The Wrath of Tito - Monday Night RAW review and more
Submitted by Mr. Tito on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at 11:31 AM EST
Ah hell, why not one more column for 2003? I usually close out a year with my History and Tito Awards columns, but the WWE got in one more RAW for 2003, so why not review it for the good wrestling fans out there? Besides, this was a show that the WWE tried to go all out for, in hopes for 2004 getting off to a good start. Every year starts out good. The Royal Rumble is a can't-miss event and everyone tries to catch Wrestlemania. The problem is AFTER Wrestlemania, when the WWE doesn't know how to push new stars towards Summerslam. Take 2001, for example, when the WWE insisted on pushing Triple H and Steve Austin as dominant heels against Kane and the Undertaker, the faces. Easily, the most boring feud ever.
Last year, the WWE had one hell of a Royal Rumble, but they quickly fumbled the ball (Benoit, among other wrestlers) and started screwing up the year even before Wrestlemania happened... hence, a somewhat lackluster Wrestlemania 19, with the exception of a few matches. I have a feeling that the WWE is heading that direction, especially since the Smackdown roster wants to push guys like Bob Holly over guys who deserve the push, such as Benoit and Guerrero, who can out work Holly and Benoit actually has more personality than Holly! Holy cow!
How about some predictions for 2004? Why not?
-A massive talent roster cut will happen after Wrestlemania 20. Again, the WWE is clueless and/or lazy during the Spring/Summer after Wrestlemania, so the talent (NOT THE WRITING) will get blamed. I say this cut will be so big that other upcoming feds should benefit, instead of getting weaker WWE talent before.
-Rob Van Dam and others will let their contracts run out. I bet that Booker T is on his way out, too. If the WWE doesn't care about their upper midcarders breaking through the glass ceiling, then why should they care to be around? I seriously doubt RVD will remain with the company.
-Bill Goldberg will be OUT of the WWE. It's a shame, for I think he's turned a corner in the WWE.
-More former WWE wrestlers will unfortunately die of drugs, alcohol, or other self related deaths.
-RAW ratings will drop, insomuch that a massive talent trade will occur to shake the foundations and chemistry of Smackdown. A good many young WWE wrestlers on Smackdown will get shipped over to RAW to become Orton and Triple H's bitch.
-Randy Orton's big main event push will be a total flop in 2004.
-The Rock will officially retire and never return to the WWE at some point in 2004.
-Kevin Nash will join the creative team, only to cause lots of backstage trouble and give us even worse storylines than before.
I can't think of any more, so on to the RAW review.
RAW is TITO
Randy Orton or Mr. Overrated walks out to address the crowd in the ring. He talks but makes no sense as usual. Triple H seriously sees potential in this guy to be a main eventer? Talk about a wrong choice of an understudy! Booker T would eventually run down to challenge Orton for an IC title shot, but fatass Mark Henry runs down to stop him. That feud is STILL going? Jesus Christ, why don't you just cut off my balls?
The first match of the night was Rob Van Dam vs. Scott Steiner. Talk abot a clash of styles. Both, too, look like they are ready to pack their stuff up and leave the WWE very soon. It went on for over 5 minutes, too, and it's hard to watch five minutes of two guys who don't care at this point. Rob Van Dam won, which was good, but it's an effort too late because he'll be leaving the WWE soon. If you disrespect someone who could be in the main event, it will always come back to haunt you. Karma is a bitch!
Next, we had the Dudleys vs. Two Jobbers. A jobber match on RAW? Ric Flair, whoooo, is your special guest referee. Not much of a match, for Flair disqualified Bubba for using "closed fists", as if that rule is ever enforced. I have no complaints about Flair and Batista as champions. Why? It makes Ric Flair wrestle more, and he can usually bring out the best in his opponents. After wrestling stale opponents, the Dudleys can at least look better in the ring with Flair selling their moves like he's dying.
The 3rd match was Booker T vs. Randy Overrated. Orton can't get a good match out of anybody, and Booker T, at this point, just doesn't care to be there. Booker T... this was WCW's World Champion heading into the Invasion, and look at him here at the end of 2003. FINGER OF SHAME to the WWE for completely screwing over Booker T's wrestling career. It makes me sick to my stomach to see someone who had the passion just going through the motions. Thanks WWE, you bunch of morons. Their business should be raking in much more money today than it currently is, but nooooo, Vince McMahon's shattered ego over the Monday Night Wars got in the way and ever incoming WCW wrestler was disrespected after 2001. Total bullshit, just like Randy Orton getting a main event push.
Someone teach Trish Stratus how to cry. Nothing like seeing someone trying to act sad when their eyes are completely white and with no tears in sight. I still see Jericho and Trish ending up together, but in the end, Jericho will turn heel for the break up. The WWE can't get a good on screen relationship right.
The Six Woman match between Trish/Stacy/Lita vs. Molly/Victoria/Jackie wasn't exactly fabulous, other than the outfits the ladies were given to wrestle in. After the match, Victoria turned face by attacking Molly. I bet Molly and Victoria could churn out some pretty good matches. The WWE just has to make people LIKE Victoria has a face, and given past problems, I don't see this happening.
Throughout the day, the WWE had a "Board of Directors" meeting angle, where Vince, Linda, and others argued the case of Stone Cold Steve Austin getting re-instated. How many times has Austin been fired, suspended, or expelled? They wonder why every comeback of Austin's isn't gaining the fan interest it once did. And secondly, how many times has Austin been in an executive of some sort? Co-GM, commissioner, etc? But hey, the WWE never learns and all they can do is recycle old material.
The main event was pretty good with Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H. Credit Michaels completely for it being watchable, although he did do a lot of punching and chopping. Michaels is the only guy who has credibility against Triple H, so why not keep the feud going for Royal Rumble? Michaels is the best thing on Smackdown right now, period. Triple H seriously needs to drop weight. You could see the flab on his thighs as he tried to run and his upper torso looks terrible. He's bagged Stephanie through marriage, so why try to be the biggest guy on the roster when you'll always get a push? Triple H needs speed. He needs to eat lightning and crap thunder! Too much interference at the end. At Royal Rumble 2004, they should have HHH vs. Michaels, but with Ric Flair suspended in a cage above (like JJ Dillon once was for the Sting vs. Flair Clash of the Champions 1 match.... or Jerry Lawler once was for an Isaac Yankem vs. Bret Hart match on a RAW). This match was good, but completely one sided on the effort, for Triple H just can't compete any more.
After the match, Eric Bischoff called it right down the line and said both shoulders were down. Hey, they were.. I believe Shawn has recently pinned someone else like that lately (maybe Batista) and still got away with the win. But it screws the San Antonio fans and viewers at home of a free TV title change, for sometimes you gotta take care of your fans watching the TV shows, in addition to the Pay Per View audience. Michaels goes off and attacks Bischoff and Flair afterward, and Bischoff fires HBK for this. However, Steve Austin runs down and attacks Bischoff, rehires Michaels, and is in some position of authority again. Whoopie!
LAST WORD: Outside of Shawn Michaels, the RAW roster is need of serious help. The characters are stale and Steve Austin needs to get a miracle surgery on his neck (hello Dr. Jho) so that he can wrestle again. I'll give this show a [ C+ ] just because the HBK vs. HHH match spiked the grade. Otherwise, 2004 looks very bad for the RAW roster.
CLICK HERE to check out the 2003 Tito Awards for the best in professional wrestling!!
CLICK HERE to check out the HISTORY of 2003 column!!
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@That's all for today. Thanks a million for reading.
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