Last Night's Raw

NOTE: I know we missed ITVR last week due to illness - let's just say it didn't stop with Ari. Please be sure we will post a podcast for sure over the coming week - either on Thursday (as my in-laws are coming Friday), or over the weekend - in other words, Friday itself is unlikely.

Meanwhile though, we haven't disappeared by any means, and in the spirit of the Wrestlemania season, here are my thoughts on last night's Raw (in no particular order, and my apologies if anything's left out - we will definitely cover any missing ground later in the week).

1. Great to see both JBL and Steve Austin back this week on Raw - Steve Austin immediately adds some colour to the Jerry Lawler-Michael Cole match (Lawler does so as well, but Austin is also a great get who adds even more), and the prospect of JBL seeking revenge after Austin stunned him twice and stole the referee's contract intended to be his will be interesting as well. Layfield looks awesome, by the way, compared to the tired and bloated - albeit still excellently hateable heel - performer who left the WWE about two years ago.
2. Last night was a night of naming elephants in the room, as Michael Cole spoke to everyone's disinterest in Eve and Brie Bella's women's title match, interrupting it and askign them to get it over with, and Sheamus addressing his losing streak of late (meaning that perhaps it was more work than shoot ... or at least that they're over it now, and ready to make some hay with him again). I think both of these worked in some ways, while doing damage in others ... we will discuss this in more detail on Thursday/Friday, but in the meantime, please leave me your opinion on the 'truth in advertising' approach WWE chose to take last night!
3. Another show not as heavy on the wrestling, though the promos were by and large incredibly well done - strong ones from both the Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels, as well as the two Texans mentioned earlier. Having said that, I also found the Dolph Ziggler vs. John Morrison match pretty exceptional as well.
4. John Cena's rap this week wasn't as good as last week, though I won't rip it apart as badly as some have - it just didn't look so strong going up against the Rock, or compared to last week's blistering promo. Having said that - I laughed out loud at the 'I bring it via satellite' T-shirt. lol I'd have bought that. Meanwhile on the same storyline, kudos to the Miz for reinserting himself with a vengeance into this storyline, having the last word on both Cena, and the Rock. An excellent, excellent entertainer.
   

Overall? A good show - Impressed. A bit wrestling light but they always are leading up to Mania so as to keep their performers safe. We will be discussing these developments, as well as Impact, and probably Smackdown, on ITVR later this week - and of course I will do my best to keep up with news and notes around the wrestling world between now and then. Be sure and check in often!