The One and Only Raw thread 2/18

[Guest teke184]

IMHO, the show should start with a SHORT (maximum of 5 minutes) promo to set things up for the night then have a hot match to warm up the crowd, probably with wrestlers who usually appear on Jakked or Heat due to a lack of promo time.  Giving them a 5 minute match will change up the show from the 10-15 wrestlers who are featured weekly, and the opening spot can be given to a different set of lower-carders each week.  I know that some of these people are hurt right now, but good openers could be Mike Awesome vs. TAKA, Christian vs. Kanyon, or Lance Storm vs. Jerry Lynn.  

 

If upper-midcarders or main-eventers are used in the opening match, they must be involved in the rest of the show in some way, be it promos to set up that month's PPV, interfering in someone's match, or wrestling a second match.  An example of this would be Edge vs. Booker T, which would end with Jericho or Regal screwing one of the participants, leading to the screwed wrestler getting a title shot later in the show or building to a run-in during Jericho or Regal's title defense.

 

 

The problem with most of the current opening matches is that popular rising talents featured in such a match (RVD) aren't seen for the rest of the night.

 

In the case of Jericho, it's pretty much a rule that a WWF champion's match (title or non-title) should be at least a semi-main event on RAW or Smackdown, no matter who holds the belt.  If they treat Jericho like a mid-card joke, it hurts the credibility of the WWF title.  Considering the Musical Titles game the WWF has been playing since the Attiude Era started, the last thing they need to do is make the WWF title seem like a joke.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Im going to follow some sound advice, you know "if you dont have anything good to say, dont say anything at all." Because I dont have anything good to say about RAW last night.

[Guest Phr33k]

The Austin/Angle promo was a waste of TV time, other than proving that we're either gonna see Austin vs. nWo or Austin vs. Angle again at Mania. As long as they do another **** match, I don't mind them doing Austin/Angle through 2003. It's like a Sting/Vader thing.

 

Main event was pretty damned good. Sets up a Jericho/HHH PPV match, and I'm sure Steph will figure in here somehow. Last time they wrestled was a pretty good match, so I'm expecting another one.

 

I hope Undertaker will be Flair's broomstick at Mania. However, I like how they're using him now. Undertaker's character makes a better heel.

 

Rock vs. Hogan shouldn't be all bad. It's the one that's most likely to be, though.

 

Hated the truck thing, overkill bullcrap. Which would be a good name for a rock band, BTW. However, it still established the nWo as a force. They neglected that in the InVasion. The nWo should work out.

 

Hall and Nash should get the tag belts before Mania, just so they can kill the APA. Why not, it would be good to watch.

 

Good RAW, I liked to see them setting up Wrestlemania the night after No Way Out to allow more time for angle development. Mania's already shaping up nicely, and I'd buy a ticket in a second.

[Guest WWF4Life]

I thought it was one of the greatest episodes of Raw of all time. Everything flowed well, and the confrontations involving the nWo, Austin and Rock were electrifying. I was on the edge of my seat all night. Thanks WWF, and thankyou Vince McMahon. WrestleMania's gunna be awesome. =)

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

This Wrestlemania seems destined to join the likes of Wrestlemania XI, Wrestlemania XIII, and Wrestlemania XV in the annals of the Hall of Shame.

[Guest WWF4Life]

Why's that?? The annals of the Hall of Shame? It's Hogan-Rock dude! If you can't get excited about that, you're not a fan of the WWF.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

No opinion, although those carrot sticks I grabbed from the fridge on the way back were damn good.

But were they "that damn good"?  And are they holding RVD down?

[Guest Tony149]

The only thing this WrestleMania will have in common with WM XV is doing big business. Work-rate will suck, but in wrestling...it's all about the $$$$$$$

[Guest WWF4Life]

What's the biggest buy rate for a WrestleMania? Is it X-Seven? I'm pretty confident this will out draw last years event. I can't wait!!

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Hogan/Rock will be worse than Taker/Sid.

[Guest El Satanico]

Who gives a shit about "buy rates" and "draws". Since when is that shit a valid argument to show that a PPV will be good?

 

Unless you are Vince Mcmahon or someone in a high position in WWF there is no reason for you to care about how the show sells. Stop trying to seem "smart" and throwing around this shit that means nothing to us.

[Guest WWF4Life]

In terms of what? Drawing power or work rate? Work rate...no. Drawing power...hell no.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Drawing power means nothing to us.  We are fans.  We do not work for the WWF.  We want good matches, and since we are the safety net for the WWF in the down times, they should be trying to keep us happy.

[Guest cabbageboy]

I will mark out big time if I see the People's Legdrop at WM.  That would be so great.  

 

You know, I think I am the only one on this board that likes RVD, wants HHH to main WM, and also is enjoying the NWO revival.  It's simple guys:  often in life the best stuff isn't what draws the most money.

 

That said, I think RVD could get massively over if there was an angle similar to the bps one.  Say the NWO runs in on one of his matches for no good reason, next week they brag about it...and then he charges the ring and just DESTROYS all three of them in about 30 seconds.  He did something similar to that at the Rumble during the short time he was in there and the crowd went nuts.

 

Something that people are overlooking here is that the NWO did in fact make some stars in WCW.  DDP wasn't exactly a major star before the NWO asked him to join and he refused, and feuded with them.  Goldberg was squashing mid carders and jobbers before he beat Hogan and the NWO targeted him.  Even Sting and Luger, who were doing ok but not amazing, got highly over during the NWO angle.

 

See, whether or not Angle/Jericho would be a better match than HHH/Jericho is beside the point.  The problem is that Angle just can't draw money in main events, it's that simple.  Anyone can see money in a feud with HHH (coming back from leg surgery) takes on the unworthy scumbag Jericho, who possibly might nail his wife to fuel the fire.

 

As far as RVD goes, he will get his time.  He's already done a hell of a lot and really wasn't intended to do anything, but he got over on his own.  Eventually they'll give him the IC title and he'll get a great run with it.  Around that time the NWO will want him to join them or they will see him as a threat and attack him, thus the angle I mentioned.

[Guest WWF4Life]

As a WWF fan, I want to be entertained. Rock-Hogan will entertain me. Therefore, I'm looking forward to WrestleMania. =)

[Guest Tony149]

Who would of thought people would start getting all hissy just because Hogan, Hall & Nash are back, and Hogan is wrestling. Now you know why the WWF doesn't listen to the net fans.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Rock/Hogan makes me consider not ordering Wrestlemania for the first time.  That is a streak that started with Wrestlemania V.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

It was just a fad, and I'm glad to see all the bandwagon jumpers flee..

But you see, for business to be good, you need the people who don't know a belly-to-belly from a German until JR (incorrectly) announces it to them. Like them or not, they buy merchandise and order Pay-Per-Views and generally help keep the company afloat.

 

The ratings have been dipping while trying near everything Smarks have wanted to see for a long time. They haven't abolished promos, to be sure, but they've made Jericho a heel (go watch his face promos now and see how much better they are since the turn) and given him a main eventer run. Don't give me that Benoit crap because he hasn't even come back yet, so we don't know what they're going to do with him.

 

Even with all this, ratings still tumble as casual viewers find another way to spend their Monday night. Bringing in lots of 24 year old cruiserweights help, and I can tell you that right now. Yes, they are the future main eventers or at least mid-carders. Yes, they should get some sort of treatment. But you shouldn't focus the company around them.

 

See, Hogan's matches will stink. But he's still a personality John Casual Viewer might look back to see. Even if you give him the full marketing push, RVD simply will not seem as experienced as Hogan does. The man has been through it all, even if he's been making crappy matches and/or backstage politics along the way.

 

But, for you fans of RVD and his ilk, don't worry. These guys probably will only be hanging around with the main eventers until about June.

[Guest WWF4Life]

"Who gives a shit about "buy rates" and "draws". Since when is that shit a valid argument to show that a PPV will be good?

 

Unless you are Vince Mcmahon or someone in a high position in WWF there is no reason for you to care about how the show sells. Stop trying to seem "smart" and throwing around this shit that means nothing to us."

 

Why would I want to seem smart? To impress the likes of you? I don't think so.

[Guest Choken One]

Last night proved once and for all that SMARKS mean shit.

 

  For months, You idiots were crying "No Hogan. No Hall. No Nash, Nobody wants those old farts! We want Storm!" The REAL fans told you idiots to shut the hell.

 

 TheSmarks are the real Poison.

[Guest WWF4Life]

Damn right Choken One, I totally agree with you. I'd rather see the nWo than Lance Storm or RVD. It seems people are too proud to admit they enjoyed the return of Hogan et al, so they just bitch and moan. =)

 

Take care.

[Guest Choken One]

Hold On, People do LIKE RVD. I love RVD. Just stop orgasming over Beniot and Storm and every thing is cool.

[Guest El Satanico]

These so called "real fans" will also prove they don't really care about Hogan when his cheers fade into nothing.

[Guest El Satanico]

So then why would you bring up such meaningless shit like "buy rates" if you aren't trying to give yourself a image of being "smart"?

[Guest Ihatesmarksandmarks]

this is the same thing that was going on with me and bps last night.....i think a lot of smarks WILL NOT GIVE THE NWO ANGLE A CHANCE. They have already branded hogan is a cancer blah blah blah. I feel a lot of posters here are just never happy no matter what. its always about someone being held down, why is lance storm now on tv the usal BS that about 5 people care about. And wwf4life is right.....if u cant get into rock-hogan than why bother being a fan? if u really into teh techincal shit go watch puro, go watch the indys. Just dont even bother watching the wwf because no matter what happens u will find SOMETHING to complian about

[Guest RicFlairGlory]

<<<Drawing power means nothing to us.  We are fans.  We do not work for the WWF.  We want good matches, and since we are the safety net for the WWF in the down times, they should be trying to keep us happy. >>>

 

Bullshit. They wont keep you dipshit smarks happy because they know you'll keep buying it because you're a diehard fan. You ARENT their target audience. EVEN IN DOWN TIMES. You're the given, proven, fan base.  You're as over with the WWF as RVD is with the crowd. WAYYYY over.  But it doesnt matter.

[Guest dreamer420]

this is the same thing that was going on with me and bps last night.....i think a lot of smarks WILL NOT GIVE THE NWO ANGLE A CHANCE. They have already branded hogan is a cancer blah blah blah. I feel a lot of posters here are just never happy no matter what. its always about someone being held down, why is lance storm now on tv the usal BS that about 5 people care about. And wwf4life is right.....if u cant get into rock-hogan than why bother being a fan? if u really into teh techincal shit go watch puro, go watch the indys. Just dont even bother watching the wwf because no matter what happens u will find SOMETHING to complian about

I agree with you 100% dude.

 

I was pretty excited about the possibility of Hogan, Hall, and Nash returning to the WWF and seeing them walk out during No Way Out and hearing the response that they got gave me goosebumbs.  Hogan was so over with that crowd it wasn't even funny and apparently live it was even louder.

 

This is all good for the WWF and personally I can't wait for Wrestlemania.

[Guest suckfreecomix]

If you go back and read what bps had to say last night...you 'll see that you are wrong.

 

He praised the segment and then defended RVD from a stupid comment...then evreyone jumped on him.

 

The proof is in the pudding.  Start reading from the beginning.

[Guest Ihatesmarksandmarks]

If u call praise "yea even I admit it was pretty good" ok....And he was the one who jumped one me and my "comment" telling me to get off smarkboard and calling me a sheep, blah blah blah

[Guest suckfreecomix]

He said that the NWO angle was the first thing that they handled right in a long time...and that the heat for it was incredible.

 

How his name can come up in relation to being close minded about the segment...when he liked it...is beyond me.

 

Someone went to far with there "marking out" and made a retarded statement.  

 

He pointed out it's stupidity and then was gang raped by a bunch of markish replys.

 

At least HE included some points in his replies.

 

You just changed around everything that he said to fit your argument.

 

And now that he's gone your dragging his name through the mud with no cause.

 

How much do you know about wrestling, kid?

 

You thought his pic was Fucking Rod Stewert.