Raw Thoughts

So I actually got to this today! Go me! :D

Yesterday's Raw had some real high points - it was actually mostly a solid show. I want to preface this piece with that thought right now because I'm going to get kinda negative here, and I want to make sure it's clear that there weren't a LOT of low moments or missed notes - it's just that the missed notes were REALLY unpleasant to experience, and took away from what could have been a solid show. Similar to my vibe from Summerslam, it felt like Raw was running and had the potential to run on all 8 cylinders, and would get up some good steam, and then backfire. Examples:

• They got it right that John Cena and JBL needed strong wins over strong opponents last night to stay at the top of the card and justify their inclusion in the Championship Scramble match (more later) at Unforgiven. But JBL beat a guy in Jamie Noble who they'd given a nice little program with Layla and William Regal to, and then the ref screwed up the ending (he had to ... I mean, slap the mat once for a three-count and then end the match on ref stoppage? why not just slap the two-three?), and John Cena defeated tag team champions Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase Jr. singlehandedly. Now don't get me wrong - they didn't do this as poorly as they could have, and they gave Rhodes and Dibiase some offense, which was good. But one guy should very, VERY VERY rarely, beat two (only if they are TRUE jobbers or one or both are injured or there was interference), and certainly not earn a clean and clear win over the very talented up-and-coming tag team champions. What do those belts mean, then, if they can get defeated by a singles non-champ?
• In fact none of the champs were treated with a whole lot of respect. Coming off of one of the bigger victories of his championship reign, CM Punk loses clean in his hometown centre-ring to Chris Jericho. Not to knock the match - it was the best of the night, and here's the thing - I think I even get the logic here. In WWE's mind, the reasons for and results of this are: Jericho's the hot new heel, they want him in the title scene, he now has a compelling case for at LEAST getting added to the Championship Scramble, and with a couple guys now who have wins over CM Punk (Jericho and Batista) in that match, it plays into what WWE perceives as the allure of the underdog champion going into a lion's den which he can't possibly escape - if he does, he earns the cred he needs, and if he doesn't he will have fought valiantly, and it doesn't look bad on Punk. But getting pinned in the middle of the ring to create this storyline DOES look bad on Punk. They should have had Jericho defeat say Batista or Cena and then say he has as much a right to be in it as they. Not handed him their already-vulnerable champ (and add to the vulnerability of the title itself, for that matter) on a platter. And don't even get me started on the comedy act which is Santino Marella ... :P Funny, yes. IC champ? Uh ... enjoying Glamarella though. :)
  
• The Championship Scramble: I will give them that this is innovative. It's also risky. With the title belt already a bit cheapened by being perceived as not being on WWE's biggest star, it can only be besmirched further by risking being handed around potentially several times in 20 minutes. Think, in theory anyone in that match could accomplish in 20 minutes what it took people like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels or Bret Hart years to do - become a multi-time world champion. John Cena won 3 world titles in three years - say he wins it three times in this match. He's halfway to catching up with Triple H, and he's wrestled not even half as long. Not right. This is all in how they play it, and I'm afraid even the theoretical possibilities make the title seem like a relay baton or football being passed around. It makes me nervous.
  
• I'm also afraid it's an opportunity to pull the plug on the Punk experiment without actually having him beaten. WWE does not have the courage of their convictions lately - when they made CM Punk their champ, either have him as a transitional champion, in which case he should no longer be the beltholder, or REALLY get behind him. And if you're going to have him lose at Unforgiven, have him REALLY lose, not just fall back into the pack but not really damaged in case you need to call him up again. It's like we all KNEW John Cena would win last night because he lost to Batista - can't we just have people 'lose' anymore, and come out on the short end and have to earn their way back over time?
• One compliment on this vein though: they acknowledged the Championship Scramble as the McMahon children's idea. Given it fits right into Mike Adamle's gimmick match affinity, it would have been the easiest thing to pawn this off as an Adamle Original - that way if it works, well it's another case of the know-nothing hack stumbling into a decent idea, and if it doesn't, there's a lap to throw the garbage in. With the McMahons taking onscreen responsibility for this match, they are also taking perceived responsibility for this match in real life ... which is brave, given it could be crap.

Again though, strong overall show. Punk-Jericho and even Cena-Rhodes/Dibiase were solid matches, even though I wasn't a fan of the finishes; Kane had one of his better promos in awhile, although apparently I'm the main one who was a fan of it; Jericho's promo at the start was gold, and I'm glad Shawn Michaels didn't appear, so he can continue to play the face who's more concerned about his family, rather than 'seeing his name on the marquee', or the very un-Christian-like 'revenge'. This feud, which is already bordering on 4-5 months now, just earned another 2-3 month shelf life imho, with this one old-school 'Major Happening' angle. I mean, when was the last time a simple punch elicited that kind of reaction from a wrestling audience? Gold. Pure gold. That neither of these men has a championship belt right now is beyond me ...

And I think that's it - as if it weren't more than enough! Be sure to tune in to hear those thoughts (and Ari's reaction to them) and more tomorrow night on our podcast, right here ... In This Very Ring. :) Take care y'all.