The Wrath of Tito - RAW review, WWE/Spike TV, Jericho, Dudleys, more
Submitted by Mr. Tito on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 at 8:00 PM EST
Welcome, one and all, to the eventual edition of the Wrath of Tito, the column that's a dish best served cold! We are vastly approaching the fall season of the WWE, where things tend to pick up a bit in the wake of Monday Night Football. Usually, the WWE slacks off during the summer and starts trying AFTER Summerslam. The WWE will have to try once they begin on USA Networks to keep the ratings high.
-While I'm on that subject, the BIG NEWS OF THE WEEK is the dissolving of the Spike TV and WWE relationship. Spike TV has not only insulted the WWE with its UFC commercials, but Spike has also aired NWA-TNA ads during RAW as well. Of course, Spike TV has every right to do this. It's THEIR network and they can run ads to promote THEIR network. But the lack of professionalism shows, and it may be a reason why Spike TV isn't as popular as hoped by Viacom. While the network has gained viewers over time, mostly thanks to CSI reruns, the network hasn't exactly grabbed the male demographic as intended. They aren't running away with that group of viewers.
But let's face it, where would Spike TV be without the WWE? UFC would struggle in the ratings if it didn't feed off WWE viewers at 11:05 pm on Monday nights. TNA pimps the hell out of their shows during RAW, so how much viewership is attributed to the WWE? A great deal, even though the WWE has actually decreased in viewership themselves since jumping from the USA Networks in 2000 (I'll discuss this later in a column about the so-called "winner's curse" about Spike TV overpaying for WWE). The simple fact is that if you're on your way out the door, Spike TV/Viacom will shit all over you. Look at ECW during 2000, for example. The second Spike TV began negotiations with WWE, ECW was left out in the cold with zero promotion to help boost viewership.
Despite accepting less money, I'm sure Vince McMahon is happy to be back with USA Networks. That's a way more professional network and they knew how to promote shows. USA took care of the WWE back in 1997 when the WWE needed TWO hours instead of 1 for Monday Night RAW. This, ladies and gentlemen, was during a rough period for the WWE when WCW was kicking their ass in the ratings and RAW was at a ratings rock bottom! USA, instead of cancelling RAW or moving them to another timeslot, stood by the WWE and enabled them the ability to compete. Without USA Networks giving RAW a two hour timeslot in 1997, the WWE would NOT exist here today! WCW would have destroyed them and would have bought Vince McMahon out! When the WWE kept growing in size during 1998 or 1999, who gave them Sunday Night Heat? USA Networks! Who actually promoted the Sunday/Saturday morning shows well and actually had both shows over a 1.0 rating each morning? USA Networks!
WWE may have the last laugh, though... It seems that Spike TV has become cocky with UFC's success. However, the ratings are in, and Ultimate Fighter's ratings aren't booming like they once were. My guess what that Spike was about to put UFC material up against RAW, but that may prove to be an ultimate failure. With NWA-TNA, it's too unpredictable whether they'll step up to the challenge of doing well on cable television or not. They DID NOT grow while they were on FOX Sports Net, though many pre-emptions occur on that network. Spike is more stable and shouldn't pre-empt any TNA broadcasts. But there's no guarantee that TNA will put on a product that creates new fans or brings in current wrestling fans. TNA has a lot to prove just yet and they are, by no means, a guaranteed success on Spike TV.
The big thing will be when the WWE transitions to USA Networks. Will fans know about it? An actual good advertising campaign occurred in 2000 when the WWE jumped to Spike TV, and USA Networks actually allowed the WWE to tell fans on their show about the channel switch. That was very professional on USA Networks's part at the time, but the question remains on if Spike TV would do the same. I HIGHLY doubt it, based on the unprofessional behavior they currently show or have shown in the past.
-I played Day of Reckoning 2 for a while at my local EB Games. I'm VERY impressed with the game. It wrestles much like the first DoR for the Gamecube, but with an updated roster and WAY better graphics. Over time, I considered Day of Reckoning #1 to be the best wrestling game of all time. I'm serious. The control is great, the gameplay is so smooth, and the options are fantastic. I went back to the old N64 games that I love and Day of Reckoning puts them under the table. DoR 2 is a nicely upgraded DoR. The control plays exactly the same, and the Gamecube controller is PERFECT for this game. DoR beats both the Playstation 2 and XBox games by a long mile. DoR 2 is possibly the best wrestling game of all time. I'm serious when I say that. I recommend it and give the game an [ A+ ]. If you love wrestling, get a Gamecube for real cheap and go for it (as well as picking up Mario Kart, Mario Golf, among other games). If you are unwilling to shell out $49.99, then buy the first Day of Reckoning, which I KNOW has been marked down, price-wise. I've seen a few places sell the game anywhere from $9.99 to $19.99. That's a BARGAIN for a fantastic game.
-I'm not interested, however, in the new Wrestlemania DVD Box Set. I have all of them on VHS, though that's an absolete technology. However, my demand to have all of the Wrestlemanias has diminished. I used to watch through the entire set, one by one, at least once a year. I probably haven't watched an entire old Wrestlemania for about 3 years now. My demand for older wrestling is now resorted by the new material that the WWE is putting out. I figure that the very best matches from Wrestlemania will be placed on "best of" or wrestler compilations at some time or another.
-The true power of the WWE Monopoly has shown up with the censorship of the Dudley Boys. Just as the Dudleys were beginning to accept tender offers from various indy promotions after the 90 day no-compete cycle ended, they were informed that they could NOT use the "Dudley" name or use any maneurisms of the Dudley Boys. Why? The WWE happened to trademark the Dudley name/gimmick. This completely screws Bubba and D'Von from finding work on future promotions. Why bring in the Dudley Boys if you can't advertise them as the Dudley Boys? Team 3D is NOT as marketable as Dudley Boys. The Dudleys could opt to try and sue the WWE for denying them work elsewhere, or they could simply call themselves the "Dudlee Boys", just as Rhino called himself "Rhyno" to avoid any trademarks from Marvel Comics. But they can't act like the Dudleys... But hey, that's a benefit, for the WWE never allowed them to be the EVIL Dudleys who used to get on the mic and shoot from the hip. I guarantee Bubba and D'Von would act differently on the indy circuit, anyway, for the WWE is so controlling of wrestling styles anyway. And how can a judge determine maneurisms of wrestlers and if wrestlers violated the legal threat?
Someone dropped the ball, however, on the Dudleys side on getting the name copyrighted. They should have filed papers during their ECW run. Instead, fumbling done on both the Dudleys and Paul Heyman's part has enabled the WWE to control the name and gimmick. I'm beginning to sense that rights to the names/gimmicks were handed over to the WWE as part of the Dudleys jumping to the WWE from ECW in late 1999. Very foolish on the Dudleys' part, HOWEVER, they did make some nice bank while they were in the WWE. Hopefully, both guys saved their money because without the Dudleys name, they will struggle to draw on the indy circuit. Ask Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, among many other WWE names who are blocked out from making money from older gimmicks.
-Chris Jericho (a guy who actually copyrighted his name by himself) stirred some shit last week when he put up a graphic of himself posing in front of the TNA logo. He took it down immediately, probably getting good advice from friends not to burn the WWE bridge or quite possibly, a legal threat by the WWE based on his 90 day no-compete clause. Whatever the case may be, it was foolish on Jericho's part to put that graphic up. The WWE IS the monopoly of the wrestling business, for they are the only place where you can receive a guaranteed contract in professional wrestling. Everywhere else, you have to earn your keep and there's no guarantee that the fed will be around in a few months based on economics. While I agree that Jericho should seek other work besides the WWE, given how poorly Jericho has been booked since 2002, he should have done it in a more professional way. Posting a graphic of yourself posing in front of a NWA-TNA logo was just about as stupid as Matt Hardy revealing the Edge/Lita affair in a public manner.
Now, Jericho has probably lost touch with the WWE. He could have used a possible offer from TNA to strike up a better contract with the WWE (or vice versa, to receive a higher TNA contract). However, now, he'll likely be unable to have that bargaining chip and may resort to working for peanuts for NWA-TNA. But hey, Jericho does what he wants, just as he's taking time off to tour with his band. Oh wait, who helps him promote his band? The WWE... I can completely see why the WWE prefers for wrestlers to NOT have a personal webpage. It helped wreck Hardy's career, and now it may wreck Jericho's career.
-I sense that Bret Hart negotiating with TNA is a work... The WWE, again, doesn't do things to let another federation capitalize off their actions. Why put out a Bret Hart DVD when NWA-TNA would capitalize off of his appearance on television? That makes absolutely no sense and the WWE wouldn't even dare let Hart talk on his DVD for this instance. He's signed, lock, stock, and barrel with the WWE. Expect him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame either this year or at Wrestlemania 23, especially if that's in Canada. I believe that the news of Hart "negotiating with TNA" is to get fans' hopes up, only to be let down when "negotiations fall through". I'll eat my words if he does show up for TNA, but I guarantee he won't.
Besides, what does Hart owe NWA? He wrestled for his dad and then went on to the WWE. WCW long destroyed NWA ties by the time he arrived in 1997. What would the point be for joining NWA-TNA, a place who also features crash TV wrestling and once let Vince Russo, a Hart enemy, to call the shots?
I also believe that Bret Hart is working fans with regards to Shawn Michaels. Shawn is a born-again Christian. I guarantee that HBK has felt guilt after 2002 and has spoken to Bret Hart on the telephone somewhere. Did you happen to notice that after Bret agreed to do the DVD, HBK amped up the Bret Hart stuff on television? He's usually quiet about Hart in public. I'm guessing that Hart and HBK are actually cool here in 2005 and that HBK's mocking will eventually serve as some sort of redemption for Hart once he officially returns. Hart criticizing both HBK and Triple H for their actions in 1997 is a complete work. I guarantee that both have spoken to Hart and have smoothed things out. I'm sure Vince McMahon and Bret Hart have smoothed things out as well. Again, why else would Bret agree to the DVD and let WWE.com take pictures of him shaking hands with Vince?
Don't allow yourself to be fooled. Bret Hart IS a member of the WWE again. It's only a matter of time before Hart officially announces it to the fans. Don't be fooled by his on-line commentaries that suggest otherwise. Unless he actually does show up on TNA, you need not be fooled by the Hitman's words.
-I would NOT rush Batista vs. Randy Orton anytime soon. Maybe schedule that match/feud for around Wrestlemania 22, but NOT right now. Batista seems to be working well in his role as the top face, though his wrestling ability certainly needs polished. It's Randy Orton... I LIKE the current progress of Orton. He seems to be slowly gaining confidence in the ring since he's returned to working as a heel. Let him grow... the guy is around 25 and has YEARS to develop into a top guy. Putting him in a feud with Rey Mysterio is actually great. Mysterio is an over face, and Orton's actions against Mysterio could stir up fans. Orton has made several in-ring improvements since we last saw him around Wrestlemania 21. He seems to be adding more offense, as well as fighting dirtier as a heel. He's slowly starting to get it... He was rushed to the World Title and turned into a face without the need to turn him into a face (like Rock/Austin's turns, when they were over as faces while playing heels). Let the boy grow, which as been my absolute argument about Orton from the start. Look at what a slow development did for Batista, for example. It turned him into a legit nemesis for Triple H for Wrestlemania 21.
Development is the key here with Orton. Feed him some faces to work with... Rey Mysterio is a great idea, and maybe feuding with Booker T is another. Chris Benoit? Slowly build Orton into a great heel so that he'll be ready to square off with Batista for the potential of DRAWING MONEY at an event down the road. Don't rush it because neither party is ready for the possible humiliation it could bring. I believe that both Orton and Batista still have that "Evolution" stigma in everyone's heads, meaning that this is a feud that Triple H, not the fans, wants to see, given how Orton/Batista are good pals to Triple H in real life (hence why both were in Evolution and given the World Title).
-Speaking of Triple H... does the WWE really need him? Reports suggest that he's soon coming back and he's actually on the card for the Australian tour to wrestle John Cena for the WWE Title. This means that Triple H won't be turning heel as initially reported. I've heard from various places and from fans suggesting that Triple H will eventually return, ala the Flair and HBK friendship. That's right, Triple H vs. HBK, version 3887278029. Granted, those are good matches, but it's nice to see something fresh, other than HBK vs. HHH again and Flair fooling fans in favor of Triple H again. I really doubt Triple H could get over as a face, for he's a natural as a heel and weak as a face. Just look at his face work in 2002 to realize how piss poor he was as a face.
But losing Triple H hasn't meant anything for business or the ratings. I imagine Summerslam was a smash with Hogan vs. HBK on the card, and the ratings have been steady in the 3.6 to 4.1 range while HHH has been gone (Credit: Wrestling Information Archive). I've said it for a long time now... Triple H is not a drawing wrestler. It's no coincidence that 2002 and 2003 were the WWE's biggest declining years and Triple H was the top guy for each of those years on RAW. It's good to have zero Triple H on RAW, for it's enabling the likes of John Cena, Chris Jericho, Chris Masters, Carlito, Kurt Angle, and even Shawn Michaels to jump into the spotlight. Especially Masters and Carlito, whom I believe are key players in the future of the WWE!
For anyone who says I "bash HHH too much", facts are facts. The ratings show that the absence of HHH hasn't hurt business.
On to RAW.
RAW is TITO
The show started off with Shawn Michaels being interviewed by Carlito for the Cabana thing. Funny interview, with HBK really laying into Hulk Hogan (nice of you to use that creative control, Hogan), and Carlito laying on the sass. After a while, Masters ran came down and teamed up with Carlito to attack HBK. Ric Flair made the save. I watched this interview while flipping channels with Mrs. Tito and I told her "I guarantee they turn HBK vs. Masters into a tag match". What happened next segment? Bischoff turned it into a tag match. While it's a better match up, it's ruining one week of hyping HBK vs. Masters.
What a waste it was to see Big Show wrestling jobbers. Big Show needs to turn heel and I'll tell you a good feud for him... SHAWN MICHAELS. That's some true and legit David vs. Goliath. Big Show's character has been hard to understand since being traded from Smackdown. Seems like he's worthless on RAW, but a contender on Smackdown? After the match, Snitsky attacked to remind us that we get to see more of that feud. What's funny is that after a year, Snitsky has a stable WWE job as the large sized heel to put over other wrestlers.... Like Albert.
Next, we had Candice Michelle and Torrie Wilson talking to Ashley again. Candice Michelle looks dynamite, but she talks as if she just had a sex change. I do kinda like the 2 Divas pairing up as primadonnas against Ashley and I enjoyed them forcing Ashley into her first match against... Victoria. That was good booking, as Victoria demolished Ashley and Ashley took the Widow's Peak very well. I'd put Victoria with Torrie and Candice on a permanent basis and then bring Trish Stratus back as a face to help out Ashley. Can you imagine the fun of seeing someone wrestling Victoria with TWO ladies on the outside constantly interfering? It would be like Flair wrestling when he had Miss Elizabeth and Woman cheating for him often.
I hope Cade and Murdoch do well as a tag team... That division could certainly get some attention in the WWE. Remember when the Dudleys, Edge/Christian, and Hardys were main midcard attractions? They sold lots of mechandise, brother. WWE has a history of doing well when in addition to a great main event, the midcard does well. Same thing with WCW, as they had fantastic Cruiserweight matches to sure up the NWO storylines.
Backstage, Edge chewed out the interviewer for interrupting his pals who play his theme music. I don't know, Edge just doesn't seem to be working well as a heel. His interviews fall flat, despite all of the effort he gives to act intense. He should act more cocky than intense as a heel, for that's worked for him in the past. Edge and Christian only got intense for the Conchairto, for they were otherwise cocky S.O.B.'s who were loathed for their attitudes.
GOOD LORD, Lita has been SMOKIN~! hot lately. Since she's thinned down, it's really made her boobs look ginormous. The "straps" she called an outfit really showed that. I don't know, based on her hotness lately, how could Matt Hardy not go back to that?
Backstage, someone knocked out Ric Flair and left him bloody. Flair would later comeback, which has many people buzzing about yet another Flair/HHH swerve. God, I hope not.
Edge vs. Matt Hardy wasn't what it was billed to be, just like Summerslam... Lousy WWE Hardcore bout with lame weapons to boot. The finish was EVEN worse, with the usual "off the stage on a gimmicked landing" finish. Sparks were set off, too. Then, Jim Ross put on his best Over the Edge 1999 voice in hopes to convince viewers that the injuries ARE real and should be taken seriously. Again, this is wrong because the WWE is playing off emotions. With if Hardy and Edge actually DID get hurt and it took a while to clean up the situation? An accident will occur, once again, in the ring and who will know the difference between if it was real or fake?
John Cena came out and did a lousy promo, if I must say so myself. His gimmick and character, in my opinion, have become very stale due to overexposure. It will merit negative reaction, just as Rock eventually started getting boo's while he was a face and shoved down people's throats. Thankfully, a real talent like Kurt Angle came out and delivered, as always. Angle has a lot of credibility, based on his past winnings and his smooth talking that doesn't need catch phrases, unlike Cena. If I'm at an arena, I'm cheering for Angle to rip Cena apart, based on how lame Cena has become over the last year. They'd eventually brawl, with Cena actually avoiding any heel beatdown... THIS week.
Tyson Tomko defeated Rosey with the big boot, something he's been winning with lately. Tomko doesn't have the all around ability to match a lethal finisher. Everytime he's in the ring, he fucks up several moves. TOO green, my friends. Rosey and Hurricane continue to be wasted as Tag Champs. I'm willing to bet that Murdoch and Cade win the titles in a heartbeat.
I liked the main event that was first Shawn Michaels vs. Carlito/Chris Masters, but later turned into a tag match when bloody Ric Flair ran down. It was nice seeing Michaels change it up against Carlito and Masters. They seemed to hold their own, somewhat, and that's important for future growth. I really liked the ending of Masters making Flair pass out to the Masterlock. They should have let Masters defeat Big Show with the lock, but that's an opportunity wasted. Good main...
LAST WORD: Very hot and cold show this week from the WWE. I probably liked half of the material on the show, while I disliked the rest. At least several newer WWE guys are getting an opportunity to grow before our very eyes, and that's important because once HHH is back, everybody plays second fiddle. I'll go [ C+ ] for this week's show.
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