Raw Thoughts April 7th 2008

http://wrestlingtruth.com/wrestling_tv_ppv_analysis.php

Raw Thoughts - April 7th 2008

- This week's Raw from Albany. NY, started off straight away without any recap videos, which is a good move going in to Backlash - we've all seen the Wrestlemania package hundreds of times by now.

- The show kicked off with my favorite Brit William Regal (he needs to sort that hair and music out though) proclaiming it to be the age of Orton - JR and King over hyped that phrase in my opinion. Orton is a weak champion and no amount of commentary praise in going to change that. He announced that Orton's opponent at Backlash would be JBL and out came Mr. Man Boobs. (Seriously you've had over a month to trim the fat mate), with Orton refusing to shake his hand, creating some initial heat.

Before anything boring could happen Triple H saved us and came out with the pop of the night and decided to do a "lets shit on everyone" promo. According to JBL's recent outburst on Miz & Morrsion backstage, you never cut promos that just put down your opponent, well that's what the King of King's did by explaining how his pedigree won the match and how JBL is just a commentator. It's all the truth mind. It was then announced that it would be a handicap match (Orton & JBL vs Triple H) If Hunter wins he'll be added to the Backlash main event. This again just made Orton and Bradshaw look second best to Triple H. We all knew he was going to win before it happened.

- Umaga vs Val Venis:
Umaga was looking to get a win following his poor showing at Wrestlemania against Batista (their styles just clashed) and what better way than to face everyone's favorite enhancement talent Val Venis. Just a short squash match, although Val sold the Samoan Spike like he was in the line of an oncoming train - good job. I wonder where Val will be placed in WWE's new kids initiative. Oh yeah Heat.

- Next they plugged the WWE mobile service. Text in a vote whether you thought HBK was right to retire Ric Flair. The only people voting are children. Great kids initiative. "Lets scam them of their mobile credit".

- Melina & Jillian vs Mickie James & Ashley:
Nothing more than a typical women's match here. Is it me or is Melina's fake tan looking worse each week? Mickie and Melina are really holding the women's division together, especially when you have women like Ashley. She looks like a skinny crack hor. Great example to children. Mickie & Ashley won, I think.

- Cade & Murdoch vs Kendrick & London:
Next we had an alright match between the kids and the hillbillies. What the hell was Murdoch wearing? Is he trying to be Undertaker? Some good back and forth action, I just wish they'd let London & Kendrick work not just get beat down or do spotfests. The crowd never react to the young team because their spots come from nowhere. They managed to pick up the victory, but Lilian made me laugh by calling Cade & Murdoch the winners. I guess she just expected it.

- Triple H vs Orton & JBL:
Next was the big handicap match. We didn't get the champ's or JBL's entrances but of course we got the golden boy's. This math was pretty good. I liked the trash talking stair down between Triple H and JBL, good for building tension. As much as they love Triple H he didn't win cleanly because they have to sell the PPV as a contest that can go either way. Thus Orton tagged himself in just before Bradshaw was going to go for the Clothesline from hell. The confusion allowed Hunter to win.

- The match was early in the card and there was still no Cena so there was obviously more than meets the eye. Cena then came out to mostly boos and gave us a history lesson about how he has beat all the guys in the ring. He then made a joke about beating off. No wonder he gets booed by the older generation. Regal then made another main event and Handicap match. This time Cena would take on JBL and The Game. If he wins the match at Backlash is a Fatal 4 Way. I think this match should have been next week. It started to feel a bit overbooked like Impact.

- Santino & Carlito vs Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly:
Santino needs a medal, his mannerisms are hilarious. He plays the character down to every aspect. Even his top rope headbutt was funny. His team got the win making the Tag Champs looks weak again. Why can't the creative team ever come up with something other than upset victories to build around tag title matches?

- Cryme Tyme did their ghetto segment next, which is humorous if you take it for what it is. If it pulls in some viewers from the rap culture (which is swalloiwng up the world) then that's a good thing. Mae Young's thong! It was far too small for Kardashian's anyway.

- Triple H is cool, he has earphones.

- Maria vs Beth Phoenix:
Maria's Playboy push continued in what was actually a good match between her and the Glamazon. (Boy does she look like Nattie Neidhart who debuted on Smakdown last week). Despite other Divas Maria is a real wrestling fan and her work is improving every week.

- Next was Jericho's highlight reel. I still think he's entertaining and although his look is a bit fruity it just adds to his cocky character.

They continued the HBK, Batista angle, which means ironically Flair is still a draw on the show. Like I said in my audio update Batista is doing great on the mic recently. It seems his real passion for Flair is shining through, making the angle and his talent that much better. Batista made a subtle hell turn in this segment, which is good to freshen up his character. Michaels said "do something about it," Batista replying "I already have." I'm unsure what that meant because Regal booked the match on the next segment. So was it Batista that made the match? That wasn't made clear on TV.

- Regal booked himself against Orton in England next week - hell yeah! Show him how it's done Regal.

- John Cena vs HHH & JBL:
The top dog was shown again in the way the entrances played out. Cena being the only tel vised one this time around. The match was ok, again ending with a botched finish making everyone look relatively strong. Hunter turned on JBL. Orton ran in, did the RKO and Cena capitalized.

---

It was a fairly bland show this week, but I am looking forward to Batista vs HBK at Backlash and the 4 Way should be entertaining enough.

Last week had better matches in Punk/Jericho, Hardy/Orton and Spanky & London vs. Holly & Rhodes. Everything last night was solid, though.

I'm confused on why they totally gave up on, or forgot about, Spanky's heel turn on London a few weeks ago. Their match with Cade & Murdoch was decent, though.

Melina is my favorite womens wrestler because every match I see her in, she stiffs the fuck out of whoever she's wrestling. It's great.

Santino should be given mic time every week. He's the best thing on Raw. Santino & Carlito vs. Rhodes & Holly was, again, a decent match. I like the pairing of Carlito & Santino. Has alot of potential; Santino being the silly heel with Carlito playing the straight man.

Just about every Cryme Tyme segment is corny, with a couple lines or some stuff getting a laugh from me. I like Cryme Tyme, it's just that I don't think the writers know how to write for these guys.

The Michaels/Batista stuff was really great. I hope they keep this going. Haven't enjoyed anything Batista has done this much since the Evolution stuff, I think.

Orton is supposed to be the sneaky, evil cheater heel that, no matter the situation, comes away with the win. I didn't mind how he was used, last night. They're stacking the odds more and more against him so that, when he wins the 4-way, he gets more heat. Fans will be like "FUCK! How did he do it this time? That's bullshit!". The more they put him down, the more the fans fall into the thinking that he isn't as good as the rest of them and that this will finally be the time he loses. Think Jarrett in TNA, but alot better and more effective. Orton NEEDS to win the 4-way by some sneaky shit, again, as well. The Handicap matches themselves were aight.