The Wrath of Tito - Full RAW review, Steve Austin, Smackdown, Mysterio, more
Submitted by Mr. Tito on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 10:05 AM EST
Welcome to the column that's happening, the Wrath of Tito. Despite the constant whining about how this column hates Triple H, I'll stick to my guns and keep hammering the point that Triple H IS bad for wrestling. He only looks decent now because Michaels and Benoit are carrying his ass in the ring. Why did he look bad before he started feuding with Michaels and Benoit? Those two, and Flair sort of, have given Triple H his best matches since his return in 2002! Nobody can deny that.
Anyway... I had some interesting feedback from the Backlash review. I personally believe that many are overrating parts of the show, namely Orton vs. Foley. I've seen Foley wrestle that type of hardcore match for years. I gave Orton credit for his two brutal bumps (one on the thumbtacks, the other through the plywood), but it was a typical "beat up Foley" match in the end. The WWE was CLEARLY attempting to light a fire for Orton much like Royal Rumble 2000 lit a fire for Triple H. Will it work? I honestly don't believe Orton can have a better match outside of this, at least not in this year. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.
-The big news of this week is that Stone Cold Steve Austin is GONE from the WWE. Actually, this will free up a lot of television time for younger WWE wrestlers, so that's a good thing. Austin is not as popular as he used to be, so losing him won't cause a ratings hit. He can only do the authority figure for so long until it gets really repetitive, so goodbye. What hurts Austin the most in his bargaining process is that he can't wrestle. Why should the WWE pay a lot of money to Austin if he can't wrestle on a regular basis? If NWA-TNA picks him up, what can they seriously do with him? Poor Austin, though, as he should have trademarked the "Stone Cold" name after he came up with it in 1996. STUPID move on his part, and the WWE will most likely keep the name to keep him from using it elsewhere... as if he could get popular elsewhere as just a television personality.
Austin should have lowered his market value. He can't wrestle, yes. But Austin is good for his merchandise sales, and that pads his wallet. His job isn't that hard, either, to drive down in a 4-Wheeler, give Stunners, and drink beer. You want more money to do THAT fun? I think Austin wanted more creative power, for if it were up to him, he'd do Steve Austin vs. Vince McMahon all over again (which he reportedly wanted to do before he walked out in 2002). If Austin wants to do stuff on television or movies, he better get the WWE tag back on him because he won't get much interest from Hollywood without it.
-Another bad Smackdown... Ratings continue to bottom out, as this show was heavily damaged from the draft and namely the trades afterward, and the main event scene just has Eddie Guerrero.... nobody else. I'm trying to be patient with Bradshaw. He needs to have a good match with someone on the way up before wrestling Guerrero and prove to the fans that he has the wrestling ability to merit the push. A major criticism of Bradshaw is his in ring ability, for he'll either work too stiff or can sometimes get sloppy. This is Bradshaw's push and it's up to HIM to prove everyone wrong that he deserves it. Bradshaw needs to take the bull by the horns and make something of his new look, persona, and possibly the last big push of his career before he ends up like Faarooq, although I doubt the WWE would release him ever.
-I found it hilarious that Rey Mysterio is currently hearing from creative "we don't have anything for you right now". I thought Mysterio was supposed to get a push after his Chavo feud? The usual lies from the WWE. Maybe he could go back to the Cruiserweight division... oh wait, that means he'd feud with Chavo again, and again, and again, and again, and again!! The Cruiserweight division has been made into a laughing stock, especially after sending Tajiri to RAW (bad decision on the WWE's part). The unwillingness for the WWE to push that division outside of a few names is an absolute joke. They were handed the Ultimo Dragon, but quickly gave up on him because they didn't like his wrestling style (he wouldn't conform to their watered down and dogging it style). Then you have guys like Jamie Noble, whom creative also has nothing for. I could go on and on...
But Mysterio is a great performer, and he's proven it time in and time out against guys OUTSIDE of the Cruiserweight division. His feud with Kurt Angle was fantastic. His tag team matches with Edge were fantastic (both against Angle/Benoit and the Guerreros). He's one of the more popular wrestlers, and his ability makes fans believe that he can hang with guys twice his size. But in the end, it's the usual bad creative team saying "we have nothing for you", when Smackdown is suffering from bad creative decisions.
I actually don't have much else to say, for I gotta go out of town for the day here in a little bit. So on to RAW!
RAW is TITO
The first match of the night saw Christian vs. Chris Jericho wrestling the opening bout, which was far better than their Backlash effort. The crowd seemed to be more into their match here, too. Hell, I liked this better than the Wrestlemania 20 match. Good opener, until the ending when a big musclebound man ran in and kicked Jericho (but fell down making the kick), allowing Christian to win. After the match, Christian introduced the world to Tommy, Thomas, or Thompson Tomko. Wow, what a name. He looks like another Batista and I predict he'll get lost in the fold in a few weeks. Good match, bad ending.
Chris Benoit made it to the ring with a HUGE pop from the Calgary fans, who weren't absent from RAW despite the Flames playing last night. Benoit speaks for a bit, and then Shawn Michaels arrives with a lot of heat. Jesus, turn that guy heel already! Michaels wants a match with Benoit, citing a previous RAW match before Wrestlemania 20 where Michaels beat Benoit in a one on one match (pretty good bout, too). They'd like to do it now, but Eric Bischoff wants to do it in 2 weeks. While that's a smart move to build the match up, imagine how hot the crowd would be for Benoit vs. Michaels one on one. You know, since the Edmonton fans were denied it at Backlash when Triple H entered himself into that match.
Next match, it was Victoria vs. Molly Holly. Victoria seems to be really happy in her current role as face, showing tons of enthusiasm in her entrance. That division needs more of that (Lita) or it will never get off the ground. The match didn't have much time to work with, and then Molly's whig got ripped off. She snapped and put Victoria into an illegal chokehold which ended the match. Why the WWE did Lita vs. Victoria at Backlash still puzzles me, especially when they jumped back to the Victoria vs. Molly feud.
Backstage, Evolution arrives and Triple H was mad after being told about Benoit vs. Michaels at Phoenix. Jesus Christ, is he going to insert himself into THAT match, too? Whatever happens, Triple H will get himself involved and we'll never see a pure one on one match between Michaels and Benoit, ever. All I want is for Michaels and Benoit wrestle a match without having to worry about time constraints and outside interference. Won't happen as long as Triple H calls the shots.
Kane made an up close interview, trying to say he'll bring his intensity back. How? Kane has no credibility after the Katie Vick angle and getting unmasked, both with losses to Triple H, and then he had to feud with Shane for 3 months last year (which destroyed his career). Oh, and wrestling a BAD match against Undertaker at Wrestlemania 20 didn't help, just as losing to Edge at Backlash didn't. Time for a gimmick change, seriously, maybe even dropping the Kane gimmick.
Randy Orton comes out and gives a good speech on his match last night. His forehead looked like hamburger, too. Edge came down and cut a WEAK promo against Orton, saying he watched Orton while out with his neck injury. Edge's seems somewhat outdated in his early months back with the WWE. He attacks Orton, which prompts Evolution to run down. Benoit would make the save, and Triple H hit Benoit with a Pedigree. Wow, yet another one on camera for precious Triple H to remind fans who has booking power on RAW! This would set up Eric Bischoff to give Benoit/Edge tag title shots against Batista/Flair in the main event. Looks like Edge is getting a popularity rub from Benoit. From Benoit?!? Say it ain't so that the WWE recognizes that Benoit is over?!?
Next, it was Garrison Cade vs. Tajiri. Seriously Cade, change your look. He just looks like a plain wrestler with bleached hair. Now granted, Barry Windham got away with it, but that was Barry F'N Windham, one of the best performers when injuries didn't nag him. This feud with the coach is so bad, as Tajiri is just getting wasted since his trade to RAW. Any creative member saying "this feud will look great" needs to be checked for the crack that they are smoking. Bad match and Cade wins... but nobody cared.
In the ring, Eugene shot William Regal in the nuts with the T-shirt cannon. Oh man, this mentally challenged gimmick just gets me excited to watch RAW, every week. I'm just waiting for when the certain handicap groups start publicly criticizing the WWE for their actions. I actually can't wait for that.
Our next match was going to be Val Venis/Lita vs. Gail Kim/Matt Hardy, but Kane ran down for the attack! Kane was going after Lita, but Matt Hardy turned face and tried to make the save. Notice I said "tried". We may have Lita and Matt together again, which if anything, might actually keep Matt Hardy from losing as much as he's been doing!
The main event was Batista/Flair vs. Benoit/Edge. Decent tag bout, outside of the tons of outside intereference. I disagree about Benoit/Edge winning the tag team titles though. Then again, where's the tag team division on RAW? I'm assuming Edge/Benoit will hold the tag titles while HBK wins the World Title in Phoenix. Possibly a bad decision on the WWE's part over the tag titles, but we'll see what happens in the weeks to come.
LAST WORD: SOME decent wrestling this week, but some bad storylines going on in the midcard. Overall, it was an OK show. I'd like to hit the road now, for I'll give the grade and go. I give this show a [ B- ] (B minus).
Mr. Tito's BLOG! My thoughts on Sports, Politics, Entertainment, and everything NOT Wrestling!
Willygoat Valley Wrestling - A Backyard Fed that's Still Alive and Kickin'!
LoPForums.com
@That's all for today. Thanks a million for reading.
Mr. Tito © 1998 - 2004 LordsofPain.net/WrestlingHeadlines.com
Brooke Hogan Hanging from a Tree at the Beach! WOW!
