but his injury seems to have pushed Edge and Chris Jericho in to the fold as contenders, both seemingly unnecessary. Edge has held the IC belt so many times that it now seems below him and his match with Orton at the next PPV can only be booked as a DQ, because if Edge wins the title, he carries it as unnecessary baggage into the Main Event and if he doesn't win it makes him look weak before his encounter with Benoit and HHH. Jericho too, should have left the IC scene behind a long time ago. The aforementioned move to Smackdown would do him the power of good. How good would a Guerrero-Jericho feud be? I'm begging you Vince!!! So, in summary, we need some new contenders for this particular belt, maybe an Orton face turn and subsequent feud with Batista would do the trick? Maybe Rhyno should be elevated, heck, even Eugene would be better than Orton!
And so, to the Tag Team scene, or perhaps that should be lack of? La Resistance are obviously the champions, obviously because since the Dudleys jumped ship to Smackdown, they are the only regular team left. But at least they are a team, unlike recent worthless holders such as Benoit/Edge, Flair/Batista. The whole idea of belts is putting them on someone to elevate them. Holding the Tag Team titles does nothing for cobbled together combos of Main Eventers, unless it's to promote a split/feud between the two... Rhyno has been pushed as a contender, but seems to be struggling to find a partner who can go with him. La Res vs Rhyno and a mystery opponent would have been an obvious choice for the upcoming PPV, instead we get the team of Eugene and Ric Flair in a pointless match that will mean absolutely nothing for all four men involved. They might as well have not been involved in the PPV at all. On the subject of the Tag Champions, Sylvan Grenier has really upped his game since his return from injury, he was always the weak link of the team when he tagged with DupreČ. I don't know whether it's the change of partner, or Grenier's upping of his game, but La Res finally look like a team. So, another area of the card that needs some fresh blood injected, as the only other team in the hunt are Rosey and The Hurricane and I'm pretty sure THAT team will have run it's course soon. Note to Vince, there are talented
guys languishing on Heat that could do a great job in this division. Take a look at Stevie Richards, Val Venis, Chuck Palumbo, Maven, I'm sure you could come up with a new team gimmick for at least one combination of them?
So, Raw then, in summation it's a top-heavy show with all the talent stacked at the top of the card and the rest having to make do with the scraps. There are only three things that seem to matter on Raw for any length of time H, H and H.
Next Time in Cong Man's corner - The State of CZW...