RAW 10/2
This weeks edition of RAW had plenty to not like, with the ending of the show being the high point of the week, along with a well done Intercontinental title match that finally saw Jeff Hardy get the best of Johnny Nitro to take the title. There were a ton of goofy stuff that in the long run does not really add to the show, and yes, some if it makes you laugh a little bit, but for the most part it really does not do anything to further the product, and that is a major problem.
As stated, the two highlights of the show would be the cage match main event as John Cena defeated Edge to keep the title. The match felt a lot like the final spot in their long feud, as the show really did a solid job in showing past highlights, and really led into the match well. The match was solid, and both guys worked hard. The ending was, I thought, well done, with Cade and Murdoch coming in on behalf of Edge, and DX showing up to help Cena. The only ironic thing about it is how quickly we forget that one half of DX, Triple H, was Cena's main rival for the early portion of the year.
The IC title match also was well done, as Jeff Hardy and Nitro worked hard, and the more I see of these two in the ring together, the more I want to see. Their matches are always crisp, with each guy not afraid to throw themselves around and take chances. Hardy is still the risk taker of the two, but give credit to Nitro for not being afraid to go after a high spot, while still being able to pull out some mat wrestling as well and make the match paced to the point where neither guy blows out in 3 minutes. The ending was solid, and I like the thought right now of having the belt on Hardy, for at least awhile, and having these two continue to go at it for another month or so.
Now on to the stuff that was not so good, and there was plenty. First off, I am fine with comedy. As a matter a fact, I enjoy when the company tries to get a laugh or two. But, this week was just too much for my liking. This weeks show almost made me want the McMahon's to come back. Coach has been fine in his role, but his week after week of trying to be a GM is starting to not be something we as fans can buy. This week DX totally buried any sort of authority that Coach had, and in the process went on to bury a bunch of guys on the show.
We start the show with a Texas Tornado match with DX vs Cade&Murdoch, The Highlanders, and Vicera and Haas. This is fine, except how could anyone expect anything more than a DX beating that results in Coach getting the better of them? Instead, we have DX going over in less than 5 minutes, and making the three teams look awful in the process. I knew once they didn't beat the Spirit Squad at Unforgiven, that the Highlanders were done, and this match only proves my theory right.
Then DX goes on the rest of the night to "run the show" and they end up with Coach in a garbage bin, therefore getting rid of him for the rest of the show. No problem with faces getting to have a piece of making the show, but this was pretty bad. They proceeded the rest of the night to bury the Spirit Squad, Chris Masters, and Eric Bishoff. The line of the century on RAW might have been HHH asking if Masters wrote a book if it would be called "How to Lose 50 Pounds in a Couple Weeks." Little does HHH know that if he was off the roids, he'd lose a bunch of weight as well.
The show also really focused on pushing next weeks three-hour show that will have all three brands on it, and is sure to have some interesting inter-promtional matches with the ECW, RAW and SmackDown wrestlers. I don't remember there being a "season premiere" of RAW in the past, but I guess they are using this in hopes of a ratings boost. The show will also have new music, and you can bet that the McMahons will be back on TV for this one. Let's just hope that they don't let DX run the show for three hours.
