TheOneBigWill's 'take' on Monday Night Raw: December 3rd, 2007:
Opening Promo: Chris Jericho kicks things off, & in a fit of nostalgia it strangely feels good to finally have him back. Still not the best promo in the world, & his mic. skills will likely come back with time. Jericho points out that Santino had a point, about walking in off the street & gaining a Championship match. (Santino made this point, oh the irony) So Jericho basically rants off about how he more or less "earned" his Championship match, because he cost Randy Orton a match. (Hmm, always wondered how specific, undeserving, people ever became Champ, now I know)
Enter, Randy Orton. Your basic buid yourself back & forth stuff here, with Jericho reminding the world that he did in fact defeat The Rock & Steve Austin, in the same night.. while Orton relives us through his glory days of defeating John Cena, Triple H., & Shawn Michaels. I suppose its a nice back & forth segemnt.. & finally, enter William Regal to set up the double Main Event.
The Segments:
Mr. Kennedy's Heart-Breaking Promo: There is no way, I've seen a better promo, then the one he cut.. within the past 3-4 monthes. Mr. Kennedy pulled this out, & did an AMAZING job with it. I honestly had my heart set on an actual real life Marty Jannetty returning though.. so, he did kinda break my heart.
The best part, hands down, would have to be the Scott Hall reference to no-showing T.N.A.'s p.p.v. ("By the way, thanks for showing up!" CLASSIC!) My only real question, is as it looks through a real life (behind the scenes) stand point. I'm curious what Kevin Nash, & Scott Hall really think of the mocking?! Because even in other brands, Hall & Nash have always been faithful for sticking up for Shawn.. so this is kinda iffy to me.
15th Anniversary Build: Okay, didn't Raw debut in 1993? At, the beginning of the year? So, why would you run an "early" 15th Anniversary show? Just a random thought. Anyways.. Nice plug to get in all the Legends returning. Trish Stratus, Mick Foley, Steve Austin, Eric Bischoff, & the soon to be newly divorced, Hulk Hogan! (glad to see he's looking for an alimony check for the ex, brother!
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Triple H./William Regal: It opens with a plug for wweshop.com, without the .com part. Imagine that, Triple H. is trying to decide which shirt (of his own) he wants to wear. So, the billion-dollar question.. why H.H.H. v. Jeff Hardy.. & the answer is.. Triple H. only destroys those he doesn't respect, but he respects Jeff Hardy.. until.. (Lance Storm quality dramatic pause) a Royal Rumble Championship title shot is on the line!
If anything, I honestly think this gives Jeff Hardy MORE of a chance to win, simply because normally the Rumble title matches don't switch hands. (normally) Also, what would the assumed match be?! Triple H. v. Randy Orton, Triple H. v. Chris Jericho (two top quality WM matches to me) or.. Randy Orton v. Jeff Hardy, or Chris Jericho v. Jeff Hardy. (two top quality filler p.p.v. matches, to me)
Stephanie McMahon/Vince McMahon: Uhmm.. "Dad, you've always gotten your ass kicked, stay away." "No!" *ackwardly leaves.* Yep.. weird. Not really sure how to handle this, I figured Stephanie would've mentioned something regarding taking Hornswoggle's side.. & apparently Linda is back to not being on the same side as Vince with the inside crack.. but instead, we get a plug for Steph pleaing with her Father to NOT help the ratings by taking another ass stomping for the 547305743097 time.
The Matches:
1. Beth Phoenix & Melina v. Mickie James & Maria: After watching T.N.A. Turning Point, & their Knockout's Tag Team match.. I was surely in store for assuming W.W.E. would stick it to them, with 3 of their best performers. Its funny how wrong I apparently was. And its also funny how 3 of the best female performers W.W.E. currently has, can go out & botch so many moves.
On the match, or storyline side of things.. what purpose did it serve for Beth to pin Mickie, dominately & cleanly? I'm assuming Mickie James definately won't be walking away with Beth's unfinished Candice Michelle feud still looming, so why bury Mickie completely? Give the fans a glimmer of hope, let Mickie pick up the fluke pin on Beth.
2. Umaga v. Chris Jericho: Finally, a solid match to put Jericho back into. Umaga was a great choice to put up against Jericho, as it'd showcase that he hasn't lost a step, & can go with this year's headliners. (Umaga was dominately undefeatable at one time, you know)
This match had everything Jericho "fans" were complaining for. The Lion Sault, The (attempted) Walls of Jericho, the high risk & the new "Code Breaker." The ending also left Umaga with a shred of monster cred, as he didn't cleanly lose. Although he solid being "out" after Jericho's finish pretty nicely, enough to make me believe he would've lost.
3. Handicapped Match: Carlito & The Coach v. Hornswoggle: There were ups & downs to this pathetic waste of time. To start with the down, Carlito is just being destroyed & I'm standing by my word.. each week he's shit on.. he'll throw back at them when he's winning T.N.A. matches with his amazing wrestling skills.
Now then, the UP!
A.P.A. Returns!! Assuming it was a one night only type of gig, but still another fit of nostalgia & a nice one. Was it just me, or did J.B.L. look thinner?! (Apparently listening to Cole's broadcasting ability makes you lose your appetite) Regardless, I marked huge for this.. as I want J.B.L. to return to wrestling.. (or at least did, until I seen how sloppy he was.. lol)
4. Intercontinental Championship: Jeff Hardy v. Snitsky: Honestly, I thought for sure Triple H. was "accidentally" going to cost Jeff Hardy the Intercontinental Championship.. but I was wrong. Thankfully, wrong, albeit. As I personally don't want Snitsky as Intercontinental Champion.. & I didn't think they'd have him take a clean loss. Definately destroys Snitsky's push, in my opinion.
The Triple H. ending wasn't surprising. I wouldn't see him bashing Hardy with the sledgehammer until AFTER Hardy defeats him at Unforgiven. (so, in most likelyhood.. don't expect to see the sledge)
Main Event: Randy Orton v. Shawn Michaels: As always, the Head liner, the Show Stopper, the Main Event.. the man himself, can carry you through a solid Main Event. Great match, most H.B.K. one's normally are. Nice finish, predictable finish.. with Kennedy interfering.
The only downside & thing that I hated.. why.. how, how is the word.. How is it, that in one match, someone can simply run to ringside & grab someone else.. causing an instant DQ.. yet in other instances, say this one.. Kennedy can blantantly hit Shawn Michaels & brawl with him, while the official is clearly seeing the whole thing, & just counting away?!?! Stupid finish through that side of things, but understandable, through storyline stand-points.
Best Match of the Night: Chris Jericho v. Umaga -- The only reason it beats out Shawn Michaels/Randy Orton, to me, is because it was solid & fast paced almost all the way through. Not a lot of slowly down, & more or less, straight to the point.
Worst Match of the Night: Hornswoggle v. The Coach & Carlito -- I continue to disapprove of booking Hornswoggle in anything OTHER than backstage segments & in-ring promos. Raw had "HeAT" talent that wasted away off air, while this mess was happening. A.P.A. allowed it to stay, thats all.
Most Shocking Moment: A.P.A.'s return! Easily, even though the Kennedy promo definately stole a lot of the show for me.. I honestly never seen A.P.A. returning.
Best Promo: Mr. Kennedy's Heart Breaker.. hands down, not only best promo of the night, but of the past 3-4 monthes.. easy. It was all around solid & I will definately be talking about it for days, even weeks to come.
Overall Thoughts: For next week's showdown for being (hopefully) one of the Best Raw's in a long time, I think tonight's gave it a good sized run for its money. Nice night of action & surprise returns. Matches weren't too drug on, & promos were all around solid. My rating.. 9/10!